26/01/2021
South Asian migrant workers seek justice as wage theft worsens under coronavirus | bdnews24.com
Companies that violate the Wage Protection System face penalties including one month imprisonment,
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up to QAR 6,000($1,648) in fines,
and aClassifieds
ban on issuing
new work permits.
Neither Oman nor the United Arab Emirates responded to requests for comment.
The Saudi government said workers can log violations through its online dispute settlement platform or,
if that fails, take their case to a labour court.
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But it said foreign workers who have left the country must assign a Saudi citizen or resident to follow up
on the case on their behalf.
Other Gulf countries also require departed workers to assign power of attorney to a local resident,
something unions and labour rights lawyers say is expensive and leaves those unable to do so with no
recourse to justice.
'NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE'
Many labour rights campaigners see the current crisis as an opportunity to rework what they say is a
system loaded against migrants.
"For years we have been fighting for work contracts to include a clause that gives default power of
attorney to embassies to file complaints on the behalf of workers," Kochery said.
"Now is the time to set things right, use community welfare funds better and protect migrant workers
who don't know how to access grievance redressal mechanisms. Everyone needs to step up to the
crisis because thousands of families depend on it."
That view is echoed by Isobel Archer, Gulf project officer of the Business & Human Rights Resource
Centre.
She said companies should take action to allow repatriated workers to file and follow up on claims of
unpaid dues from abroad and access documents in their home languages.
"Workers don't have any leverage when the labour system itself is not fit for purpose," she said, adding
that companies should not need states to intervene to ensure their workers have access to justice.
"We are talking about large multinationals with the resources... to help migrant workers access the
things they are entitled to," she said.
With their chances of returning to work low, many migrants desperately need those lost earnings.
The World Bank forecasts remittances to South Asia will decline by 22% to $109 billion in 2020, hit by
the global economic slowdown and oil price declines.
Motapalkula returned to India in March and is already feeling the pinch.
"My savings are running out and I have no job here," he said.
"I am trying, but it is becoming very hard for me and my family to survive. I want my wages back, I
worked very hard to earn them."
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