Once a migrant worker arrives in the UAE, it is often the case that their passport will be confiscated right away at the airport. Employers justify these confiscations by claiming that they need the employees’ passports so that their visas can be issued. Other excuses include concerns about the safety of the passports if the workers keep holding on to them. Sometimes workers themselves give up their passports out of fear of losing them or having them stolen. However, even for the purposes of “safekeeping,” it is almost always the case that the employees do not have direct access to their passports.
Once employers have trapped their employees in the UAE by confiscating their passports, they have them sign lengthy contracts, which are often in Arabic or English, with little to no assistance with translation. After starting work, employees find themselves having to live in packed accommodations, sometimes with up to 10 people trying to inhabit one room. According to Human Rights Watch, some workers were only given food after their work for the day was done. Other reports include employers deducting food costs from their employees’ salaries. If a worker were to fall ill, it would often be the case that the cost of health care provided would be deducted from their salary. Those that are less lucky have no access to health care at all, especially for conditions that arise due to inadequate working conditions or physical abuse.
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