Lekhanath Pandey

Worker sending South Asian countries — Bangladesh‚ India‚ Nepal‚ Pakistan and Sri Lanka — must unite to bargain with Gulf countries and to better protect their workers‚ migrant rights activists argue. 

About 11.9 million South Asians are working in six Gulf countries — Qatar‚ Saudi Arabia‚ United Arab Emirates‚ Kuwait‚ Bahrain and Oman. However‚ they are not enjoying basic labour and migrant rights. 

“Therefore‚ South Asian nations should unite and build pressure on Gulf countries to ensure basic labour rights for migrants‚” said Rima Kalush‚ 

programme coordinator at Migrant-Rights.org‚ in an email interview with The Himalayan Times. The California-based research firm advocates for the rights of migrant workers.

Global collective pressure is needed to pressure the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for reforms. South Asia could lead the campaign‚ she added.

However‚ she advised that the pressure should not be excessive. Excessive pressure may be costly to sending countries‚ she said‚ citing the example of the Philippine’s recent struggle to protect their workers in GCC countries. “GCC countries started exploring other sources of workers and approached South African countries for housemaids‚” she said. 

Philippines had stopped sending housemaids to GCC countries in July‚ 2012‚ following large scale exploitation and abuse. Indonesia also stopped sending women to Gulf countries a month later following the death of a housemaid due to the torture meted out by her employer. 

Bangladeshi activist ASM Nasiruddin Elan echoed Kalush. “We should set minimum criteria to bargain for migrant workers’ rights‚” he said‚ adding the criteria may be equal minimum wage and International Labour Organisation prescribed working hours and leaves. 

Gulf countries do not have a minimum wage standard‚ so workers get different salaries for similar jobs. The average pay of South Asian workers is below $400 (Rs 34‚800)‚ but Nepali and Bangladeshi workers are getting lower salaries. 

Average salary of low or unskilled Nepalis is $240 (Rs 20‚880)‚ while Bangladeshis earn just $200 (Rs 17‚400). Housemaids from Nepal and Sri Lanka have been earning lower. Their earning is $180 (Rs 15‚660) and $200 (Rs 17‚400)‚ respectively. However‚ the average earning of Filipino housemaids is around $350 (Rs 30‚450) and Philippines has been lobbying for a minimum wage of $400 (Rs 34‚800). 

Migration Forum Asia had advised South Asian governments to raise the minimum wage to $400 (Rs 34‚800) in June last year. “We designed the salary base to search for a common ground to bring South Asian countries together for safe migration. Unfortunately‚ the governments did not show interest‚” said programme officer at the forum Agnes Matienzo. 

According to her‚ there is no option for South Asian countries other than to be united if they want to protect their workers in Gulf countries.

Published on: 8 March 2013 | The Himalayan Times