Protect the human rights of migrant workers in the Middle East

[ana80020]

am a maid my mployer is from middle east..but am bless enough because theyre good to me..that everyone say am lucky..am witnissing abused from anyone around me..maids accused in stealin wihtout proof because the madam of here is jealous or doesnt like here..lock the freez u will eat in what they want u to eat..ur not allowed to talk to anyone,u doesnt have the right to answer cause ur just a maid.almost work for 24 hrs no day off..bless them!!

[yogustavo12]

I'm glad someone is stepping up and putting their foot on this issue. I have long witnessed several occasions of unjustified racism and abuse to immigrant workers in the middle east (Kuwait, UAE, Qatar). Not only caused by the citizens themselves but also partially the government (police) as well.

[Teato0o]

I agree with CreepyLizard, it is mainly in the Arabian Gulf, though, I am from there, and, thankfully, our family doesn't do that. But sadly enough, the majority of people in there are always mean to them. I actually believe that we will be, literally, nothing without them, they do all the hard work, and our 'classy' community thinks they are better than them.

That is why me, and a lot of friends and families, respect their work and respect them even more.

Hopefully, this message is spread.

[CreepyLizard]

I however dislike the usage of the term "Middle East" in the video - Migrant workers' abuse mentioned in this video is specifically a problem in the Arabian Gulf, if you'd expand it to "Middle east" then you might as well expand it to Asia in general cause its certainly a problem all across those countries as well, from Saudi Arabia to Singapore - the usage of "Middle East" in this case leaves some propagandish aftertaste

[overman84xxx]

yet they still come ;)

[CreepyLizard]

Great video, the treatment of many individuals towards maids in the Gulf is indeed a problem. However issues where housemaids steal and escape on the first day, fake abuse stories to get her full salary, and raped+abuseofchildren are also largely present and in the most despicable ways. This explains laws such as "taking passports" but I see abseloutely no excuse for the culture where it's normal to hit a maid in order for her to 'learn' here in the Gulf. 3aeb wallah.

[iMANTlS]

Slaves ??

No slavery in Islam !! and that's a FACT !!

[ofri75]

Arab and Muslim countries in the Middle East are not keeping basic human rights. In Saudi-Arabia women cannot walk alone, vote, or drive... Christians and Jews canot worship (or they will go to prison) and people who go against Islam are executed. In Iran woman who cheat their husband or even suspected are sentenced to death by stoning. In countries like UAE, Qatar only 30% of the population are citizens!

The only country in the Middle east that gives full human rights to all is ISRAEL.

[Teato0o]

@ofri75 "In countries like UAE, Qatar only 30% of the population are citizens!" How is the even related to human rights? UAE is a well developed country.

Oh Israel? Really? Well... I agree... Because you know? Testing chemical weapons, that are illegal even worldwide by the UN, on people is completely not violating humans rights. And killing hundreds for literally no reason is even more innocent. God bless your mind.

Oh, and 2 countries do not make the perfect example for Islam.

[MEYmedia]

@ofri75 Much to your dismay, Israel has a proven record of abuse against migrant workers which we have covered extensively on the Migrant Rights site.

[ofri75]

@MEYmedia - Israel is not perfect - but is rated as number 1 in human rights in the Middle East!

[CreepyLizard]

@ofri75 "christians and Jews canot worship (or they will go to prison) and people who go against Islam are executed." The only country that bans the freedom to practice other religions is KSA, in countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon ect - Churches are widely present. As well as Hindu temples, ect 2 Non-Muslims are in the parliament on Bahrain regardless of being a minority. The ambassador of Bahrain in the United States is Huda Nono, a Jewish Non-Muslim Bahraini woman

[CreepyLizard]

@ofri75 And I'm personally enjoying my life as an atheist in Bahrain without a problem. Thankfully

[ofri75]

@CreepyLizard - really? can you say out laud that you're an atheist? Can you say in the Bahrain Television, or radio or newspaper that you DO NOT believe in Islam, and that Islam is wrong? Can you eat pork in Bahrain, drink wine, go to clubs, kiss a girl (in the street, in public) or build a Jewish Synagogue..?

I dont think so.. I respect you, but your conutry is not letting you be completely free. You should admit it

[CreepyLizard]

@ofri75 1. There already is a Jewish Synagogue in Bahrain. 2. I say it out loud all the time. I operate the blog and the government probably knows about it. It's not blocked, no one cares. 3. Yes. I eat pork all the time. Yes. I drink all the time. Yes. We have over 100 nightclubs, leading Manama, the capital of Bahrain into being ranked as the 8th most Sinful city in the world on Askmen. 4. Kissed before. This part's based on the elected district representative. Any more questions?

