The International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Sunday urged energy-rich Gulf countries to protect millions of migrant workers by reforming the sponsor system and introducing a minimum wage. ILO also called for allowing foreign workers to form representative organisations through which workers can seek redress for violation of their rights.
The recommendations were issued at the end of a one-day symposium at which two survey studies on migrant workers in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates were released.
"It is important that an introduction of a fair minimum wage be considered," in line with international labour principles, said the ILO, suggesting a monthly 60 dinars (215 dollars) for Kuwait. The ILO called for a "major reform" of the sponsor or "kafala" system, which has been criticised as bonded labour by human rights groups, and urged Gulf nations to consider foreign labourers as migrant workers and not guest workers.
In April, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called on Gulf countries to stop requiring migrant workers to secure local sponsors, saying the system fosters abuses. In Kuwait, immigration regulations allow for criminal charges against workers who leave their jobs, while in Saudi Arabia and Qatar workers must have their employers' permission to get exit visas to leave the country.
The ILO estimates that there are 15 million migrant workers in the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states, making up about 40 percent of the total population.