To handle the cases of domestic workers as they are not protected by labour laws of GCC

Migrant rights activists have demanded a separate department to handle the cases of domestic workers. Domestic workers are not protected by labour laws of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, so they need special treatment, they said in a workshop on Kafala system concludes here today. Countries sending domestic workers to GCC countries – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman – should have separate office to deal domestic migrant issue, said an expert of Kafala system Nizar Kochery.

“Most of the foreign workers are hired in the Gulf countries through Kafala system and domestic workers are special because they have to work at home,” he said.

According to Migrant Nepali Coordination Committee, about 2.5 million Nepalis are working in the Gulf region and all of them are hired through Kafala system — also known as sponsorship system.

Under the system, employers enjoy the rights of control over employees and harass workers by not paying salary, capturing passport and making them bonded labours.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) -a Washington based human rights organisation and crusader against sponsorship system of Gulf region -has termed Kafala system as modern slavery.

Status of domestic workers in Gulf countries is not better than slavery, July report of HRW stated.

Likewise, the workshop of lawyers, migrant rights activists and non-governmental organisations of major sending countries ­ Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – also suggested to ban individual demands from Gulf countries in case of domestic workers.

The department should at least examine employee and get assurance of timely salary, leaves, regular communication with families in home and travel arrangements, said chairperson of migrant’s coordination committee Mahendra Pandey.

Currently, above 20 per cent migrant workers are facing difficulties due to Kafala system. In the case of women migrant workers, affected population is about 32 per cent of around 2,40,000 Nepali women migrant workers in the gulf countries.

According to him, the workshop aimed at training lawyers, activists and nongovernmental organisations about Kafala system and build global pressure to revise it. “As the system is against International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 ­ Decent Work for Domestic Workers ­ we are advocating GCC countries to change their labour laws”, he said.

Ministry of Labour and Transport Management and other partners have also joined their hands in raising awareness about complications of the system and risk avoiding techniques. “We cannot change laws of host countries, so raising awareness is best option for us for the time being, said secretary at the ministry Dr Ram Hari Aryal.

Separate department for domestic workers is not feasible to us when the country is heading toward federal system, he said, adding that the best option is effectively implementing domestic workers criteria for now.

The government had set up domestic workers criteria for Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait three months ago.

Published on: 9 September 2011 | The Himalayan Times