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Friday, January 11, 2013

The Slaves Who Build Those Sparkling Dubai Buildings

BBC reporter Ben Anderson shows us how the shiny, glittery city of Dubai is being built- on the backs of slave labor.

Three million workers, mostly from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, are recruited under the pretext of good wages they can send back to their families. They pay $2,000 to recruiters for what is essentially an illegal visa fee (which includes air fare), and for the privilege of working and living like an animal. Upon arrival their passports are confiscated (also illegal) and they find themselves living in squalid conditions, receiving half of what was promised- if they get paid at all- and working long, grueling hours.

When former Indian recruiting agent, Almass Pardiwala, discovered just how appalling the conditions are, she wrote to every NGO and human rights organization about the situation. Only one replied.

You might want to reconsider that trip to Dubai.



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