The Cost of Living
- Document number
- 2629
- Date
- 2011
- Title
- The Cost of Living
- Author/publisher
- Anti-Slavery, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
- Availability
- LSI library
- Document type(s)
- Media/News,
- Keywords
- Irregular Migration, Feminization of migration, Economic migration, Labour migration, Free movement, Undocumented migrants; Undocumented labour;
- Summary
Anti-Slavery International and ITUC are calling on better regulation of recruitment agents in Nepal and the Gulf States and an end to the illegal practice of migrant workers paying fees to agents, who in law are only entitled to receive payment from the employer for successfully recruiting a worker. Both organisations are also calling for the UAE to end the ‘kafala’ sponsorship system, which aside from Bahrain, exists across the region. Under this system migrant workers’ visas are linked to one employer or ‘sponsor’, and in most countries they have no right to seek alternative employment. Combined with the low pay this method traps many thousands in exploitative conditions and even forced labour.Anti-Slavery International and ITUC are also demanding all migrant workers in the Gulf States to be given the freedom of association and collective bargaining. Currently in the UAE migrant workers are not allowed to join a trade union and do not have the right to strike. Workers who protest against unfair working conditions or unpaid wages can face imprisonment and deportation. The campaign video is available here.
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