Migrant workers ‘feel trapped in the Gulf’

Nearly 60 % of that is coming from UAE alone which is used by underworld & corrupt politicians to convert their black money into white but who cares.

Middle-Eastern economies together account for 48% of total remittance flows into India so it's understandable that they don't want that money to stop coming in.

dates back in 70's. Was there really a substantial change on policies involving migrant workers? Was there or just a continuing rant? And may I asked who are foremost in ranting?

Countries and embassies don't do anything because it brings in much needed foreign exchange and boosts the economy.

WK: I personaly know of at least half a dozen cases I have worked with, where they were "told" to go to the Gulf. In some cases, relatives already here send "Azad Visas" so that the person can come here without any idea of the type of job he/she is going to do.

and also BE, these countries get big fat contracts from the Gulf so do not want to rock the boat for poor, dirty, uneducated labourers...

It couldnt be done for last so many years...don't see it being done in a hurry in near future...

It is observed everytime when a news is publised regarding the above said matter we discuss the same issues about the labourers. Researchers, human Rights groups all have the same things to put up the same things.

But Why authorities are not doing anything regarding abolishing the sponsorship system . WHEN WILL THE CHANGES COME? CHANGES HAVE COME EVERYWHERE, CHANGES HAVE COME IN FIFA, FOOTBALL, WHEN WILL THE CHANGES COME IN 2 YEAR BAN AND SPONSORSORSHIP SYSTEM.

But when I saw it in a wider perspective, sadly, it’s never going to stop… only avenues will be changed….

The riches (power, money, knowledge…et al.) do take undue advantage of unprivileged ..this has happened all over the history (britexpat must know it better..lol) , happening now and seems, it'll continue……....

In addition, they face poor living conditions in their labour camps, where eight, 10, or 12 men are often accommodated in a single room, and 50 or more men might share a single bathroom or kitchen.

Their freedom of movement is often limited; many are actively prevented from communicating with their citizen-sponsor.

Gardner said “most public spaces in the city are forbidden to them.................

He added that this issue is particularly acute with women workers, “as they are often prohibited from leaving their camps on their day off.”

Gardner remarked that Asian labour migrants “have little contact with Qataris and Qatari culture. This is largely a product of their socially and spatially segregated existence in Doha.”

Brit,

when a knowledge workers ( or even a small shop owner…) goes back, makes a palatial house in Kochi…..shows his quick earned wealth….rest are lured…they jump onto ship without knowing (however local media does tell them but as WK said, we read them later)……

there’s caucus of baddies for this plight---a selfish rogue agent back home, a greedy sponsor here and their cronies….

That is utter nonsense Brit, I haven't seen a single case of someone being forced to come to Gulf because of pressure from family/friends. Some have to remain in the Gulf against their wishes because their parents are settled here but that's about it.

Maybe I have known only limited people but this sounds like an assumption from the writer.

as i said, majorly labors are really trapped here (unlike knowledge workers)...

i met a Nepali gentleman, whose first year earning here would JUST suffice the loan he's taken to pay bribe/commission to 'the agent' and 2nd year will be a net saving ( a meager sum though) in his 2 yr contract...a sad story, real story of trap... false promises....broken dreams….. :(

As Painther says, it is the lesser of two evils. However, my question still remains - why don't they tell their countryment of their plight.

Another observation in the article was that many workers are "sent" here by parents / relatives in order to enhannce the family income. This means that they have no choice.

well for the daily wage labourer back in India who doesnt save his money at the end of the day, working in the gulf helps him to save some money

painther sure will.. Can't tell the truth till I am safely out of here.

Yes they make a mistake and opt for Gulf, then what?

Should they pay for their mistake the whole life in this prison???

WK, plz stick to truth :) and if so...it'll be worth a read.....if not published...blog it, we'll see it there..

i'm waiting ...

brit..

tinker the minimum wage for a labourer in India is higher than what they are being paid here or atleast equivalent in worst cases.

I think the medical term is Strapadictomy ...

lesbian trapped in a man's body! :0(

It's NOT a question of poverty.

I would be mailing my story to every newspaper & magazine in the country if I ever manage to get out of here, will mail you a copy if anyone ever published it.

There are stories about Middle East in local papers in India but unfortunately I read them only after coming here. Maybe I wasn't paying much attention to the Middle East section in the newspaper earlier.

And that means, because it is worse back home, everything is ok. What a shallow thinking.

Your point is valid .. This means that the researcher is wrong in his assumption.

Brit, they do tell and almost all know but--

1. there is one happy story too, not all expats here are in bad shape, some of them are living life of luxury and enjoying fruits of uninterrupted business opportunities…

2. for the folks (majority labors) who are really trapped, they do know back home…but they chose BAD than worst…

Why talk of migrant workers and the lack of information in those countries about what it is like working in this region .... we, on QL, whom I suppose are well read and have access to the means to know what kinda life is it gonna be in this region, also come over here and rant whole day how bad this place is... would then, any information, even if made available, stop these workers from coming over here who continue to envision the

Gulf as a place “where the streets are paved with gold.”

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Most of these workers tell tall tales upon their return and paint a false picture.

However, it still leaves the issue of their local media not highlighting this.

should we need to get an exit permit even after my cancellation of work permit .

As far as what learned from Labor Camps in Qatar , these study is so true , many times labors are forced to work over time with out giving overtime pay according to labor law , or even with out giving weekends at least in two consecutive weeks . and they are living live animals like 8-15 animals in a single room , and one toilet per 10 people .

there is a say , between Satan and sea . it seems same to the labors . they cannot deny working overtime,afraid of salary being cut , at the end of the month if it seems that their working hours are more than working hours approved by labor law , then again their overtime being deducted to make it look like normal to working hours approved by labor law.

Most employers are using the facility of Exit permit which allows employees tobe punished without giving exit permit for months , also without payment.

I really thankful to the God who made Khuboos which is helpful for these poor labors to stay alive in such situations for 1riyal/day .

gward,The intelligent being at sky . we are thank for the khuboos you sent us for 1 riyal and their Lexus

brit, I think they won't tell. They'd rather tell a story how successful they had been. And to prove it, they'll produce some Riyals.

The researcher says "in their countries" ..

This means that Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Sri-Lankan media does not highlight the plight of their own nationals.

Also, when they go home, do they NOT tell others about the suffering they have faced ?

brit, a)Qatar paints a picture of itself in the world. And they show ONLY the nice things. That's one trap. And b)the 'agents' in the respective countries are only after money. That's the second trap. And you are in that trap when you are stupid enough to believe what a and b tell you!

Forget Al Jazeera they will not report on stories within Qatar unless they are positive.

You missed the point of my post..

He says that they are trapped in a tricky situation " due to lack of proper information in their countries about the working conditions in the Gulf "

How can this be ?

plz do, i want to get rid of this feeling of them being 'opportunistic biased', let us see how 'fair' they are or it's another glorifying act of 'em..

on the plight of migrant workers....

I will post the links as I found them...

I wish AL Jazeera, The Torch Bearer of Truth around the World (these days...), should cover this, atleast once,....atleast one Program to let me feel they are not "opportunists & biased'....!

Same story... different source, different set of words... same questions, similar responses....

Feel trapped????? We ARE trapped.

Of course they feel trapped. You turn up here and you soon learn to even leave the country and go home you need an exit permit and that is decided by your sponsor. So you are at the mercy of him or her. You have to hope you get a good one or things could go very wrong indeed for you...

Really?? Why don't they read QL. Then they would know!