The stories of two separate migrant workers in the Indian media in recent weeks, have shone a spotlight on the terrible working conditions that hundreds of thousands of workers face in West Asia. The unexplained death of a Telanganan labourer, Chitam Malaya, while working in Dubai, and the overwork and torture that domestic worker Manjusha had to endure while working in Saudi Arabia, are just two examples in a system that is founded on ruthless exploitation of vulnerable workers. In countries like Bangladesh, the migration of workers is supported and facilitated by layers of government officials and labour intermediaries who profit from the desperation of impoverished workers.
The stories of two separate migrant workers in the Indian media in recent weeks, have shone a spotlight on the terrible working conditions that hundreds of thousands of workers face in West Asia. The unexplained death of a Telanganan labourer, Chitam Malaya, while working in Dubai, and the overwork and torture that domestic worker Manjusha had to endure while working in Saudi Arabia, are just two examples in a system that is founded on ruthless exploitation of vulnerable workers. In countries like Bangladesh, the migration of workers is supported and facilitated by layers of government officials and labour intermediaries who profit from the desperation of impoverished workers.
