Thread by @MigrantRights

Thread🧵
Starting 1 October, #Dubai, #UAE is hosting the World Expo for six months. The international exhibition is held every three years to showcase achievements of countries. #DubaiExpo was postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the Covid19 pandemic. #MigrantRights

The achievement that #Dubai (and the UAE) would be hard-pressed to showcase is their treatment of migrant workers who build and run the country and the particular emirate. #DubaiExpo

This is a thread of articles (in just the last 18 months, as the pandemic served to lay bare how difficult things are for migrant workers) that ‘showcase’ what the UAE would not allow to be reported locally.

As parts of the country began to re-open, low-income migrants are still bearing the brunt of the economic crisis. #UAE #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2020/04/uae-no…

As the Covid19 crisis wrecks the economy, long-standing labour issues were further aggravated and affected some of the biggest companies in the #UAE, including Sobha Engineering and Contracting LLC (SECL) #UAE #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights migrant-rights.org/2020/06/as-the…

At least a thousand employees of the security giant G4S, a British multinational company, relied on community donations for food and basic necessities in the #UAE. Half of these employees are women. #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2020/06/g4s-em…

Even students were not spared. Several who were enrolled in institutions in Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City struggled to pay for their accommodation, food, or a ticket home, as the terms of admission were not met #DubaiExpo
migrant-rights.org/2020/07/migran…

A large number of Nepali workers, who went to work in the UAE after paying hefty recruitment fees and other costs with the hope of improving their livelihood, returned with large debts. 
#UAE #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2020/09/emirat…

About 500 workers of AMB-Hertel (an Emirati subsidiary of the French multinational Altrad) staged a strike protesting wage theft. #UAE #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2020/06/nearly…

Meanwhile, its policies towards women domestic workers continue to be discriminatory
#UAE #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2020/07/uaes-c…

On various international platforms, #UAE touts the Tadbeer centres as a successful model. But to meet high demand ethical recruitment considerations take a backseat to costs and convenience. #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2021/03/shoppi…

There has been a systemic failure in the UAE to protect the rights of workers and hold employers accountable for ensuring accommodation and food are taken care of until employees can be repatriated.
#UAE #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2020/11/homele…

Dubai’s visit visa system is blatantly abused by recruiters and employers, but the country has done little to stem the exploitation of lower-income migrants #UAE #DubaiExpo #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2021/09/uae-tu…

And most recently, the atrocious dehumanisation of African migrants, just weeks before the start of #DubaiExpo #UAE #UAEHumanRights
migrant-rights.org/2021/09/we-cri…