What kind of human rights abuses do migrant workers face in the Gulf?
For many workers, going to the Gulf is a risky business. On arrival, many construction workers and maids will have their passports taken away from them by their employer for ‘safekeeping’. Construction workers are often subjected to overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions, and corrupt recruitment brokers may take a cut from their wages. They will often work in unsafe conditions and extremely high temperatures. It is no coincidence that one of the most common causes of death among perfectly healthy young men is cardiac arrest. Accidents on construction sites are also a frequent cause of death and serious injury. Many women working as domestics are overworked and underpaid, and are often not allowed a day off. Some women are beaten by their employers, and in extreme cases, raped or tortured.
