Labor Row

The economies of oil-rich nations depend on immigrant labor from Bangladesh to clean and build, fix and cook. Workers are separated for months from families and work in harsh conditions for low wages in countries with lavish lifestyles. The alleged murder of a Bahraini supervisor by a Bangladeshi mechanic has exposed the inequality and tensions that go hand in hand with relying on immigrant laborers who have no chance for citizenship or equal opportunity. Before a trial, Bahrain’s Ministry of the Interior announced an end to visas for all Bangladeshis, and then backtracked, suggesting that the ban did not apply to workers already in the country or visiting professionals. “Foreign workers are often scapegoated for unemployment among Bahraini citizens and there have been several attacks on low-paid immigrants in recent months,” reports the Economist, adding that foreign nationals make up more than 50 percent of Bahrain’s population. Bahrain businesses insist they need immigrant labor, while the government drafts plans for additional segregation, which will only emphasize the inequality and tension. – YaleGlobal