James M. Dorsey

Qatar 2022: New Labour Laws Set To Be Announced

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

 Sawsan Morrar

Turning A Blind Eye To Underage Workers in Jordan

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

 Rob L. Wagner

‘Busted!’ Major Crackdown on Illegal Workers in Saudi Arabia

‘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

 James M. Dorsey

‘Kafala’ – The System That Threatens Qatar’s World Cup

‘Kafala’ – The System That Threatens Qatar’s World Cup

JAMES M. DORSEY:

 Ramzy Baroud

Child Labour: It’s a Human Blight That Shames All of Us

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 […]

 Common Ground News Service

Savvy: Young Egyptians Embrace New ‘E-Opportunities’

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.

 Rob L. Wagner

Stiff New Visa Penalties Announced in Saudi Arabia

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.

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar Cup Signals Wider Change to Labour Rights?

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.

 Steve Royston

‘Kneel at the Altar of Productivity’. Or Perhaps Don’t.

‘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

 Crossroads Arabia

Strike: Pressure on Saudi Expat Workers Telling

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

 Crossroads Arabia

“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

 Crossroads Arabia

‘Conscription’: Is It Really the Answer to Saudi Job Woes?

‘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

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar 2022: Report Puts Focus on Worker’s Rights

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.

 Editor, MEP

Qatar 2022: Villaggio Tragedy Adds to Critic Arsenal

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…

 James M. Dorsey

Trade Unions Reject Qatar’s ‘Labour Rights’

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.

 Abu Muhammed

Time for GCC Citizens to ‘Walk the Walk’?

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.

 Layla

Lingerie in Saudi: An End to the Humiliation?

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…

 Rob L. Wagner

Saudi: Scramble to Meet New Labor Deadlines

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…

 Steve Royston

Should the British Be Sorry For Past Mistakes?

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?

 American Bedu

Talk but Any Progress on Horizon for Saudi Women?

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’?