Trafficking and contract migrant workers in the Middle East

Int Migr. 2010;48(4):142-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2435.2010.00614.x.

Abstract

The paper addresses a number of issues regarding the extent to which trafficking may be applied to migrant domestic workers who enter under the kafala system of sponsorship in the Middle East. Migrant domestic workers are the most numerous of those mentioned in reports on trafficking for labour exploitation in the region. The discussion seeks to determine whether "trafficking" can be ex post facto, rather than ex ante? In other words, can the label of trafficking be attributed only after the worker has arrived in the receiving country and is victimized according to the principles of trafficking protocols? In addition, must there be a proven intent to traffic by agents, or can employers who harm and/or exploit them be considered as traffickers alone? Should the harm done to workers on arrival at their place of work be classified (and assisted) as victims of trafficking, or as exploited workers?

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Domestic Violence / economics
  • Domestic Violence / ethnology
  • Domestic Violence / history
  • Domestic Violence / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Domestic Violence / psychology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants* / education
  • Emigrants and Immigrants* / history
  • Emigrants and Immigrants* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Emigrants and Immigrants* / psychology
  • Employment* / economics
  • Employment* / history
  • Employment* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Employment* / psychology
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Household Work* / economics
  • Household Work* / history
  • Household Work* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Human Rights / economics
  • Human Rights / education
  • Human Rights / history
  • Human Rights / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Human Rights / psychology
  • Human Rights Abuses* / economics
  • Human Rights Abuses* / ethnology
  • Human Rights Abuses* / history
  • Human Rights Abuses* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Human Rights Abuses* / psychology
  • Internationality / history
  • Internationality / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Middle East / ethnology
  • Transients and Migrants* / education
  • Transients and Migrants* / history
  • Transients and Migrants* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Transients and Migrants* / psychology