By REBECCA TORR
Published: 13th June 2007
RIGHTS of migrant workers in Asia and Arab regions were discussed at the first of its kind inter-regional conference held in Qatar.
Participants from Bahrain and other countries in the region called upon all governments to safeguard and strengthen human rights and basic liberties, including those of migrant workers, civil societies and other stakeholders.
They recommended all countries to publish national action plans and policies to protect the labour rights of all workers, including migrant workers without discrimination.
Capacity building activities and training for government, police, parliamentarians, civil society and other stakeholders were also among the list of recommendations.
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 13th June 2007
RIGHTS of migrant workers in Asia and Arab regions were discussed at the first of its kind inter-regional conference held in Qatar.
Participants from Bahrain and other countries in the region called upon all governments to safeguard and strengthen human rights and basic liberties, including those of migrant workers, civil societies and other stakeholders.
They recommended all countries to publish national action plans and policies to protect the labour rights of all workers, including migrant workers without discrimination.
Capacity building activities and training for government, police, parliamentarians, civil society and other stakeholders were also among the list of recommendations.
The conference was organised by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its members – the now dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and Bahrain Human Rights Society, in co-operation with the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of Qatar.
This event, held in Doha, Qatar, gathered more than 50 Qatari officials and representatives from civil societies, non-governmental organisations and trade unions from several Arab and Asian countries.
Participants reviewed the abuse suffered by migrant workers in their countries of origin as well as in host countries.
Types of abuse discussed included the exploitation of migrant workers at the hands of recruitment agencies, in the issuance of fake and/or double contracts, shouldering travel expenses on migrants and employing them in jobs differing from those stipulated in the contract, including indecent jobs.
“Human trafficking and human rights violation of migrant workers has become a major concern in the region,” centre vice-president Nabeel Rajab told the GDN.
“Gulf countries are known to be the biggest receiving countries of migrant workers and the biggest violators of their rights.
“We see this conference as an advanced step and look forward to other countries in the Gulf following suit.”
The conference called for all countries to recognise the International Day of Migrants on December 18 and to promote and protect the rights of migrants.
It was suggested that campaigning for the conclusion of bilateral agreements between origin and host countries on the regulation of migration was also needed.
A call went out for contracts to be ratified by labour ministries in both origin and host countries and for sponsors to be legally registered with these bodies.
Participants also suggested that countries treat migrant workers as equal before the national labour law and that domestic work to be legislated within national labour laws.
In addition, it was recommended that non-governmental organisations publish a booklet on migrants’ rights and for migrant workers to be involved in trade unions and have access to counselling and advice bureaus.
Furthermore, it was suggested that FIDH and NHRC of Qatar should establish a progress review, twice a year, on the legislation and on the social situation of foreign workers in the GCC.
FIDH should also facilitate the establishment of an inter-regional network, between Arab and Asian organisations interested in the issues related to the situation of migrant workers through regular meetings and exchange of information.
Mr Rajab said the conference would be followed by several meetings in the coming months.
The FIDH is also working on making a comprehensive report on the situation of migrant workers in the Gulf region, he added.
“The recommendations have been sent to various civil societies, non-governmental organisations and government bodies in Asia and Arabia. They will be followed and we will see how they are implemented,” noted Mr Rajab.
becky@gdn.com.bh
© Gulf Daily News