News

New Maplecroft report highlights poor labour standards in the Middle East

21/09/2009

Middle East - Human Rights Briefing

A new briefing on the labour rights situation in the Middle East has been released today by the global risks intelligence firm, Maplecroft. The report offers a concise overview of the region and provides a high level comparison of the worst forms of labour rights and related risks across 19 nations.

The briefing provides comparable quantitative country data across ten key areas of labour rights, highlighted by risk indices from Maplecroft's Global Risks Portfolio. These include: human rights risk, labour rights and protection, working conditions, child labour, forced or involuntary labour, trafficking risk, freedom of association, discrimination, female rights and minority rights. Risk data is supplemented by stakeholder views, maps and key recent events to provide businesses and investors with a picture of labour rights in the region.

Iraq is rated as the highest risk country in the region for labour rights and protection. There is no minimum wage and the average wage does not provide a worker and their family a decent standard of living. Furthermore, for an unskilled labourer to earn the average wage he must work 357 days in a year. Wages are often not paid on time and the country's overall health and safety record is poor. It rates particularly badly in relation to freedom of association. Its laws restrict freedom of association and collective bargaining and workers are not protected from anti-union discrimination. There have been reports of attacks against trade union activists during the year. Some which have resulted in the deaths of trade union members.

Saudi Arabia - “On June 27, Arab News reported a domestic worker was gang-raped by four men, including her employer, and left at the gate of her country's embassy.” (US State Department Human Rights Report 2009)

Iran also rates poorly in relation to labour rights and protection and is ranked second in the region, alongside Qatar. Furthermore, Iran ranked highest risk in the world in relation to working conditions. Although it has a minimum wage, it is not enough to provide a worker and his family a decent standard of living. Labour organisations also report that hazardous working environments are common in the country resulting in thousands of deaths every year. Freedom of association is very restricted and Iran rates particularly poorly in this section as well, ranking 2nd in the region. The US State Department reports that workers who organise outside of official unions face arrest and detention.

Qatar - “The Sri Lankan Embassy received between 50 and 60 complaints per day. Complaints included sexual harassment, delayed and nonpayment of salaries, forced labor, contract switching, holding of passports, poor accommodation, nonrepatriation, termination and deportation without cause, physical torture or torment, overwork, imprisonment, and mistreatment.”
(US State Department Human Rights Report 2009)

The Middle East's human rights record in relation to discrimination is also poor. Iraq and Saudi Arabia rank highest risk in the world in relation to female rights. All countries, except for Algeria, Israel and Tunisia are extreme risk countries. In Qatar, for example, there are reports of foreign workers routinely deported if they are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS after undertaking compulsory medical tests. Women in many of these countries face societal and workplace discrimination on a daily basis. In Egypt (which ranks 16th in the world), for example, women must gain permission from their guardian before they are able to work. Even in countries where laws do not necessarily prohibit employment, such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, a husband is still able to prevent their wife from working.

In Egypt around 1.2m children (7%) between the ages of 5 and 14 work
(UNICEF- State of the World's Children 2009)

The Labour Standards Briefing - Middle East, is the second in a series produced by Maplecroft. A more detailed report for China was released recently, which will be complimented by similarly comprehensive reports for Brazil, Russia and India to be launched later this month.

“The Middle East Labour Standards Briefing is an important tool for companies operating in, or starting up in the region. It provides essential risk insight using Maplecroft's labour rights and related human rights indices and offers companies a snapshot of the highest risk countries, allowing them to pinpoint areas of high concern in their own operations and supply chains”.

-Monique Bianchi, Human Rights Analyst at Maplecroft.