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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

While extending the scheme to migrant workers could improve access to these benefits, it remains to be seen how it will operate in practice. In Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, where state social insurance institutions administer certain employment-related benefits, implementation has faced challenges.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Migrant workers in Oman’s private sector are now covered by the country’s Sick and Extraordinary Leave Insurance Scheme, with employers required to make monthly social insurance contributions to fund these benefits under the Social Protection Law. buff.ly/KE9hMKB

mrrors.org

Oman to include migrant workers in the Sick and Extraordinary Leave Insurance Scheme from 19 July - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Accessing data on migrant labour in the region is exceedingly difficult, and Gulf states must make public the data they hold, or could compile, to increase transparency and guide policy. While this brief focuses on Bahrain, the lack of data extends across the six Gulf countries.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

In recent years, access to data on migrant workers in #Bahrain has eroded, with government bodies discontinuing periodic reports or amending them to remove key information, such as information on registered worker injuries. buff.ly/9O8ZAj2

mrrors.org

Bahrain's Data Deficit: Disappearing Numbers and Broken Links - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

In a separate announcement, Qatar also reduced the grace period for overstaying to 15 days, making it difficult for workers to truly enjoy the benefits of job mobility.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Recruitment offices face new regulations, and the labour ministry can now publicly name employers who repeatedly violate the law. The law also mentions freelance workers, excluding them from labour law coverage, with a new regulatory framework to be issued to cover them.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

#Qatar has recently announced new amendments to its labour law, the most significant since the 2020 reforms. Among other things, it revises the individual labour dispute resolution process, puts further restrictions on labour strikes, and makes joint committees mandatory. buff.ly/MoGJoCJ

mrrors.org

Overview of Qatar’s new Labour Law Amendments - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

The Kafala system thrives even in times of extreme crisis, and employers are not held accountable for their unethical practices. Some workers say even when principal clients paid the contractor, the employer misused the opportunity and reneged on their contractual obligations.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

During the war, many migrant workers across the Gulf lost their jobs, faced unpaid wages, or were abruptly forced to leave, a MRRORS investigation has found. Employers and host governments offered no protection, instead pushing migrants into even more difficult situations. buff.ly/vXe7MzX

mrrors.org

Forced exits, unpaid wages, and uncertain future - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The decision provides workers with a formal legal process to file a complaint with the authority, demonstrate employer misconduct or abuse, and transfer their sponsorship.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Kuwait’s Public Authority of Manpower has recently issued a decision allowing migrant workers to change employers before completing one year of service if they experience employer abuse or negligence. buff.ly/DToHpxf

mrrors.org

Kuwait Eases Job Transfer Rules for Migrant Workers Abused by Employers - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

The Gulf Health Council (GHC) has updated the regulations for the WAFID Programme, the #GCC’s unified medical screening system for migrants, expanding the GHC’s responsibilities and establishing a new Grievance Committee to review appeals and complaints under the programme. buff.ly/GlkvRLv

mrrors.org

Gulf Health Council Updates GCC Migrant Medical Screening Regulations - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

في #البحرين، حيث كان الاقتصاد يعاني أصلًا من ضغوط كبيرة حتى قبل اندلاع الحرب، يواجه العمال المهاجرون اليوم مستويات أشد من انعدام الاستقرار، في ظل غياب لأي دعم حكومي. وسواء صمد وقف إطلاق النار أو اندلعت الحرب من جديد، فمن المرجح أن تصبح ظروف ما بعد الحرب أكثر قسوة واستغلالًا بحق العمال buff.ly/55Loyfy

mrrors.org

العمالة المهاجرة في البحرين تتحمّل العبء الأكبر من تداعيات الحرب - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

In several cases, the #UAE state falsely used absconding charges on detainees, despite being business owners or not having any issues with their employers. Read the full report: buff.ly/IEJpv7y

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Hassan was detained when he was at the Ibn Battuta Mall to pick up food for delivery. He feels CID officers might have identified him using the AI cameras and located him through his phone’s location. #UAE #Pakistan

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

On 25 April, Abbas was detained by CID officers at the Mall of the Emirates. Two Emiratis dressed in plain black clothes approached him, snatched his phone, & asked to see his Emirates ID. “They didn’t explain anything. They just told me, ‘come with me’. But I had already realised they were CIDs.”

