Abuses on U.S. bases in Persian Gulf ensnare legions of migrant workers
Summary
Date Reported: 27 Oct 2022
Location: Kuwait
Companies
Kuwait Resources House - Employer , Vectrus - Other Value Chain Entity , Amentum - Other Value Chain EntityOther
Government ( Public Entities ) - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Nepal , Engineering , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Nepal , Military/defence , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Military/defence , Gender not reported )Issues
Poverty Wages , Recruitment Fees , Freedom of Movement , Recruitment FeesResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Media
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: None reported. KRH denied all the allegations
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 27 Oct 2022
Location: Kuwait
Companies
Tamimi - EmployerOther
Government ( Military/defence ) - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Transport: General , Gender not reported )Issues
Recruitment FeesResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Media
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: None reported. Tamimi denied the allegations.
Source type: News outlet
Foreign workers for defense contractors on at least four U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf are trapped in their jobs by abusive employment practices that they say prevent them from returning home or even looking for better work in the region, more than 30 current and former workers said in interviews.
Many of the thousands of migrants employed on Persian Gulf bases have had their passports confiscated, been saddled with onerous debts after paying illegal recruitment fees...
The companies that provide food, repair vehicles and supply other services to the U.S. military routinely turn down requests from civilian employees for release papers they need to leave their jobs...
The workers, mainly from South Asia, are employed as mechanics and laborers by Kuwait Resources House (KRH), a large subcontractor for major defense firms at several American military bases in the Persian Gulf, including U.S.-headquartered Vectrus and Amentum...
Ten current and former workers said many KRH employees cannot seek better-paying jobs, or in some cases, even go home, because the company blocks them from leaving...
[Subscription required. This article also applies to Kuwait & Gulf Link Holding.]