A number of Asian countries have finally started to take measures against Gulf countries where their workers face abuse. As a result of this, in the most recent case, Kuwait decided to ban new visas for workers from India due to a high-profile dispute that the two countries have not been able to resolve.
It should come as no surprise that Asian countries are finally taking measures to protect their workers and demand that their rights are secured. Despite those countries’ dependence on the jobs that are provided for their citizens in Gulf countries and the billions of dollars in remittances they send, they have decided to speak out for their citizens. The Gulf states have unfortunately taken for granted some Asian countries’ reliance on them and some have perhaps fallen short of providing enough guarantees to prevent abuse. Despite the almost daily stories of abuse published in the regional press, the region’s states are yet to take concrete measures to hold to account those responsible. There have been few, if any, measures taken to instil a sense of responsibility in employers to treat their workers well. Until change comes in law and society, such disputes between the region and Asian countries will continue to surface.
