No
Free Trade Pacts Without Reform
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The United States and the
European Union should not
sign free trade deals with
the UAE until it ends its
mistreatment of foreign
workers.
One of the world’s largest
construction booms is
feeding off of workers in
Dubai, but they’re treated
as less than human. It’s no
surprise that some workers
have started rioting in
protest. What’s surprising
is that the government of
the UAE is doing nothing to
solve the problem.
Middle East and North Africa director at
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
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The UAE was one of the 14
countries in the world that the
US blacklisted
(TIER 3)
for
human trafficking..... The
Fifth Annual Trafficking in
Persons Report (2005)
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Millions of people around the world
still suffer in silence in slave-like
situations of forced labour and
commercial sexual exploitation from
which they cannot free themselves.
Slavery today involves human
trafficking, forced labour, debt
bondage, child labour, and forced
prostitution.
Trafficking in persons is
an important issue in the UAE.
The
U.S. State Dpt. 'Trafficking in Persons
Report' stated that,
the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is a
destination country for men, women and
children trafficked primarily from South
and East Asia and the former Soviet
Union for the purposes of sexual and
labor exploitation.
One of the reasons that the problem is
so little recognized is because slavery
today bears little resemblance to the
familiar images of whips, chains, and
slave auctions that characterized
slavery in the past.
Although most slaves are no longer sold
at public auctions, their lives are no
easier than the lives of their
predecessors. (It's
noted that, before British intervention,
the area was notorious for its pirates
and slave trade and was called the
Pirate Coast. More at
UAE History) Indeed,
for many 'slaves', conditions today are
more miserable and dangerous than in the
past.
India is a large exporter of migrant
workers to the UAE, where labour
practices are in question. The United
Arab Emirates, ranked as having one of
the worst records of human rights
violations in Middle East.
In Dec. 2004, 'Khaleej
Times'
exposed the plight of over 1,400
unpaid workers
who are living in dire straits
in Abu Dhabi
had threatened to commit a mass suicide!
In a recent report a 24 year-old Indian
worker committed suicide in his living
quarters, as he failed to get salary for
the past few months. (Circumstances
cut short young man's big dreams)
"A day before his death, he borrowed 50
fils from me to buy a postage stamp to
post the letter to his family. His
situation was such that he didn't even
have enough money to bid his family
good-bye. Giving an insight into his
desperate situation, a co-worker said.
According to investigation sources, he
was suffering from severe depression
that ultimately led to his death.
"Nearly 75-80% of suicide cases over
here are due to the same reason.
Loneliness coupled with a strong sense
of helplessness drive many people to
take this extreme step," said the
source.
A nongovernmental organization,
Anti-Slavery International, released a
report recently condemned the
trafficking of humans, many of whom are
women and children. The NGO report also
outlined trafficking of boys to the
United Arab Emirates. (See pictures
taken by Anti-Slavery International
photographer in
Dubai, Click Here.)
Foreign women are lured to the U.A.E.,
under false pretenses and subsequently
forced into sexual servitude,
often unprotected, with large numbers of
partners, and to work unsustainably long
hours. Many victims suffer mental
break-downs and are exposed to
sexually-transmitted diseases, including
HIV and AIDS. They are often denied
medical care and those who become sick
are sometimes even killed.
The UAE labour market has presently
around 300,000 illegal workers who have
absconded their sponsors, Minister of
Labour and Social Affairs Dr Ali bin
Abdullah Al Kaabi disclosed in last week
of Dec. 04.
He also admitted in an interview with
the Abu Dhabi Radio, the existence of
cases of administrative corruption in
his ministry. "One example of corruption
is that of an employee of the ministry
who has 70 trade licences,” Dr Al Kaabi
said.
It's futile to complain because the
traffickers here operate with almost
total impunity. According to the Indian
embassy, winning a legal case has proved
to be futile for many Indian expatriates
as the court verdict in their favour
remains unimplemented for years.
View:10
Smart Reasons to STOP Port Deal!
Updated: Jan. 01, 2005
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