Scrap 'kafala' system US urges GCC states
US urges GCC states to scrap sponsorship system
Gulf countries must scrap their sponsorship system for migrant workers that leaves labourers and domestic workers exposed to human trafficking and forced labour, the US State Department reported on Monday.
In a 373-page report, the department said that employers in the Gulf states exploit the widely used ‘kafala’ system to abuse workers and named Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as the region’s worst offenders.
Both were described by the department as a “destination country for men and women subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced labour.”
....Qatar and Lebanon were both placed on the Tier 2 watchlist, the report’s second lowest ranking. The UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt were each assigned a Tier 2 rating, indicating they have made significant efforts to tackle human trafficking.
Millions of migrants, primarily from Asia and Africa, have short-term employment contracts for blue-collar jobs in the construction, domestic work, and service industries across the Middle East.
Under the ‘kafala’ system, nationals and companies can hire migrant workers who are dependent on their employers for food and shelter.
Many workers complain that agencies or employers confiscate their passports, do not pay them regularly or deduct housing or health costs from their pay.
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/590537-us-urges-gulf-states-to-scrap-spon...
but maybe not that so easy for the gov't as they may have other factors to deal with.
But, granting that their country is 'blooming economically', they should do the thinking soon.
but, when you expect loyalty from someone, you have to reciprocate... if you treat someone like trash, don't pay him his dues, then don't be surprised if he scr*ws you over...
I will say it again as I have on similar topics... if you are treating your staff fairly, there won't be a need for Sponsorship or exit permits, cause they will have every reason to return to the job, or not steal your money, as they will be earning what they rightfully should...
I am not saying embezzlement won't happen, I am just saying having trust in people and treating them with respect will get you further, than treating them like slaves and then it happening as you expect that they stab you in the back....
It will change, gradually, but as genesis said, it will take time.
LOL... "mother/fahter is dying in his country"... That's the oldest trick in the book, the sponsor signs the exit permit just to discover that the employee embezzeled a lot of money or had a huge loan that the "kafeel" has to pay.
I agree that kafala system is not the problem, but the rights and condition of the workers...
I'll just keep on hoping that NHRC and MOL will do their job.... very well done.
MODERN SLAVERY!
about this issue. Precisely the reason why I have a big reservation in going back to this region after my first steps made in KSA in 1991 thru 1994.
but after 15 years, I set my foot again knowing the condition here. But Qatar is really much much better than KSA although the sponsorship thing is still very much in place.
But the system is really more on psychological aspects of the system. Really easy to get an exit permit (you can download it readily in the MOI web), but the thought that you need one is what matters to the authorities. If you have no "bad or negative" record, you can go anytime.
But of course the other issues are the 2-year ban and others are a different issues!
Laws needs time to change.you must understand , that amendments in the current sponsorship law have been back & forth for some time now between many goverment offices like NHRC, MOI & MOL. Each with it's own recommendation. This in term,will shuffle between the advisory council & the ministries council for reaching a final recommendation.
I guess, Many security , economical & social aspects are preventing decision makers to come to a final amendment of the current sponsorship law
The biggest loss will be in the private sector. For instance, scarping NOC all of a sudden could be catastrophic for the private companies. In particular, international firms in the energy & construction business
Still I think NHRC are playing a good role so far. Even the MOL have been More active than ever when it comes to issuing violation reports and monitoring the private sector ( although they suffer from limited human resources)
but nothing had changed so far:(
today again:
HRW criticises sponsorship system in M-E
The sponsorship system, locally known as “Kafala,” is mostly prevalent in energy-rich Gulf Cooperation Council states which are home to at least 12 million foreign workers, many of whom complain of maltreatment.
In April, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called on Gulf countries to stop requiring migrant workers to secure local sponsors, saying the system fosters abuses.
“I wholeheartedly support those efforts and call on other states to replace the Kafala system with updated labour laws that can better balance rights and duties,” she said in a speech in Saudi Arabia.
http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20100616/content.asp?section=world1_1
Ah, the East India Company.... Brings back memories.... How else would we have tasted tea ?
Khawaga they weren't exactly rich but were people with agricultural background. They sold their agricultural land back home to move to the west.
Does anyone know the address of the British firm called East India Company. I heard they are quite good sponsors!!
WK: apparently all the people you know are wealthy!
LOL John I don't know about that ;)
A large number of people from our parts go there and it's just that I haven't yet seen anybody who wanted to go there failing in the attempt to end up in UK.
John actually they have made it harder to immigrate to England on paper but actually it's still ridiculously easy if you got some money in the bank.
