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Assessing the Labor Conditions of Migrant Domestic Workers in the Arab Gulf States

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  • Lisa Blaydes

Abstract

Millions of migrant domestic workers—the vast majority of whom are women—are employed in households across Arab Gulf societies. Despite the ubiquitous presence of these foreign workers in Gulf households, little systematic information exists regarding the working conditions and treatment of this population. Findings from a survey of Filipino and Indonesian women who were previously employed as migrant domestic workers in the Arab Gulf states suggest that more than half of households subjected workers to at least one form of mistreatment. The most common forms included excessive working hours, late payment of salary, and denial of one day off per week. A smaller percentage of women reported limited access to food and medical care, mistreatment that is correlated with physical and emotional abuse. Understanding more about the extent of mistreatment—and the correlates of abuse—assists in the development of remedies aimed at improving workplace conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Blaydes, 2023. "Assessing the Labor Conditions of Migrant Domestic Workers in the Arab Gulf States," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 76(4), pages 724-747, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:76:y:2023:i:4:p:724-747
    DOI: 10.1177/00197939221147497
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sabban, Rima., 2002. "United Arab Emirates : migrant women in the United Arab Emirates: the case of female domestic workers," ILO Working Papers 993662213402676, International Labour Organization.
    2. repec:ilo:ilowps:366221 is not listed on IDEAS
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    4. Suresh Naidu & Yaw Nyarko & Shing-Yi Wang, 2016. "Monopsony Power in Migrant Labor Markets: Evidence from the United Arab Emirates," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 124(6), pages 1735-1792.
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    6. Thiollet, Helene, 2011. "Migration as Diplomacy: Labor Migrants, Refugees, and Arab Regional Politics in the Oil-Rich Countries," International Labor and Working-Class History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 79(1), pages 103-121, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dina Bishara, 2023. "Introduction to a Special Issue on Labor in the Middle East and North Africa: Precarity, Inequality, and Migration," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 76(4), pages 627-645, August.
    2. Dalmazzo, Alberto & Leombruni, Roberto & Razzolini, Tiziano, 2023. "Anticipation Effects of EU Accession on Immigrants' Labour Market Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 16614, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Guang Yang & Masood Abdulla Badri & Saad Ibrahim Yaaqeib & Asma Salem Alrashdi & Sara Abdulrahman Alansaari & Mouza Awadh Almheiri, 2024. "The Hopeful and Resilient Maids: Assessing the Life Satisfaction of Female Migrant Domestic Workers in Abu Dhabi," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 2273-2298, December.

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