As reported previously, workers in Bahrain have endured mass repression as they have struggled to open up democratic spaces. The government is now trying to neutralise workers’ power by setting up a yellow, pro-government union federation. In neighbouring Qatar, while the government is trying to deflect criticism about its appalling treatment of migrant workers by setting up a complaints hotline, it has now created a new ‘App’ for employers to report ‘absconding’ migrant workers to the authorities.
Category: Bahrain
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Workers in Arab Gulf countries facing increasing hurdles to organising
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Bahrain migrant workers defy deportation threats
The working conditions for millions of migrant workers in the oil producing countries in West Asia are notoriously bad. Bahrain itself has become even more repressive in the last few years as the government has suppressed a popular anti government movement. This week, 2,000 garment workers returned to work after a week-long strike having won some improvements to their pay and conditions. Their heroic stand is very significant considering the prevailing attitudes and laws against migrant workers.