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

The deportees told MRRORS that they saw hundreds of other Pakistani Shias inside detention facilities, jails, airports, & deportation flights. None of the migrants interviewed for this story said that they were allowed to pursue legal channels to challenge their detention & deportation.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Pakistani migrants have been detained, tortured and deported in #UAE’s anti-Shia crackdown amid Iran war. While the majority of those deported were Shias, several were Sunni Muslims who went to the Imam Bargah, also known as Hussainiya. buff.ly/IEJpv7y

mrrors.org

Detained, tortured and deported: Pakistani migrants recount UAE’s anti-Shia crackdown amid Iran war - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Saudi Arabia has recently revised its schedule of worker-related violations and penalties across various sectors, expanding the list of violations, increasing fines in certain instances, and reclassifying several violations according to the nature of the activity or sector. buff.ly/i1rGHq7

mrrors.org

Saudi Arabia revises its schedule of violations and penalties for work violations - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

In Bahrain, where the economy was already strained before the war, migrant workers are facing deeper insecurity & exploitation, with little to no state support. Whether the ceasefire holds or attacks restart, the post-war environment is likely to become even more hostile for workers. buff.ly/d5NgboN

mrrors.org

Migrant Workers in Bahrain Bear the Brunt of the War’s Fallout - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

#Bahrain’s Cabinet has recently revised the summer midday work ban for employees working outdoors under the sun, reducing it from three months to two and a half months. buff.ly/IMUqnJJ

mrrors.org

Bahrain shortens summer midday work ban period - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Human rights groups have called on the ILO GB to reject Saudi Arabia’s request. In a joint statement, the groups urged the ILO to stand firm against the Kingdom’s efforts to dismiss the complaint.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Saudi is seeking to prematurely close an Article 26 complaint filed at the last ILO General Body meeting. In its 60-page response to the complaint, Saudi has not only deflected the arguments of the case, but has singled out by name a leader of the union that filed the complaint. buff.ly/JkW0Ci1

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Kuwait has introduced a ‘freelancers’ visa category, according to local media. The visa, with a fee of KD 750-1000 (USD 2450-3270), was expected to launch in mid-April 2026. However, given the ongoing conflict and the extent to which Kuwait has been impacted, the timeline may change. buff.ly/L9zTj0q

mrrors.org

Kuwait to introduce ‘freelance’ visa - MRRORS

As part of its labour market reforms Kuwait has introduced a ‘freelancers’ visa category, according to local media. The visa – with a fee of KD 750-1000 (USD 2450-3270) – was supposed to launch by…

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

The result is a show that expands empathy while preserving the status quo. It softens the image of the migrant worker, celebrates his craft, and acknowledges his emotional ties to the kingdom, but it does so within the safe boundaries of state-sanctioned storytelling.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Saudi TV Show Naseej, at its strongest, foregrounds skill and dedication; Yet it does not show any content that criticises the labour migration system, maintaining the familiar narrative: the “kind Saudi” trope. #Saudi #Migrants #Kafala buff.ly/NcORtUC

mrrors.org

Saudi Ramadan Show 'Naseej': Empathy rooted in status quo - MRRORS

Saudi media often portrays migrant workers in an anxious and narrow manner. The news speaks of them as a social and cultural threat. Commentators question their competence, asking why the kingdom…

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Gulf states must increase awareness of domestic workers’ rights among both employers & workers. However, awareness alone is insufficient when they work in strict live-in arrangements under the Kafala system, and do not have effective enforcement mechanisms to ensure there is compliance with the law.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Domestic workers across the Gulf remain excluded from labour law. In #Bahrain, there are no limits on working hours. On top of this, the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms for existing regulations further weakens efforts to safeguard their already weak rights.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Despite their essential role in households during Ramadan, Gulf governments continue to prioritise employers’ rights over protecting domestic workers, a pattern seen in previous years: buff.ly/JqN9nEl

mrrors.org

Domestic Workers: The Neglected Backbone of Gulf Households During Ramadan - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

During Ramadan, domestic workers across the Gulf remain highly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. As working hours grow longer during this month, many juggle nonstop tasks – cooking, caring for families, and managing household chores – often without enough rest or fair pay. buff.ly/QubRVIu

mrrors.org

Domestic Workers in the Gulf Remain Vulnerable to Abuse Ahead of Ramadan as State Protections Fall Short - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

The UAE has recently ratified the ILO’s 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention. While this is a step in the right direction, unless the Kafala system is dismantled, the eradication of forced labour would not be possible.

buff.ly

UAE Ratifies the ILO Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Rehabilitation for victims of human trafficking is limited by the Kafala system, which reinforces power imbalances between migrant workers and sponsors, and prevents victims from residing and working in Oman without a sponsor.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

