Bahrain shortens summer midday work ban period -  MRRORS Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

#Bahrain’s Cabinet has recently revised the summer midday work ban for employees working outdoors under the sun, reducing it from three months to two and a half months. buff.ly/IMUqnJJ

For migrant workers, sheltering in place is as pointless as social distancing -  MRRORS Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

The abdication of responsibility of the state and employer is the hallmark of the Kafala system, and more so in times of crisis.

Human rights groups have called on the ILO GB to reject Saudi Arabia’s request. In a joint statement, the groups urged the ILO to stand firm against the Kingdom’s efforts to dismiss the complaint.

Saudi is seeking to prematurely close an Article 26 complaint filed at the last ILO General Body meeting. In its 60-page response to the complaint, Saudi has not only deflected the arguments of the case, but has singled out by name a leader of the union that filed the complaint. buff.ly/JkW0Ci1

Kuwait to introduce ‘freelance’ visa -  MRRORS As part of its labour market reforms Kuwait has introduced a ‘freelancers’ visa category, according to local media. The visa – with a fee of KD 750-1000 (USD 2450-3270) – was supposed to launch by…

Kuwait has introduced a ‘freelancers’ visa category, according to local media. The visa, with a fee of KD 750-1000 (USD 2450-3270), was expected to launch in mid-April 2026. However, given the ongoing conflict and the extent to which Kuwait has been impacted, the timeline may change. buff.ly/L9zTj0q

The result is a show that expands empathy while preserving the status quo. It softens the image of the migrant worker, celebrates his craft, and acknowledges his emotional ties to the kingdom, but it does so within the safe boundaries of state-sanctioned storytelling.

Saudi Ramadan Show 'Naseej': Empathy rooted in status quo -  MRRORS Saudi media often portrays migrant workers in an anxious and narrow manner. The news speaks of them as a social and cultural threat. Commentators question their competence, asking why the kingdom…

Saudi TV Show Naseej, at its strongest, foregrounds skill and dedication; Yet it does not show any content that criticises the labour migration system, maintaining the familiar narrative: the “kind Saudi” trope. #Saudi #Migrants #Kafala
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Gulf states must increase awareness of domestic workers’ rights among both employers & workers. However, awareness alone is insufficient when they work in strict live-in arrangements under the Kafala system, and do not have effective enforcement mechanisms to ensure there is compliance with the law.

Domestic workers across the Gulf remain excluded from labour law. In #Bahrain, there are no limits on working hours. On top of this, the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms for existing regulations further weakens efforts to safeguard their already weak rights.

Domestic Workers: The Neglected Backbone of Gulf Households During Ramadan -  MRRORS Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

Despite their essential role in households during Ramadan, Gulf governments continue to prioritise employers’ rights over protecting domestic workers, a pattern seen in previous years: buff.ly/JqN9nEl

Domestic Workers in the Gulf Remain Vulnerable to Abuse Ahead of Ramadan as State Protections Fall Short -  MRRORS Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

During Ramadan, domestic workers across the Gulf remain highly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. As working hours grow longer during this month, many juggle nonstop tasks – cooking, caring for families, and managing household chores – often without enough rest or fair pay. buff.ly/QubRVIu

UAE Ratifies the ILO Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention -  MRRORS Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

The UAE has recently ratified the ILO’s 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention. While this is a step in the right direction, unless the Kafala system is dismantled, the eradication of forced labour would not be possible.

Rehabilitation for victims of human trafficking is limited by the Kafala system, which reinforces power imbalances between migrant workers and sponsors, and prevents victims from residing and working in Oman without a sponsor.

However, significant gaps remain. The law does not establish a dedicated compensation mechanism for victims, limiting access to meaningful remedies and justice. The Omani government continues to overlook the widespread forced labour conditions faced by low-income migrant workers.

Compared to its precursor, the new law offers stronger protections for victims, including free medical treatment for trafficking-related harm and exemptions from immigration and labour-related penalties.

A Brief Overview of Oman’s New Law on Combatting Human Trafficking -  MRRORS Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

#Oman has recently enacted a new Law on Combating Human Trafficking. The law expands and clarifies the definitions of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced labour, and slavery, while imposing harsher penalties on perpetrators. buff.ly/uebcTaj

What still remains under #Saudi’s #Kafala regime:

- Work and residency visas are tied to the employer.
- Exit permits are required, though the process has changed.
- Workers still largely need employer consent to change jobs.
- Close to 4 million domestic workers remain excluded from most reforms.

