Passport confiscation most rampant violation of human rights in Gulf: unionist 

‘South Asian countries must work together to protect citizens from human trafficking’

Sandeep Singh Grewal

The confiscation of workers’ passports by employers is a serious issue and constitutes one of the most rampant violations of human rights in Gulf States, a top union official said yesterday.

P. Haridasan, Divisional Director of Workers Rights at the International Trade Union Confederation - Asia Pacific, explained that several workers literally become slaves after their employers take away their passports.

“This is a big problem which workers as well as the governments are aware of but are turning a blind eye to. Strict laws to punish employers who confiscate the passports of their workers should be implemented in these countries,” the official told Bahrain Tribune yesterday.

Speaking at a conference on human trafficking and labour exploitation held at Ramee Hotel in Juffair yesterday which was organised by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) - Asia Pacific and GFBTU, Haridasan stated that home countries are sometimes only concerned with remittances rather than the welfare of their nationals.

He added that Indians living abroad contribute $31 billion to its economy, while 10 per cent of the Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is from Oversees Filipino Workers (OFW).

The official further called for a single body to be formed in South Asian countries to combat human trafficking and ensure that their citizens in Gulf, Arab and other countries have decent work conditions and wages.

The passport is a form of personal property, and should be possessed solely by its rightful owner. According to Bahraini law, without a court order an employer has no right to hold an employee’s passport for any reason whatsoever. Article (19) (b) of the Constitution ensures the freedom of movement of every person on the territory of Bahrain. 

Officials from the General Directorate of Nationalities, Passports and Residences and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority have said that passports should be kept in the possession of the workers.

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