United Arab Emirates

Human rights and labor issues

It is common practice for employers to retain employees' passports for the duration of the employment contract to prevent expatriate employees from changing jobs. This is an illegal practice, but it is almost never investigated, let alone punished by the government. On termination of an employment contract, certain categories of expatriates are banned from obtaining a work permit in the country for six months.

Related Topics:
Passports - Expatriate

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The United States Department of State has cited widespread instances of blue collar labor abuse within the city and in the general context of the United Arab Emirates http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41734.htm.

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The government has been criticized by human rights agencies such as Human Rights Watch for its inaction in addressing the discrimination against Asian workers in the emirate. Salary structures based on nationality, sex, age, and race rather than on qualification are common http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/09/migrant091903.htm.

Related Topics:
Human Rights Watch - Asian - Salary - Nationality - Sex - Age - Race - Qualification

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A thriving sex industry, although illegal, exists in the emirates, especially in Dubai. This complements the tourism and hospitality industry which forms a major part of Dubai's economy http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog/archives/000345.php.

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Dubai officially excludes Israelis from the country.

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