Oman

Is Any Country in The Middle East Safe for Migrant Workers?

This week, the Philippine government determined that out of all the countries in the Middle East, only two - Oman and Israel – qualify as “safe” for its migrants. This decision becomes all the more shocking considering the low standards set by the Philippine government in order for countries to qualify as “safe”.

UN human rights chief notes changes under way in Gulf region, highlights key concerns

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Monday she believes there is an “encouraging level of governmental activity to improve human rights” in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, especially in the area of economic and social rights, children’s rights and human trafficking, while also noting an array of continuing concerns about women’s rights, migration, statelessness, and freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Migration and the Gulf

This collection of essays is the first of three volumes devoted to Migration and the Arab World. The 19 authors whose essays appear in this first volume address several salient questions: What are the sizes and characteristics of the non-national workforces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries? Which “push” and “pull” factors have driven and continue to drive this phenomenon? What effects has labor migration had on the sending and receiving countries, and on the migrants themselves?

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