#Saudi has made some strides under its Labour Reform Initiative which expand some rights streamline some processes, but these reforms do not equal an abolition of the sponsorship system

No, Saudi Arabia has not abolished the Kafala system  -  MRRORS In recent weeks, multiple media outlets have claimed that Saudi Arabia has abolished the Kafala system. Most of these reports repeat nearly identical tone and phrasing, with some recycling old case…

Dozens of media outlets recently reported that #Saudi abolished the #Kafala system.

The story traces back to a single article that recycles old quotes and cites no real source

buff.ly/lzRlvia

What still remains under #Saudi’s #Kafala regime:

- Work and residency visas are tied to the employer.
- Exit permits are required, though the process has changed.
- Workers still largely need employer consent to change jobs.
- Close to 4 million domestic workers remain excluded from most reforms.

#Saudi has made some strides under its Labour Reform Initiative which expand some rights streamline some processes, but these reforms do not equal an abolition of the sponsorship system

No, Saudi Arabia has not abolished the Kafala system  -  MRRORS In recent weeks, multiple media outlets have claimed that Saudi Arabia has abolished the Kafala system. Most of these reports repeat nearly identical tone and phrasing, with some recycling old case…

Dozens of media outlets recently reported that #Saudi abolished the #Kafala system.

The story traces back to a single article that recycles old quotes and cites no real source.

buff.ly/lzRlvia

Migrant-Rights.org is now MRRORS — Migrant Rights Research Open Repository Migrant-Rights.org is now MRRORS — Migrant Rights Research Open Repository

Migrant-Rights.org is now MRRORS — Migrant Rights Research Open Repository.

We carry forward the same commitment that has shaped our work from the start.

Dive into our latest reports at MRRORS.org

www.mrrors.org/2025/10/refl...

Allegations of organ trade and illegal harvesting are rife as GCC and African states fail to conduct autopsies -  Migrant Rights

My investigation for @migrantrights.bsky.social is a deep dive into how trafficking for human organs flourishes, facilitated by design and by the negligence of countries at origin and destination.

www.migrant-rights.org/2025/04/alle...

This is an ongoing case of a Ugandan family being coerced to donate the organs of Patricia, whose death in the UAE is suspicious. This is not a one-off case. Illegal organ trade is rampant in the Africa-GCC corridor. @migrantrights.bsky.social investigated this only recently.
x.com/SpireJim/sta...

لكن رغم العفو، تواصل السلطات العُمانية حملاتها ضد المهاجرين بوضع غير نظامي، حيث تم اعتقال عدد من الأفراد بتهمة مخالفة قوانين العمل والإقامة.

عُمان تعلن عن فترة سماح للمهاجرين حتى نهاية يوليو -  Migrant Rights تعزيز حقوق العمال المهاجرين في الشرق الأوسط

أعلنت #عُمان عن فترة عفو حتى نهاية يوليو، تتيح للعمال المهاجرين بوضع غير نظامي نقل كفالتهم دون غرامات، ولحاملي التصاريح المنتهية غير المتعلقة بالعمل، مثل الإقامة العائلية، مغادرة البلاد دون عقوبات. buff.ly/0hve2uc

تتفاقم المشكلة بسبب غياب خدمات الصحة النفسية الآمنة وبكلفة مناسبة والمراعية للثقافات المختلفة والمتوفرة بعدة لغات، إلى جانب الخوف من الترحيل عند طلب المساعدة—مما يترك العديد من المهاجرين دون أي دعم خلال أزماتهم النفسية.

بدلاً من معالجة الأسباب الجذرية، غالبًا ما تقوم السلطات بتجريم هذه الحوادث، وتتعامل معها كحالات فردية معزولة بدلاً من كونها أعراضًا لانتهاكات اجتماعية واقتصادية واسعة النطاق.

الترحيل بدل الرعاية: الكويت تفشل في الاستجابة لمتطلبات الصحة العقلية والانتحار بين العمال المهاجرين -  Migrant Rights تعزيز حقوق العمال المهاجرين في الشرق الأوسط

تشهد حالات الانتحار ومحاولات الانتحار بين العمالة المهاجرة في #الكويت ارتفاعًا ملحوظًا، حيث يُواجَه الناجون منها بالترحيل والإدراج في القوائم السوداء. وتسلّط هذه الحوادث الضوء على نظام عميق الجذور من الإقصاء الاجتماعي والاقتصادي الذي يؤثر بشدة على الصحة النفسية والجسدية للمهاجرين. buff.ly/3XCvXh0