Migrants in UAE suffer dangerous working conditions

Recent investigations have revealed that migrants working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being forced to work in unsafe, often unclean, environments.

A recent study by Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that the migrant workers building a multibillion-pound cultural hub in Saadiyat Island had had their passports confiscated, and were suffering from extremely poor pay.

Interviews conducted by HRW in 2013 and 2014 revealed that the project’s employers were failing to pay wages on time, renew work permits, or pay end-of-service benefits to which workers were entitled.

Furthermore, the workers were threatened with summary arrest and deportation if they complained about their working conditions.

HRW Gulf researcher Nicholas McGeehan commented that these migrants are “working under the menace of penalty – in the knowledge that if they withdraw their labor, they could be beaten up by special police. Why haven’t [the authorities] condemned that?”

Osea Giuntella discusses this trend that immigrants are more likely to work in risky, physically intensive jobs. This normally applies to the most vulnerable, low-skilled workers, which often harms their health in the long-term.

Giuntella suggests that more open immigration policies which allow for a balanced entry of immigrants of different education and skill levels may overcome this trend. However, she asserts that policymakers must also work to educate immigrant workers’ awareness of the risks associated with certain jobs, and improve overall job quality for migrant employees.

Read more here.

Related articles:
Do immigrants improve the health of native workers? by Osea Giuntella  
The welfare magnet hypothesis and the welfare take-up of migrants, by Corrado Giulietti
Are immigrants healthier than native residents? by Shoshana Neuman