Human Rights Watch
Asian Migrant Workers Abandoned to Abuse
Migrants' Groups Call for Key Reforms on International Migrants Day
(New York, December 17, 2007) – Governments in Asia and the Middle
East must take stronger action to fight rampant abuse against migrant
workers, several migrants' and human rights groups said in a joint letter
on the eve of December 18, International Migrants' Day.
Tens of millions of Asian men and women work as fixed-contract
migrants in both Asia and the Middle East, typically in domestic work,
construction, manufacturing and agriculture. While many migrants are
able to work and earn without hindrance, others confront serious abuses,
such as deception about their working conditions, months or years of
unpaid wages, or physical and psychological abuse.
"Cruel employers and unscrupulous middlemen are not the only reason
Asian migrants face exploitation," said Nisha Varia, senior researcher for
the Women's Rights division of Human Rights Watch. "Flawed
immigration policies and gaps in labor laws expose migrants to
trafficking, forced labor and other terrible abuses."
Countries of employment such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Malaysia, and Singapore rely heavily on migrant labor, which comprises
between 25 and 90 percent of their workforce. However, these countries
typically tie migrants' visas to their employers, making it all but
impossible to switch employers when they confront abuse. These countries
also exclude domestic workers from the labor laws, leaving them open to
abuse with few avenues for redress.
"We have documented many cases of migrants receiving no pay after
working backbreaking hours for months and even years in jobs that no one
else wants," said William Gois, regional coordinator for Migrant Forum in
Asia, a regional network of migrants' organizations. "Migrants often
cannot escape abusive conditions because their employers confiscate their
passports and immigration policies give employers the legal power to
decide whether the worker can seek another job."
Labor-sending countries have also not extended adequate protection to
these workers. Countries of origin such as the Philippines, India, Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia benefit tremendously from migrants'
remittances. For example, Indians living abroad sent home US$24.6
billion in fiscal year 2006 and remittances are the second-highest source
of
foreign exchange in Sri Lanka.
The largely unregulated labor recruitment agencies in these countries
often
charge extortionate fees that leave migrants heavily indebted. Several
governments have been reluctant to demand higher wages and better
working conditions for fear that jobs will go to workers from other
countries instead.
"Labor-sending countries need to stop making excuses about lack of
bargaining power and instead stand up for their nationals' rights," said
Nurul Qoiriah of the Asian Migrant Centre. "By working together to
establish minimum standards, countries sending migrants abroad could
help prevent a race to the bottom."
On January 21 and 22, 2008, the United Arab Emirates will host the latest
round of the "Colombo Process," a series of regional consultative
processes focused on Asian contract migrant workers. In their joint
letter,
migrants' and human rights groups called on the 22 major labor-sending
and receiving governments attending the meeting to implement four key
reforms:
* Equal protection for domestic workers under labor laws. This
includes provisions for one day off per week, overtime pay, and
other benefits. Standard contracts are not a substitute for equal
protection under the law.
* Reform of the kafala ("sponsorship") visa system. Employment
visas that tie workers to their employers make it difficult for
workers to change employers, even in cases of abuse, and
sometimes require them to obtain their employer's consent before
leaving the country. Workers' visas should not be linked to
employers.
* Stronger monitoring of labor recruitment agencies. Both sending
and receiving countries should more rigorously regulate, monitor,
and enforce minimum standards for labor recruitment agencies.
Governments should set clear standards for recruitment fees or
eliminate these fees completely.
* Ensure migrants have access to justice and support services.
Migrants accused of committing crimes must have access to
interpreters or legal aid. Migrants who suffer abuse should have
access to shelter, legal aid, medical care, and temporary residence
status. Governments should ensure speedy and transparent
mechanisms to resolve wage disputes, and they must prosecute
cases of abuse against migrants through the criminal justice
system.
