Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Kafala System in GCC States

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Summary

Since the introduction of Kafala system, also known as sponsorship system, in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) along with Lebanon and Jordan in Mashriq region, some serious human rights violations have aroused. Kafala system is a sponsorship system designed to regulate and employ migrant workers in countries compromising of GCC states (Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kuwait, and Sultanate of Oman), Jordan, and Lebanon. Under the sponsorship system, a contract is signed between worker and recruitment agency for a minimum of 2 years, in which sponsor assumes full legal and economic responsibility of the migrant, including visa status, residence, living conditions, wages, and health insurance. In other words, the Kafala system takes away workers’ rights and puts them in the hands of their sponsors. Additionally, the contract prohibits the migrant to change employing company or employer and/or to leave the country without the consent of the contractor.
Aforementioned requisites of Kafala system creates numerous possibilities for companies and employers to exploit and traffic employees. Accordingly, millions of migrants, mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines, have been subjugated, abused, and harmed in what many people describe it as “modern slavery.” Despite numerous changes within jurisdictions of aforementioned countries, little progress has been made since the establishment of the Kafala system largely attributed to the unawareness of this problem and the lack of willingness from GCC country governments. According to Jessica Caplin, “There is currently little NGO and civilian involvement in the struggle for greater rights” (Caplin, 200...

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...HE GCC
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