“I Was Sold” Abuse and Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers in Oman

Authors: 
Corporate Author: 
Title: 
“I Was Sold” Abuse and Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers in Oman
Document Type: 
Information from Non-Governmental Organizations
Reference: 
2016
Annotation: 

This report documents the abuse and exploitation of female migrant domestic workers in Oman. The author’s team conducted interviews with 59 domestic workers in May 2015. The report details the types of abuses commonly suffered by underprivileged workers. It does so by analysing how Oman’s legal frameworks, specifically its “Kafala” visa-sponsorship system, enable these abuses by protecting employer interests and stifling worker rights. The report calls upon Oman to reform its labour laws to provide equal protection to domestic workers. Specifically, the report recommends that Oman abolish its “Kafala” system and undergo legal reform to provide domestic workers with rights equal to their employers. Additionally, the author encloses their letter to the Royal Oman Police presenting the Human Rights Watch findings and requesting additional information to supplement the author’s interviews.