According to a report in an Arabic TV Channel, an average of 70 million expatriate workers are based in GCC and other member countries, and are four times in size than that in local communities.
The Channel reported that this sheer expatriate population, is affecting the local culture and society, and has made a huge influence on local lifestyles. Also there has been a massive outflow of funds outside the region, in the form of remittances made by expatriate workers back to their home countries.
Also, there have been plenty of accusations about expat workers rights being abused by GCC countries, and there is a growing concern being developed about the sponsorship rules among expat communities.
The low-income category of workers in certain member-countries have been discussing about undue delays in salary payments, employers not following the international workplace practices, and there are no definite rules about the number of daily working hours.
The Labour Minister in Bahrain, Majeed Al Alawi, while speaking to the Channel, admitted that foreign workers were the main force behind the region's development. Although, he agreed that foreign workers should be given their rights, he said it should not be done at the expense of citizens. He added that, this issue was not brought up during the just concluded 28th GCC Summit in Doha, as the GCC countries labour ministers were unable to form a common vision and policy for expatriates.
In the meanwhile, Gen. Abdual Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah of the GCC Secretary General, said that the member countries cannot do without the foreign workforce, as the countries have been witnessing an economic and construction boom, and they are left with no option, but, to rely on foreign workforce.
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