Interview with migrant workers in Bahrain
I just published my first interview in Migrant Rights. This is a sad reality in the Gulf, where slavery really does exist. Read the interview below to see for yourself what a lot of housemaids are going through (many suffer through much worse.)
Click here to read the interview.
Warning: it’s very depressing. But it’s a reality that ALL OF YOU should understand and be aware of! Our campaign exists for a reason. We are currently thinking of ways to start a petition in order to force our governments to enforce better employment laws. This is to help us ensure basic human rights for these migrant workers, many of whom are living in unacceptable conditions.
If you are interested please let me know. Unfortunately, too many people lack passion for this (and many are guilty of this to actively take part!) so I would need all the help that I can get. Preferably it would be someone in the Gulf area to help me find this information first-hand. Hardly do these issues ever get reported; and when they do, the reaction is never sufficient. I’ve yet to see an actual campaign that publicly condemns this.
Join the Conversation
This is really harsh. I can’t believe that for so many years we let our governments get away with approving these types of conditions. I am with you. I want to do something. Let me know what I can do to help you Esra’a.
I am so disgusted. How can people do this shit?
Oh god. This is totally creepy. The situation really is that serious. I once heard this story of a housemaid in Bahrain having to care of an old lady. The old lady didn’t give her any food. She only ate leftovers, and she had a specific plate and fork and what not. It made me want to go over to where that old lady was and kick her until her heart stops. Why the hell would anyone do that? I mean seriously. It is crazy.
Esra’a, I would like to help. Let me know what you need, for it’s summer already and I will have much time on my hands.
Disgusting!! Cruel, Mean, heartless, inhuman!! Those people should absolutely go to HELL!
You guys think this is bad?! You haven’t seen anything yet!
Our problem is that people don’t truly realize this mistake because it’s so accepted. They think they have the right to treat others like slaves as if these workers were born to be treated like this. There are some with worse living and working conditions but don’t even get PAID.
I will do my best to keep you guys constantly updated on what’s going on.
Murad and Layal: thank you both for wanting to help. I’ll e-mail you to let you know what you guys can do.
Thank you Esra’a for bringing up this subject, I agree with you, there are even worse stories about slavery in th Gulf, I was chatting with a colleague once and she told me that when she leaves home for work she locks her maid in the house. I asked her, what if there was a fire or an emergency? no answer. She preferrs to have the door locked than to find out the maid was having an affair with someone!
I met people who actually do not give salaries to their employees and keep them until it is time for them to leave!
I remember once asking a lady from Philippines about her religion, she answered ” if you want me to be a muslim I can be one” that shocked me. It turns out that her previous employer had forced her to wear a Hijab and so on..
Shockingly slavery does exist here.. Action should be taken soon to stop this inhumanity.
I never realized how bad the situation was in the GCC until I went to university in the States two years ago. It’s funny how being away from home (Bahrain, for me) and missing it so much can make you think about everything there. I always knew that workers were treated badly here, but now I actually see it more and more every day. I’m currently in Bahrain for the summer and just today I saw a bunch of spoiled little kids buy about two dozen eggs from a cold store in broad daylight to throw at any laborers they saw walking by. They did this while their Indian driver was driving (these kids were no older than maybe 13 or 14) and I felt so bad for the driver to have to drive these spoiled brats around while they treated other human beings like dirt. I was so tempted to buy a bunch of eggs myself and throw them at the kids. It’s bad enough that the kids treat others with such little respect, but what makes it worse is their parents don’t care and often treat these workers much worse. I can’t believe that people can think that they are so much better than other humans to actually physically and mentally abuse them in these ways. I’ve been trying to find a way to help these poor individuals, but I haven’t found many people who are willing to help make a difference. If you know of any way in which I can help, please let me know, and I’ll do whatever I can to help end this injustice.
As a traveler to the Gulf (an American of Indian extraction), I am extremely happy that people like Esra’a are finally raising awareness of the problems that South Asians face in this part of the world.
The situation could turn particularly dangerous in the UAE, where over 80% of the population is expats. This is a rebellion waiting to happen.
I’m not belittling this article at all, but it happens at all levels in Bahrain. For instance, I was contracted by an international company with a branch in Bahrain. When I got here from the UK, I found out that the salary wasn’t real. I was told that I should get married so that I didn’t have to rely on my own income and my husband could support me. I said I would resign if I didn’t get paid, and was told that I owed the company expenses for things like the plane fare, and was told that because my work permit hadn’t been organised yet, if I went to the authorities I would be put in prison for working illegally. One month I got paid $53 (of a £1990 salary), because I begged for money to go to the doctor. Eventually I went to the authorities and asked for help, which made things worse. They promised to help me get the money owed to me, and three months later I am still waiting. Luckily I found another job in Bahrain, which has enabled me to save up the money for the air fare home. There are still many Europeans and Indians working for this company who are not getting paid, and who are being intimidated.
It’s a dreadful situation for the Asians in Bahrain, but people of all nationalities are being exploited here.
Brook, I am sorry, but the situation of workers is INCOMPARABLE to yours! You are not living as a prisoner and frankly are not being paid as little as $50 on a monthly basis for 20 hours of daily work! Nor are you living in a society with a deplorable record of racism and abuse against your nationality.
What you go through is unfortunate, but normal amongst even locals here. Everyone goes through it, cases against employers are endless all around the world and not just here. If you think your rights are not being recognized, you have the choice to speak with the British embassy who will help you, or you can easily quit your job despite the consequences it may bring. You can also file a report with the international company and document your experiences for them to take responsibility. Lots of options at hand.
You are not being sexually harrassed or raped or beaten like many of these workers are, nor are you working in the scorching weather with no form of protection, watching your colleagues die of such conditions. You are free to go wherever you wish. You are not denied food or any communication with the outside world, in fact you even have access to the internet. Even with all the things you are going through, your situation is paradise compared to these domestic and construction workers.
Comparing your experiences with theirs is just so wrong and inaccurate on so many levels.
Not all nationalities are being exploited here. We all know for a FACT that Western foreigners and investors are favored among the citizens and hence why you probably got this job before a local did.