Temporary Contract Labour in the Gulf States: Perspectives from two countries of origin

A summary paper based on studies commissioned by the International Labour Office for the Gulf Forum on Temporary Contractual Labour

The recruitment and working conditions of temporary contract workers in the Gulf States, the majority of whom come from South Asia, is a subject attracting increased attention from the governments of both sender and destination countries, as well as from international agencies and public opinion. There is an evident concern to manage this contract labour in such a way as to meet the needs of both parties, with full respect for the human and labour rights of the workers concerned. To support this process and to facilitate greater cooperation between the sender and destination countries, the ILO has commissioned research which focuses in particular on the way that recruitment and placement systems for contract workers
operate in practice. These are complex issues, given that much of the recruitment in the sender countries operates on an informal basis, and that it can be difficult for governments to exercise full control over what happens at the local level. This paper aims to summarise the existing knowledge base about the recruitment and working conditions of temporary contract workers in the Gulf States, the majority of whom come from South Asia. It is based on the initial findings of work which is still in progress, in Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively.