UAE Construction Firms Hide Labor Abuses Under Kafala

Whispers from Dubai's sprawling construction sites reveal that major developers, despite public relations efforts, continue to exploit the Kafala system. Numerous low-wage migrant workers, particularly from South Asia, report systematic wage theft, passport confiscation, and forced overtime without adequate compensation. Recruitment agencies, often complicit with employers, charge exorbitant fees, trapping workers in debt and making them reluctant to report abuses for fear of deportation. While authorities occasionally conduct inspections, enforcement is inconsistent, and penalties are often insufficient to deter repeat offenders. This creates a hidden underbelly of labor exploitation, fueling the rapid development of the UAE's iconic skyline at the expense of vulnerable workers' rights and well-being. The lack of independent worker representation and fear of retaliation means many cases go unreported, allowing these practices to persist.