Introduction
The Washington Center for Human Rights has been monitoring the situation of foreign working women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for several years now. Unfortunately, we have found that despite efforts to curb the practice of modern slavery, it continues to be rampant in the UAE. This report is an attempt to shed light on the issue and to condemn the continuation of modern slavery against foreign working women in the UAE.
Background
Modern slavery is a term used to describe various forms of exploitation that involve the control and exploitation of one person by another. This includes forced labor, debt bondage, and human trafficking. According to the Global Slavery Index, an estimated 40.3 million people were living in modern slavery in 2016. Of this number, women and girls accounted for 71% of all victims.
The UAE is a country that has been accused of turning a blind eye to the exploitation of foreign workers, particularly women. Many foreign women travel to the UAE to work as domestic workers or in other low-wage jobs. They often come from impoverished countries in Asia and Africa and are lured to the UAE with promises of high wages and good working conditions. However, upon arrival, many of these women find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt bondage, forced labor, and other forms of exploitation.
Examples of Modern Slavery in the UAE
Debt Bondage
One of the most common forms of modern slavery in the UAE is debt bondage. This occurs when workers are forced to take out loans to pay for recruitment fees and other expenses related to their travel to the UAE. These loans often have exorbitant interest rates, and workers are required to pay them back through their wages. However, the wages paid to these workers are often so low that it is impossible for them to ever pay off their debt.
One example of debt bondage in the UAE is the case of Ritu, a domestic worker from India. Ritu was promised a job in the UAE with a salary of 1,500 dirhams ($408) per month. However, when she arrived in the UAE, she was told that she owed 50,000 dirhams ($13,600) in recruitment fees and other expenses. She was forced to sign a contract agreeing to work for two years to pay off her debt. Ritu was then made to work long hours, with no days off, and was paid only 800 dirhams ($218) per month. She was not allowed to leave the house, and her employers confiscated her passport.
Forced Labor
Forced labor is another form of modern slavery that is prevalent in the UAE. This occurs when workers are forced to work under the threat of physical harm, or when their employers confiscate their passports to prevent them from leaving. In some cases, workers are also subjected to physical and sexual abuse.
One example of forced labor in the UAE is the case of Maryam, a domestic worker from the Philippines. Maryam was promised a job in the UAE with a salary of 1,500 dirhams ($408) per month. However, upon arrival, her employer confiscated her passport and forced her to work long hours with no days off. Maryam was not allowed to leave the house, and her employer subjected her to physical and sexual abuse. Maryam eventually managed to escape and was able to report her employer to the authorities. However, she was unable to recover the wages she was owed.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is another form of modern slavery that is prevalent in the UAE. This occurs when individuals are transported across borders for the purpose of exploitation. In many cases, women and girls are trafficked into the UAE for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation.
One example of human trafficking in the UAE is the case of Aisha, a domestic worker from Ethiopia. Aisha was promised a job in the UAE as a domestic worker with a salary of 2,000 dirhams ($545) per month. However, upon arrival, her employer confiscated her passport and forced her to work long hours with no days off. Aisha was not allowed to leave the house, and her employer subjected her to physical and sexual abuse. Aisha eventually managed to escape and was able to report her employer to the authorities. However, she was unable to recover the wages she was owed.
Legal Framework
The UAE has enacted various laws aimed at protecting the rights of foreign workers. For example, the UAE’s Labor Law prohibits forced labor and requires employers to pay workers in a timely manner. The UAE’s Immigration Law also requires employers to provide their workers with adequate living conditions and to pay for their repatriation upon the completion of their contract.
However, despite the existence of these laws, the UAE has been criticized for its lack of enforcement. In many cases, employers who engage in modern slavery are not held accountable for their actions. This is due in part to the fact that foreign workers are often hesitant to report abuse for fear of retaliation or deportation.
Conclusion
The Washington Center for Human Rights condemns the continuation of modern slavery against foreign working women in the UAE. Despite the existence of laws aimed at protecting the rights of foreign workers, modern slavery continues to be rampant in the UAE. Workers are forced to take out loans to pay for recruitment fees and other expenses related to their travel to the UAE, and are then trapped in a cycle of debt bondage, forced labor, and other forms of exploitation.
The UAE must take immediate action to address this issue. The government must enforce existing laws and hold employers accountable for their actions. It must also work to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for foreign workers, and provide them with the protections and support they need to live and work in the UAE safely and with dignity. The Washington Center for Human Rights stands ready to support efforts to end modern slavery in the UAE, and calls on the international community to join us in this important endeavor.