Migrant Worker Rights Under Scrutiny as Advocacy Groups Push for Stronger Enforcement
Locals provide drinking water to Indian migrant laborers making their way on foot to their respective villages following a lockdown amid concern over spread of coronavirus in New Delhi, India, Saturday, March 28, 2020. Authorities sent a fleet of buses to the outskirts of India's capital on Saturday to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages during the world's largest coronavirus lockdown. Thousands of people, mostly young male day laborers but also families, fled their New Delhi homes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown that began on Wednesday and effectively put millions of Indians who live off daily earnings out of work. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Geneva | BomBay Weekly
International labour rights organisations have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of worker protections in Gulf countries, citing continued concerns over wages, working conditions, and access to justice for migrant labourers.
Millions of migrant workers from South Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia are employed in construction, domestic work, and service sectors across the region. While several Gulf nations have announced labour reforms in recent years, rights groups argue that implementation remains uneven.
Reports have highlighted cases of delayed wage payments, restricted mobility, and limited avenues for grievance redressal. The International Labour Organization has urged governments to strengthen labour inspection systems and ensure that workers can access legal remedies without fear of retaliation.
Despite the challenges, remittances sent by migrant workers remain a crucial source of income for their home countries, underscoring the economic significance of migrant labour to the global economy.
