Qatar 2022: New Labour Laws Set To Be Announced
JAMES M. DORSEY: With pressure mounting by the day the Qatari authorities are set to announce a huge set of changes to the kafala system
Turning A Blind Eye To Underage Workers in Jordan
SAWSAN MORRAR: It’s a problem that’s growing by the day but little appears to be done to address the issue of underage domestic workers in Jordan
‘Busted!’ Major Crackdown on Illegal Workers in Saudi Arabia
ROB L. WAGNER: Although it had been widely anticipated the scale of the recent crackdown in the Kingdom has surprised many people
Child Labour: It’s a Human Blight That Shames All of Us
Last night at the hotel lobby of an Arab Gulf country, a family walked in aiming for the westernized café that sells everything but Arabic coffee. The mother seemed distant as she pressed buttons on her smart phone. The father looked tired as he buffed away on his cigarette, and a whole band of children […]
Savvy: Young Egyptians Embrace New ‘E-Opportunities’
MOHAMED EL SAYED, CGNEWS: The natural entrepreneurial spirit of many young Egyptians is being fashioned and directed in novel ways.
Stiff New Visa Penalties Announced in Saudi Arabia
ROB L. WAGNER: Social media channels in the Kingdom have been alive with chit chat surrounding the new visa rules.
Qatar Cup Signals Wider Change to Labour Rights?
Qatar's soccer league, in a break with a reluctance among Gulf states to give their largely expatriate majorities a sense of belonging, is next month organizing the region's first cup for foreign workers' teams.
JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar’s soccer league is next month organizing the region’s first cup for foreign workers’ teams – and is part of an effort to improve working and living conditions in the country.
‘Kneel at the Altar of Productivity’. Or Perhaps Don’t.
STEVE ROYSTON: Workers in the Middle East may be forgiven for pointing out the double standards of Western economists when discussing the issue of productivity
Strike: Pressure on Saudi Expat Workers Telling
CROSSROADS ARABIA: A substantial number of expat workers went on strike in Riyadh this week. It’s indicative of larger issues beneath the surface
“We Pray That You Die”: Saudi Clerics On Attack
CROSSROADS ARABIA: Some clerics have taken it upon themselves to invoke the power of prayer to invite not just professional failure but for the demise of individuals
‘Conscription’: Is It Really the Answer to Saudi Job Woes?
CROSSROADS ARABIA: A novel approach to solving Saudi Arabia’s ‘national employment’ issue has been suggested by a writer on an Arabic daily
Qatar 2022: Report Puts Focus on Worker’s Rights
JAMES M. DORSEY: The publication of a new report examining worker conditions in Qatar ups the ante for the authorities.
Qatar 2022: Villaggio Tragedy Adds to Critic Arsenal
JAMES DORSEY: Critics are asserting Qatari building standards are shoddy and cast doubt on the safety standards of stadiums…
Trade Unions Reject Qatar’s ‘Labour Rights’
JAMES DORSEY: According to the ITUC “workers are dying in Qatar as they build World Cup stadiums, suffering large scale exploitation every day.
Time for GCC Citizens to ‘Walk the Walk’?
ABU MOHAMMED: The initiative to limit the amount of money expats can send home is another diversion away from the real issues.
Lingerie in Saudi: An End to the Humiliation?
LAYLAH: “Are you sure it’s your size, we also have them in XL…,”the man says. ‘Does my arse look that big in this abaya?’, the woman thinks to herself…
Saudi: Scramble to Meet New Labor Deadlines
ROB L. WAGNER: “We find ourselves sometimes forced to hire Saudis who aren’t qualified,” Jaad says, noting that some Saudis simply walk off the job without finishing their contract…
Should the British Be Sorry For Past Mistakes?
STEVE ROYSTON: If by expressing disapproval of past wrong-doings we are saying we will not condone such acts now, is that apology not worth making?
Talk but Any Progress on Horizon for Saudi Women?
AMERICAN BEDU: A forum held recently in Jeddah addressed issues of real concern to Saudi women. But will anything concrete come from the ‘talk fest’?
