16 November 2008

Gulf Cooperation Council’s integrated immigration data base:
A threat to migrant workers’ job security

The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, a regional migrant centre based in Hong Kong, received reports of an integrated immigration data base system being implemented in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries. While the system is supposed enhanced the immigration system in the Gulf countries, however, unless the human rights of migrant workers are guaranteed, the operation of this data base system can be manipulated and can lead to criminalization of migrant workers and arbitrary termination of their employment.

Recently, a Filipino contract worker was reportedly deported back to Manila immediately upon arriving in Qatar. He was supposed to resume his work after his vacation but was told by the immigration officer that his name was among those who were blacklisted in the GCC countries. No further information or reason for deportation was mentioned.

According to Mr. Ramon Bultron, Managing Director of APMM, “this system of integrating immigration data base can help to facilitate a better immigration processing. However, considering the flawed legal system for filing grievances in many of the GCC countries, this system can be a big threat to migrant workers’ job security”.

Mr. Bultron added that filed complaints against a worker or unresolved police case in one of the GCC country can be a basis for blacklisting a migrant worker in any of the GCC countries.

“Commonly in the Gulf countries, migrant workers who have filed grievances against their employers or sponsors or have run away because of abuses, face criminal charges that are usually fabricated and manipulated. Thus, unless the legal systems in the GCC countries improve, this system of blacklisting will remain a threat. It will continue to criminalize migrant workers without subjecting them to fair trial and due process””, Mr. Bultron relayed.

Mr. Bultron also believed that there has been no prior notice to the public about the policy and governments of sending countries like the Philippines are probably ignorant of such system.

Late last year, a plan to do such integration of immigration data base in the GCC countries was publicized in some dailies. However, since then, nothing was heard until the above-mentioned case was reported.

Mr. Bultron concluded that, “APMM will continue to monitor and study the effects of this immigration system especially among migrant workers. We will demand to the government of major sending countries in the GCC like the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, to extend all diplomatic means to ensure the protection of their countrymen working in the GCC countries”.