And THAT is why certain people are disliked and looked upon with suspicion...not because "the media" is biased. Although, it is, but actions speak louder than words.Written, in this case.
Whyte, it would also be almost funny if those people were not trying to change the society they chose, or if they would not try to destroy the society they chose, if they would not look down on the society they chose, and so on and so forth.
Ya well I agree to that. I see a few these days who want the passport but hate everything else about it, would have been funny if it was not so hypocritical.
whyte sure. That's what the US is made of, it is the essence of the US. But you see, those immigrants were different, the WANTED to be Americans, not only by word(passport) but by deed.
There are still some immigrants that are like that.
nomerci everyone in US is an immigrant anyway, some could do it earlier than others.
Se Khawaga, this what it is. They don't want the US to "interfere", but they DO want to immigrate to the US, for obvious reasons....I have to say, by now I think like John.
WK: well, it seems you are in the minority.
lol Khawaga no.
I am not expecting them to even request these countries to keep a check on human trafficking and I don't want them to either.
I didn't know you are a member of NF :) , I agree with you about global politics but I disagree about immigration,I'd prefer a talents/skills based system. There is a birthrate issue in Europe, women prefer careers :)
Of course they aren't going to interfere, WK. What are you expecting? Some sort of military action? Economic sanctions, perhaps?
John: I often think the same thing. We should just withdraw from these issues... more like Switzerland!
It's just a report, they aren't going to interfere in this.
See? Here is a perfect example of what I've been talking about: we don't get involved (aid flotilla) and everyone gets all upset. We do get involved (kafala system) and everyone gets all upset. There's just no pleasing you people!!! lol
John, quite right.
Plus, they should have learned their lesson by now.
And why would the US care?
This is very odd, as bad as they are,ruled by Zionists and all that.
What is going on? Please, somebody explain this!
yes you must have a right to leave the job but after completing the contract period....but dear WK its your dream coz you are in gulf..
Yes I know, I am a slave.
If the company has the right to fire me then I also should have a right to leave my job before the contract ends.
What i mean to say that companies must signed a contract with there employees that (if company provide a visa) after a limited time period company have a right to fire you & (if he have his own visa) then he have a right to join other job after completing his contract..
Yes there must be a contract and there is. It's just that I can walk away from a contract if I am not happy in other places. Here I can't. Companies are scared of losing their employees and for good reason.
its true that companies are scared that their employees will run away but there must be a contract between employe & company..I know so many people who are working with there companies or sponors from more then 20 years but there salaries are remain the same 1500QR. Near my home there is a labour camp who dont have money to pay to the barber coz there company didnt pay to them. Most of the time they have their hair-cut by their own selfs. sometime they visit local football match where they cheer for the team & that team organizer gave them 40 riyals... & in ISLAM ALLAH ALMIGHTY is the only kafeel of Human Beings. then how a local guy keep this right with him self??
This is obvious to the 10 million slaves (a.k.a. workers) here in the gulf. The Arabs don't care as long as their big buildings get built higher and crazier-looking each day. Then, they'll stand on a big soap box and scream about how bad Israel and the west are for the things they do. Absolutely no conscience whatsoever.....beat the workers into the ground and while stepping on their necks, scream at the top of their lungs the west and Israel are rotten people. give me a break....why should anyone listen to you?
Companies are scared that everyone will run away after coming here and seeing the reality of the gulf so they introduce Exit permit in some places and keep the passports in others to stop them from getting away. Modern slavery at it's best. Ok ok before anyone tells me, I know 1 % of expats here have got their passport with them and can come and go as they please and are highly paid but 99 % are still slaves here.
It is, and it has been named "Modern Slavery". Qatar and the Gulf States have to live with the fact and they can, because they have oil and gas. So, it won't change.
It depend on the sponsor "How he or she is?" some people are very happy with their sponsors but on other hand their ars sponsors who dont think that the person(in his sponsorship) is a human being also. Most of the cases happend infront of my eyes that the expat mother/fahter is dying in his country but his sponsor is not going to allow him to see his loved ones or in some cases the sponsors are enjoying a world tour keeping the passport of the person (in his/her sponsorship) with them.
I saw a indian maid in a hamad hospital, she was a heart patient but she dont have enough money to pay the surgery expenses & she dont have any relatives in Qatar to look after her while her sponsor was in lebanon enjoying her vaccations wid her family & her passport is also with him. cant able to go back to india..
The abuse is not the Khalafa system itself, but the rights of the individuals.
Once an employee has fulfilled his/her contractual obligations, he/she should be free to find a new employer.
Saudi and Kuwait are definitely the worst offenders. I recall a few years ago, we had to get a letter from the employer just to travel to a different city..
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1109507