GULF STATES: MIGRANT WORKERS AT SERIOUS RISK FROM HEAT

Migrant workers toiling in the Gulf are at serious risk from dangerous heat exposures through the working day, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned. ‘Despite substantial scientific evidence on the devastating health impact of exposure to extreme heat, Gulf states’ protection failures are causing millions of migrant workers to face grave risks, including death,’ said Michael Page, HRW’s deputy Middle East director. He called Gulf states to ‘prioritise creating a comprehensive strategy to address occupational heat stress.’  Between 2021 and 2023, HRW interviewed 90 migrant workers from Bangladesh, India, Kenya, and Nepal about heat and health and safety issues in three Gulf countries, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Source: HRW news release.

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