Nepal - Nepali migrants still severely exploited in the Gulf (2012)

An estimated six million Nepali workers live abroad. Around 700,000 of these find themselves in the Persian Gulf States. Every day, 600 migrants leave Nepal legally, whilst another 600 migrate illegally. They are often employed in the hospitality and construction industries, or as security guards and domestic workers. In January, Anti-Slavery International and the ITUC launched a campaign to denounce the severe exploitation they often face in the Gulf. Many fall into the hands of unregulated recruitment agencies, which promise them a better living abroad. They usually have to borrow large sums of money to be able to pay the recruitment agent, only to find themselves being paid half of what they were promised or not being paid at all once they reach the Gulf. With the exception of Bahrain, the sponsorship system remains commonplace across the region. Under this system, migrant workers’ visas are linked to one employer or ‘sponsor’, and in most countries they have no right to seek alternative employment. Combined with the low pay, this practice means that many thousands of migrant workers find themselves trapped in exploitation or even forced labour.