For more of Human Rights Watch's work on migrant workers, please
visit: http://www.hrw.org/doc/?t=migrants
Migrants' Groups Call for Key Reforms on International Migrants Day
(New York, December 17, 2007) – Governments in Asia and the Middle
East must take stronger action to fight rampant abuse against migrant
workers, several migrants' and human rights groups said in a joint letter
on the eve of December 18, International Migrants' Day.
Tens of millions of Asian men and women work as fixed-contract
migrants in both Asia and the Middle East, typically in domestic work,
construction, manufacturing and agriculture. While many migrants are
able to work and earn without hindrance, others confront serious abuses,
such as deception about their working conditions, months or years of
unpaid wages, or physical and psychological abuse.
"Cruel employers and unscrupulous middlemen are not the only reason
Asian migrants face exploitation,
the Women's Rights division of Human Rights Watch. "Flawed
immigration policies and gaps in labor laws expose migrants to
trafficking, forced labor and other terrible abuses."
Countries of employment such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Malaysia, and Singapore rely heavily on migrant labor, which comprises
between 25 and 90 percent of their workforce. However, these countries
typically tie migrants' visas to their employers, making it all but
impossible to switch employers when they confront abuse. These countries
also exclude domestic workers from the labor laws, leaving them open to
abuse with few avenues for redress.
"We have documented many cases of migrants receiving no pay after
working backbreaking hours for months and even years in jobs that no one
else wants," said William Gois, regional coordinator for Migrant Forum in
Asia, a regional network of migrants' organizations. "Migrants often
cannot escape abusive conditions because their employers confiscate their
passports and immigration policies give employers the legal power to
decide whether the worker can seek another job."
Labor-sending countries have also not extended adequate protection to
these workers. Countries of origin such as the Philippines, India, Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia benefit tremendously from migrants'
remittances. For example, Indians living abroad sent home US$24.6
billion in fiscal year 2006 and remittances are the second-highest source
of
foreign exchange in Sri Lanka.
The largely unregulated labor recruitment agencies in these countries
often
charge extortionate fees that leave migrants heavily indebted. Several
governments have been reluctant to demand higher wages and better
working conditions for fear that jobs will go to workers from other
countries instead.
"Labor-sending countries need to stop making excuses about lack of
bargaining power and instead stand up for their nationals' rights," said
Nurul Qoiriah of the Asian Migrant Centre. "By working together to
establish minimum standards, countries sending migrants abroad could
help prevent a race to the bottom."
On January 21 and 22, 2008, the United Arab Emirates will host the latest
round of the "Colombo Process," a series of regional consultative
processes focused on Asian contract migrant workers. In their joint
letter,
migrants' and human rights groups called on the 22 major labor-sending
and receiving governments attending the meeting to implement four key
reforms:
* Equal protection for domestic workers under labor laws. This
includes provisions for one day off per week, overtime pay, and
other benefits. Standard contracts are not a substitute for equal
protection under the law.
* Reform of the kafala ("sponsorship"
visas that tie workers to their employers make it difficult for
workers to change employers, even in cases of abuse, and
sometimes require them to obtain their employer's consent before
leaving the country. Workers' visas should not be linked to
employers.
* Stronger monitoring of labor recruitment agencies. Both sending
and receiving countries should more rigorously regulate, monitor,
and enforce minimum standards for labor recruitment agencies.
Governments should set clear standards for recruitment fees or
eliminate these fees completely.
* Ensure migrants have access to justice and support services.
Migrants accused of committing crimes must have access to
interpreters or legal aid. Migrants who suffer abuse should have
access to shelter, legal aid, medical care, and temporary residence
status. Governments should ensure speedy and transparent
mechanisms to resolve wage disputes, and they must prosecute
cases of abuse against migrants through the criminal justice
system.
For more of Human Rights Watch's work on migrant workers, please
visit: http://www.hrw.
"Do not judge me by my actions;
Do not judge me from man's point of view"
"Judge me from God's - by the hidden purpose behind my actions.
Regi George wishing you Good Luck.
Thanks
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