However, significant gaps remain. The law does not establish a dedicated compensation mechanism for victims, limiting access to meaningful remedies and justice. The Omani government continues to overlook the widespread forced labour conditions faced by low-income migrant workers.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Compared to its precursor, the new law offers stronger protections for victims, including free medical treatment for trafficking-related harm and exemptions from immigration and labour-related penalties.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

#Oman has recently enacted a new Law on Combating Human Trafficking. The law expands and clarifies the definitions of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced labour, and slavery, while imposing harsher penalties on perpetrators. buff.ly/uebcTaj

mrrors.org

A Brief Overview of Oman’s New Law on Combatting Human Trafficking - MRRORS

Advancing the rights of migrant workers throughout the Gulf and wider region

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

What still remains under #Saudi’s #Kafala regime: - Work and residency visas are tied to the employer. - Exit permits are required, though the process has changed. - Workers still largely need employer consent to change jobs. - Close to 4 million domestic workers remain excluded from most reforms.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

#Saudi has made some strides under its Labour Reform Initiative which expand some rights streamline some processes, but these reforms do not equal an abolition of the sponsorship system

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

#Saudi has made some strides under its Labour Reform Initiative which expand some rights streamline some processes, but these reforms do not equal an abolition of the sponsorship system

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Migrant-Rights.org is now MRRORS — Migrant Rights Research Open Repository. We carry forward the same commitment that has shaped our work from the start. Dive into our latest reports at MRRORS.org www.mrrors.org/2025/10/refl...

mrrors.org

Migrant-Rights.org is now MRRORS — Migrant Rights Research Open Repository

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Reposted by MRRORS

Vani Saraswathi @vanishforever.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

My investigation for @migrantrights.bsky.social is a deep dive into how trafficking for human organs flourishes, facilitated by design and by the negligence of countries at origin and destination. www.migrant-rights.org/2025/04/alle...

migrant-rights.org

Allegations of organ trade and illegal harvesting are rife as GCC and African states fail to conduct autopsies - Migrant Rights

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Reposted by MRRORS

Vani Saraswathi @vanishforever.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

This is an ongoing case of a Ugandan family being coerced to donate the organs of Patricia, whose death in the UAE is suspicious. This is not a one-off case. Illegal organ trade is rampant in the Africa-GCC corridor. @migrantrights.bsky.social investigated this only recently. x.com/SpireJim/sta...

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

لكن رغم العفو، تواصل السلطات العُمانية حملاتها ضد المهاجرين بوضع غير نظامي، حيث تم اعتقال عدد من الأفراد بتهمة مخالفة قوانين العمل والإقامة.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

أعلنت #عُمان عن فترة عفو حتى نهاية يوليو، تتيح للعمال المهاجرين بوضع غير نظامي نقل كفالتهم دون غرامات، ولحاملي التصاريح المنتهية غير المتعلقة بالعمل، مثل الإقامة العائلية، مغادرة البلاد دون عقوبات. buff.ly/0hve2uc

migrant-rights.org

عُمان تعلن عن فترة سماح للمهاجرين حتى نهاية يوليو - Migrant Rights

تعزيز حقوق العمال المهاجرين في الشرق الأوسط

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

تتفاقم المشكلة بسبب غياب خدمات الصحة النفسية الآمنة وبكلفة مناسبة والمراعية للثقافات المختلفة والمتوفرة بعدة لغات، إلى جانب الخوف من الترحيل عند طلب المساعدة—مما يترك العديد من المهاجرين دون أي دعم خلال أزماتهم النفسية.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

بدلاً من معالجة الأسباب الجذرية، غالبًا ما تقوم السلطات بتجريم هذه الحوادث، وتتعامل معها كحالات فردية معزولة بدلاً من كونها أعراضًا لانتهاكات اجتماعية واقتصادية واسعة النطاق.

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MRRORS @mrrors.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

تشهد حالات الانتحار ومحاولات الانتحار بين العمالة المهاجرة في #الكويت ارتفاعًا ملحوظًا، حيث يُواجَه الناجون منها بالترحيل والإدراج في القوائم السوداء. وتسلّط هذه الحوادث الضوء على نظام عميق الجذور من الإقصاء الاجتماعي والاقتصادي الذي يؤثر بشدة على الصحة النفسية والجسدية للمهاجرين. buff.ly/3XCvXh0

migrant-rights.org

الترحيل بدل الرعاية: الكويت تفشل في الاستجابة لمتطلبات الصحة العقلية والانتحار بين العمال المهاجرين - Migrant Rights

تعزيز حقوق العمال المهاجرين في الشرق الأوسط

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