India: Kerala workers in the Gulf face unprecedented levels of wage theft, with low awareness of rights & access to justice leaving many stranded & jobless
Summary
Date Reported: 8 Apr 2021
Location: Bahrain
Other
Not Reported ( Construction ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 25
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - India , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Right to Food , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Retention of identity documents , Personal Health , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: None reported. Some workers found new employers and others were repatriated but the workers have not received their owed dues.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 8 Apr 2021
Location: Saudi Arabia
Companies
Nasser S. Al-Hajri Corporation (NSH) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 600
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 300 - India , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Intimidation , Dismissal , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
Action taken: Lawyers Beyond Borders has received up to 600 complaints from workers allegedly owed wages, and is launching legal action on behalf of former employees.
Source type: News outlet
"How migrants in the Gulf are fighting discrimination during the pandemic," 8 Apr 2021
In the Gulf alone, over 700 Keralite workers have reported non-payment of wages since the pandemic began… with millions of migrant workers in the region, the true number is likely much higher.
Wage theft – the denial of wages or benefits rightfully owed to an employee – could devastate Kerala’s economy…
Since the pandemic began, close to 900,000 Keralites have been repatriated from around the world, the highest number of any Indian state. Almost 95% returned from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states…
Most workers are not aware of how to report their employers for withholding wages, leading to cases being registered late and delayed investigations. And there are complicated issues of legal jurisdiction. Those who have returned to Kerala cannot file legal cases against their employers without a power of attorney in their destination country.