They have also urged employers not to withhold the documents or salaries of workers who want to return home.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
International rights activists working for migrant workers' rights have called on governments and stakeholders to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and rights of migrant workers affected by the growing conflict in the Gulf region.
They urged governments of destination countries, governments of sending countries, employers, supply chains and international organizations to take immediate action to protect the lives, safety and basic rights of migrant workers. There are approximately 31 million workers working in the Gulf region, of which 1.9 million are Nepalese.
The joint statement was issued by the Coalition on Labor Justice for Migrants in the Gulf, Anti-Slavery International, Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), Equidem, Global Labor Justice, International Domestic Workers Federation, ITUC-Africa and the Workers' Network.
They have raised their voices in favor of the interests of workers after some migrant workers working in the Gulf region lost their lives and started losing their jobs. After the US-Israeli attack, Iran has also been continuously attacking Gulf countries. So far, 8 migrant workers, including a Nepali, have been killed by Iranian missiles.
They have also urged all parties to immediately cease hostilities and reduce tensions. They have emphasized the need to fully respect international humanitarian law, human rights law, and the United Nations Charter. They demand that all citizens and migrants in conflict-affected areas be respected for their freedom of association, freedom of expression, and democratic rights.
They have said that since migrant workers are at particular risk, the governments of the destination countries should provide equal access to early warning systems, safe shelters, protective structures, and humanitarian assistance for their safety.
They urge the governments of the destination and sending countries to arrange for the immediate, safe, and free repatriation of migrant workers. They have also urged employers not to withhold documents or salaries of workers who want to return home.
It has been demanded that the government and employers should not interfere with the rights of migrant workers to join organizations and express their opinions, and that special arrangements be made to ensure information, support, repatriation and protection for domestic workers from violence.
It has also been demanded that strict action be taken against employers who withhold salaries or illegally dismiss them in times of crisis by implementing an emergency economic security system.
