The Rise of the Philippine Emigration State: Protecting Migrant Workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

ObjectiveTo summarise the evidence on health and well-being of Nepalese migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Malaysia.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesEMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus and Global Health databases.Eligibility criteriaStudies were eligible if they: (1) included Nepalese migrant workers aged 18 or older working in the GCC countries or Malaysia or returnee migrant workers from these countries; (2) were primary studies that investigated health and well-being status/issues; and (3) were published in English language before 8 May 2020.Study appraisalAll included studies were critically appraised using Joanna Briggs Institute study specific tools.ResultsA total of 33 studies were eligible for inclusion; 12 studies were conducted in Qatar, 8 in Malaysia, 9 in Nepal, 2 in Saudi Arabia and 1 each in UAE and Kuwait. In majority of the studies, there was a lack of disaggregated data on demographic characteristics of Nepalese migrant workers. Nearly half of the studies (n=16) scored as ‘high’ quality and the rest (n=17) as ‘moderate’ quality. Five key health and well-being related issues were identified in this population: (1) occupational hazards; (2) sexual health; (3) mental health; (4) healthcare access and (5) infectious diseases.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive review of the health and well-being of Nepalese migrant workers in the GCC countries and Malaysia. This review highlights an urgent need to identify and implement policies and practices across Nepal and destination countries to protect the health and well-being of migrant workers.

Download Full-text

Social Capital and Citizens’ Attitudes towards Migrant Workers

Social Inclusion ◽

10.17645/si.v5i1.798 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 66-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Abdoulaye Diop ◽

Yaojun Li ◽

Majed Mohammmed H. A. Al-Ansari ◽

Kien T. Le

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Migrant Workers ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Social Ties ◽

Gulf Cooperation Council ◽

Gcc Countries ◽

Wide Range ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Demographic Attributes ◽

Citizens Attitudes

This study examines Qatari citizens’ attitudes toward migrant workers. While much research has been conducted on citizens’ attitudes toward the abolition, tightening, or loosening of the Kafāla system in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with regard to migrant workers’ residency rights, and on their contribution to the economic development of these countries, little is known about how citizens’ religiosity and social engagement impact their acceptance of migrant workers. In the present study, we address this question by examining the effects of religious and social capital on Qatari citizens’ preferences for having Arab and Western migrant workers as neighbours, drawing on data from two nationally representative surveys in Qatar. The results indicate that, even after controlling for a wide range of socio-demographic attributes, social capital in terms of trust and bridging social ties has a strong effect on the Qatari nationals’ preferences.

Download Full-text

Understanding Variations in Gulf Migration and Labor Practices

Middle East Law and Governance ◽

10.1163/18763375-00601001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 32-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Steven D. Roper ◽

Lilian A. Barria

Keyword(s):

United Arab Emirates ◽

Migrant Workers ◽

Gulf Cooperation Council ◽

Legal Basis ◽

Labor Practices ◽

Legal Provisions ◽

Gulf State ◽

Gulf States ◽

Employee Relationship ◽

And Migration

This article examines labor and migration in the Gulf and variations in the legal provisions for workers. Since the 1970s, there has been a significant increase in South and Southeast Asian worker migration to the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates). Over the last four decades, these migrant workers have replaced Arab migrants throughout the Gulf. In order to deal with the massive influx of these workers, Gulf States have instituted a sponsorship system (kafala) which becomes the legal basis for residency and employment. This article analyzes the kafala system used in each Gulf State and explores the factors which account for differences in the structure and legal basis of the sponsor-employee relationship as well as variations in the application of the system to Arab and non-Arab migrant workers. We find that the economy of the GCC country heavily influences the type of kafala system used.

Download Full-text