West Asia

The Gulf Forum on Temporary Contractual Labour: Ushering in a New Era of Cooperation on Labour Movement

by: Dr. CR Abrar

Last week an international symposium, the Gulf Forum on Temporary Contractual Labour was held in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi. Essentially a Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, the Forum was attended by nine labour receiving states and also by ministers of important labour sending countries such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Nepal, as well as civil society representatives of several Asian countries and the rights watchdog, the Human Rights Watch. The Forum has been viewed as the first step in a series of dialogues that is likely to have a major bearing on understanding labour movement dynamics by the state and non-state parties concerned and ultimately on the protection of Asian migrant labour force deployed in the region. The Forum was important for several reasons.

Firstly, representatives of the receiving countries were unequivocal in acknowledging the contribution of the Asian expatriate workforce in developing their economies. As Dr. Ali Abdullah AL Kaabi, the UAE Minister for Labour and host of the event in his keynote and farewell addresses noted that bridges and buildings of his country are monuments of partnership between the peoples of the region. The Labour Minister of Oman expressed appreciation of the role of foreign workers in the development of his country. Secondly, while the Forum acknowledged the sovereign right of states to develop their own labour and migration policies, it recognised the need to adopt coherent and comprehensive policies to effectively govern and protect temporary workers. It also recognised the need for special attention to critical issues that foreign workers face and committed ensuring protection to workers in all phases of employment cycle. There was explicit commitment by Qatar’s Minister for Labour that the GCC countries will harmonise their labour laws as per ILO standards.

Thirdly, the Forum recognised that the recruitment industry both at sending and receiving ends needs to be made accountable under national laws and regulations. Ministers of receiving countries were critical of the activities of recruiting agents of sending countries equating them with that of the “mafia” and demanded drastic action to reduce their exploitative practices. They also concurred with the sending countries’ view that the kafala or the sponsorship system that is currently in operation in most of the Gulf States has been a source of plight to many workers and have committed to review the system and explore alternatives. One of the participating ministers informed that some of the GCC countries are considering setting up of semi-government entities to administer contract workers.

Fourthly, the participants of the Forum highlighted particular need for protection of the workers engaged as house maids and drivers. Representatives of the ILO informed that the issue has been of concern of quite a few receiving states and framing of rules and forming of tripartite committees are underway in Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, so that foreign workers engaged in the domestic sector can be brought under the purview of labour laws of the countries concerned.

Fifthly, the Forum was greatly enriched by the critical perspectives on policies and treatment of migrant labour in the papers presented by professors of Bahrain and UAE universities and a trade union organiser of Bahrain. Their submissions belied the notion that the issue does not merit attention of the local academics and the broader civil society, which admittedly is in a nascent stage. The lively debates between them and the members of the governments were another important hallmark of the Forum. Likewise, the self-critical submissions of some Gulf ministers that the employers wield quite a bit of leverage in policy making with regard to foreign labour deployment and that of the Bahraini Minister for Labour and Social Affairs that increased wealth has made a section of the populace averse to physical labour added refreshing dimensions to the Forum. It will perhaps be fair to conclude that the Gulf Forum on Temporary Contractual Labour has opened up new vistas of cooperation of stakeholders of both ends. The willingness of the GCC states to engage with their own civil society institutions and also with the governments and civil society of the sending states and the presence of many of Gulf Ministers throughout the duration of the Forum and their active participation in the deliberations may be viewed as reflections of a serious commitment to engage on the issue of temporary contractual labour. It is hoped that this dialogue process will continue and bear fruits with the states at both ends committing to improve their legal and institutional frameworks to better serve the labour force deployed in the Gulf region.

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Dr. CR Abrar is Professor of International Relations and Coordinator of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and a member of Migrant Forum in Asia.