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Showing posts with the label Middle East

OFWs exposed to abuses in the Middle East

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Stranded Filipino domestic helpers in Saudi Arabia. In an unprecedented move by the Saudi government to cleanse its country of foreign undocumented workers in response to its impending plan for complete Saudization of its labor force has created unexpected shivers to the spines of those illegally working in the kingdom. Recently, the Saudi government has threatened to arrest foreign workers who are working without the necessary working permits from the Saudi government. But how did it come to this point? This question is even made more complicated at the way foreign workers, especially domestic helpers, are treated at the work places, where most of them had experienced cultural shocks and physical abuses by their employers. Hence, some of them were left without any choice but to run away. And there are instances when their problems were made even more serious when they encounter inept and maniacal embassy officials who ignored the pleas of these hapless Filipino female workers....

Demand for foreign workers high in MidEast

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Despite regional political turmoil and the continuing global economic slowdown, demand for foreign workers remains high in the Gulf region, according to a study sponsored by Western Union (NYSE:WU), a leader in money transfer and global payment services. "Despite the political uprisings and civil unrest in some parts of the Middle East and North Africa, the region is still witnessing moderate growth, and in the Gulf countries there is an even stronger imperative to sustain economic growth and meet social needs. We expect opportunities for international workers to remain strong and with that remittance flows from host to home countries," said Jean-Claude Farah, Western Union's Senior Vice President for the Middle East and Africa. "The Asia Pacific region has been a significant source of labour for Gulf countries -- led by India, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and Nepal.  This study should instill greater confidence for global worke...