EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION:

“Every day, close to 1,000 Indian low-wage migrant workers are provided with emigration clearances to travel to Saudi Arabia. They are recruited to work in cafeterias, supermarkets, construction sites, and guest houses; they sweep streets, cook in restaurants, and serve in households as domestic workers. Together, they send close to 500 billion INR (approximately 8.2 billion USD) back to India every year.  However, Indian migrant workers can often face serious exploitation and deception during the migration process, leading to serious human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia which, at worst, includes forced labour.  Drawing on interviews with migrant workers, government representatives and recruiting agents, this report examines the systemic factors in the pre-departure phase of the migration process that contribute to the exploitation and deception of migrant workers by individual brokers and recruiting agents in the state of Kerala, India.  It documents the human rights abuses migrant workers encountered during their employment and residence in Saudi Arabia, and analyses the role played by the Indian government in regulating recruiting agents and ensuring access to remedy for migrant workers. It ends with recommendations to the governments of India and Saudi Arabia on how to prevent human rights abuses and protect migrant workers.”