[CreepyLizard]

A problem to athiests in Bahrain certainly is present, but it's hardly for the atheistic government as much as it's for the Islamist-loving population within the Sunni and Shiite sects in Bahrain - All in all it is generally safe to live a secular life for anyone in Bahrain - Challenges are present and this is why some of us are here to fight them

[iamOmarmG]

the hell with this video...maids and freakin drivers are all messed up...maids hitting children while their parents aint home...and drivers rapping lone women 1st time they get the chance to...get real , if we dont treat them like hell they would rebel , and some of..SOME of them are good and stright workers ...but the most are just..MESSED UP !!

[freeksa]

these are relay sad Stories !!

but nobody kidnapped them and force them to come to Saudi or any other ME country!!

if they didn't like it .. don't let them come, i don't mean that i accept some of the abuses , but i even pay my worker before the month ends and also i treat them well !!

in case if you didn't know .. some workers refuse to work for their servers !! imagin that their servers pay a lot of money for the agency to get these workers to there Country then they refuse to work?!

[kicsdeeros]

God bless u, its about time something is really done!

middle eastern countries-nitpick sharia; which demands that if u were to slap a slave he/she is freed! imagine that happening to the poor blacks kidnapped to slave in the west! some nonsense system called kafeel that is also employed to enslave ppl that just want to earn an honest living.

its a pity western leaders are in bed with eastern tyrants and the innocent suffer.

but surely justice will prevail.

shame on them (and not islam)

[snoopysnoop100]

Arabs, are good. Though some of them, specially Saudis, are racists. Just one sentence to describe it all..if you hand over a huge fortune to an illiterate person, imagine how he/she would use it. How much do you expect, those are kingdoms, semi-hitler regimes..LOL

[xaneesx]

I blame Saudi press for what has been done so far towered this issue

The press has never been submitted to media all the criminals against Saudi people by the foreign people although they are gaining a huge salaries more than the Saudi people themselves

Pls, dig deeper in this case in order to review your movie

[lucky5lolo]

sweet heart there is no human right even if you are from those countries

even woman don't have them kids no one only your money can protract you

[sidani86]

@rania8est no he's right u're pretty dumb, be quiet

[Mike10four]

It is time for those in power throughout the world to understand “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are part of the Laws of Nature transcending any civil- or natural-law and they applies to all living and social systems. These Rights were here before humans. See: youtube.com/watch?v=tdNYVZQYJq­I

[lebgirly]

I def agree that abuse must stop, but I know for a fact that many people do treat them good, including myself and my family. I am NOT saying that it is okay to abuse them, but most of the time,,,when you treat them tooo nicely they will take advantage. But,,,when it comes down to the main point,,, abuse is not acceptable.

[Sierrahh9]

This is really a sad and disturbing video. I have to write a reflection on it with my opinion.

[ArchRivalNeo]

This has been a long standing issue. I lived myself in Saudi Arabia for over 15 years and not once I felt welcomed there. Always lived like an expatriate there and watched on as white skinned people and others with foreign passports (US, UK, Canada, etc.) reaped the benifits of discriminatory pay policies. Felt very bad for fellow south asian brothers as well who worked their asses off in the scorching heat all for bare minimum wages. Exactly why I don't wish to return to the middle east.

[WavyMinds]

right..it shud be stopped every where not only in mid east but also in west...immigrants r facing these situations everywhere..

[hass341]

mad respect for the video.

can i feature it on re-volt radio?

[altair3feb]

I remember getting in a cab with a Pakistani driver. He told me he hadn't seen his wife & kids in years, and has been working as a cab driver for 14 years.

Instead of mocking these migrants, help them. They are human beings, they're also not freaks. They don't smell bad, they lack living in hygienic environments.

There's nothing we can do to change this if no one contributes to this organization.

Splendid video, I wish somebody would care about what's happening in Palestine though. :p

[ittihadi1988]

Those people come to Middle East to work. Some of them instead of working they commit many illegal things such as prostitution, selling drugs, killing, and thefts. I understand that a few of Middle Eastern a veeeeeeery few people are treating them badly for no reason. However, the majority are not. If you ask your self why the put this in the Newspaper? The answer is obviously calling to stop those people from hitting their workers.

[nasseradelmattar]

Excellent video !! excellent message !! whoever worked on this is very talented... hats off !!

[arthurthemonk]

The video is effective in communicating a message that we all are aware of but choose to ignore. I thank the the people behind the video for the effort, but like everything else that came before, this will be ignored and life will carry on. I have seen it for twenty four years and nothing has changed.

[danazubari]

This is so shocking!

[rania8est]

@MEYmedia No and you can't make me =p

[tryingtobegood1]

@rania8est i doubt anyone cares whether you watch the video over again or not, it does not seem like you have the brain capacity or HUMANITY to grasp the message of the video. you do not seem intelligent enough to understand the message of the video is to create AWARENESS of abuse WITHOUT protection or EQUAL rights that the workers in the gulf face.....

go read the qur'an 

[rania8est]

@tryingtobegood1

so why did you reply if you do'not care =p

and thank you i will go and read the qur'an :)

القرآن الكريم

[tryingtobegood1]

@rania8est Do you think its ok for Khaleejis to abuse other humans beings and then get away with it? if not then you should agree with the message in the video, but if you do then you have issues and i pray Allaah guides you then forgives you,because you have no sense of justice. this video is not labeling Khaleejis as racists or inhumane people but its simply stating the fact that the khaleej/al jazira has no good laws concerning safety of migrants

go read the qur'an with ur heart this time

[rania8est]

@MEYmedia I'm not going to wast my time and watch it again ... i know what you said and what you meant by talking about Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.... what about the Other countries they don't have abusive workers .... why do have to talk about Gulf region..

[tioedong]

@rania8est

the problem is not individuals, but that these people have few recourses to fight the abuse. Many good people in governments there are trying to help, but they face the inertia of the culture that sees domestic workers as something they own, not as women or men who have their own lives.

[rania8est]

that's only one side of the story .... what about the maids who kill women and children and what about the drivers who Rape women ??? and don't forget the stealing ..... they are not angels too

[MEYmedia]

@rania8est No, they are not all "angels," because they are human beings. Human beings make mistakes. Should we deprive them of their human rights simply because some of them commit crimes? Should we ban Kuwaitis and Bahrainis for existing because some Kuwaiti and Bahraini people commit crimes? The argument is not exactly logical, the majority of migrant workers are still deprived basic rights, and denying them such rights is still legal in our societies. This enslavement is wrong.

[rania8est]

@MEYmedia as you Said they are human beings and so are we .... so don't judge a country such as Saudi Arabia fore the bad doing of some individuals ...

[Omarew]

@rania8est you're dumb

[rania8est]

@Omarew

No honey that's you who is dumb you're just confused :)

[iamOmarmG]

@rania8est

HELL YEAH !!! :@

thats what im talkin bout...it even happend to me..we got a maid and the bi*ch stole from us but we found out...underline the rape thing , every freakin worker in ksa is trying to rape some lone women ...wtf?? ..

[Pandemonius88]

Very nice animation. Awesome editing. Good message, though like most charity, won't change much, although every individual life changed is something I guess.

[XtinaRawx]

Excellent production and so overdue !! KUDO's to the team!!

Cheers

XtinaRawx

[drpangloss48]

excellent video...terrific job. I lived in Qatar for 5 years and what happens in this video happens there as well. The plight of Nepalese, Philippino, Indian workers and others is gut-wrenching. The resource rich kingdoms of the Gulf are building there states on virtual slave labor. Conditions in some of the work camps are horrible, some without even A/C. Tales of labor unrest, worker being unpaid could be found in the local newspapers...as far as they are permitted to tell the story.

[algildea]

SUPERB! well done - beautifully made, passionate and humane - thank you!

[rickonami]

not all are abused, but a GREAT numbers did pass through this harsh life with us, i live in saudi arabia and i see and hear these problems everyday, im ashamed and i apologize to all the poeple who are abused in our country..... ALLAH will not show mercy to those don't show mercy to the people.

[moho1000]

great veido , but Im a little upset about some of what you said ,, cuz its not all true !!

Im from SaudiArabia and we have 2 mades and 1 driver and we treat them very nicely so its not fair to say that they are all abused or treated badly ..

and I know more than 20 families that all have mades and treat thim very nice ..

[MEYmedia]

@moho1000 Thanks for your input! However we did not imply that this is the case for all domestic workers, but the indubitable case remains that the great majority of migrant workers within the Middle East suffer severe discrimination. The narration is based on personal and factual observations, many of which are documented on the website Migrant Rights.

[mahjed]

this happen all the world, look how Americans treat the mexican worker!

[mahjed]

this happens in all countries; see how the americans trat the mexican workers!

[tryingtobegood1]

@mahjed i've never seen or heard of a mexicans being beaten or raped in america. or mexicans having there salaries pulled back, however you do hear about them getting lower salaries, but it is because of an ALREADY agreed upon deal, it is not something where they are tricked into thinking they will get a higher salary then once they move to whole NEW country they get there passports taken from them never to be able to leave again, and get paid lower salaries then promised, sometimes never payed

[osamathegreat]

Excellent message.I'm sharing it for sure :)

[meathena]

What a beautiful call to action. Thank you for speaking up for the rights of others!

[ayman2b]

love you for doing this

5 star sub

[Lhjunkie]

A powerful video. We must spread the word of such cruelty and modern day slavery that's being faced by so many people here in the Gulf.

[Dayaan]

I've witnessed my neighbour in Dubai bullying their made around as well. Never a pleasant sight. Your video is excellent. Hopefully these workers' plight will be realised.

[lizrael]

Amazing video! The creator is so talented and the message is very important.