Tricked and Trapped: Human Trafficking in the Middle East, ‎pdf 4.1 MB

domestic worker explained, “many people are talking about going to the
Middle East to win more money. It’s very common to travel to the region.” In
fact, a Nepalese migrant community leader in Kuwait argued: “It’s almost like
a fashion. They want to go abroad but do not know what to expect. Nobody
is forcing them to come here.” 7
As a result of the growing interest of so many people in moving abroad
to work, recruitment agencies in countries of origin have taken on a more
proactive stance, openly marketing destinations and possible employment
opportunities in the Middle East. An official from the Nepalese Embassy
believed that “the recruitment agents are selling dreams. They go to the
villages and people there know that Kuwait is a rich country.” 8 In some cases,
the actual destination is chosen not by the prospective migrant, who may
not necessarily know which country to pick, but on the advice of their agent.
One woman explained: “I went to an agency in Ethiopia and they told me to
come to Lebanon. I had no idea about Lebanon beforehand.”
The role of private employment agencies
PEAs in the countries of origin and destination vary in their professionalism,
size and mode of operation. 9 Those that have a good track record seek to
provide adequate and accurate information to both workers and employers.
The more unscrupulous ones realize that there is the potential to make
enormous profits from commissions charged not only to employers and
PEAs based in the destination countries, but also to prospective migrants
who are willing to pay fees to be selected or to accelerate the process – in
spite of the fact that international labour standards prohibit the recruitment
agency from charging any fees to workers. 10 The development of these illegal
practices demonstrates the lack of monitoring of PEAs in countries of origin
and destination.
Similar prohibitions can also be found in national legislation in the region.
Indeed, in Jordan, the instructions on recruitment agencies prohibit the
agency from taking money from the worker, 11 and require that where an
7
Interview with an official from the Non-Resident Nepalese Association, Kuwait, 30
Mar. 2012.
8
Interview with an official from the Embassy of Nepal, Kuwait, 26 Mar. 2012.
9
PEAs vary widely in size. They may be licensed and certified or unlicensed and
uncertified. Some consist simply of one individual, while others employ a large staffs.
10
ILO: Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), art. 7.
11
Jordan, Instructions on the Conditions and Procedures for Licensing Offices
Specialized in Working in Recruitment and Placement of Non-Jordanians Working
inside the Homes, 16 Feb. 2009, art. 8(d).
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