Latest news with #migrantworkers
Khaleej Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Hand in hand: Empowering communities beyond remittances in the UAE
The UAE is often recognized for its bold vision, fast-paced growth and global influence. But amid all the headlines about innovation and economic success, there's a quieter story – one that deserves just as much attention. It's the story of the people who came here to build a better future. Not just for themselves, but for their families – often thousands of miles away. For millions of people, the UAE is a place of opportunity, as well as a place of responsibility. Through the money they send home, they support lives, fuel education, fund healthcare and offer hope. These remittances, often made month after month, form an invisible thread of love and sacrifice that connects nations. That's why the UAE's decision to mark 2025 as the Year of Community feels especially meaningful. It's an invitation to reflect not only on what we build here, but how our lives deeply intertwine with others elsewhere. A nation built on connection Every remittance, every dirham sent, represents hard work, quiet resilience and a deeply personal story. The UAE is one of the world's leading sources in outward remittances – but this is not about scale. It's about values and a sense of duty so many people carry with them every single day. As a nation that is home to over 200 nationalities, the UAE has become something quite rare: a modern hub that is not only attracting global talent, but also redefining migration trends. For many, the move here isn't only about wages – it's about possibility. A chance to grow, contribute and belong. This shift challenges outdated ideas of migration as temporary and transactional. In the UAE, migration is increasingly aspirational and rooted in mutual benefit. 2025: The Year of Community That sense of belonging is being supported not only by individual communities but through government-led efforts as well. Across the country, local authorities are rolling out initiatives that prioritise connection, inclusion, and mental wellbeing. Dubai Police's Positive Spirit initiative plays a key role in strengthening social cohesion through sports and community awareness programs. The Community Development Authority brings together government bodies, volunteers, and residents to strengthen the social fabric. In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Community Development recently hosted the 2025 Social Sector Strategic Retreat, gathering key stakeholders to shape the future of social services and sustainable community development. The Department also launched the Abu Dhabi Excellence Award for People of Determination Inclusion, recognizing organizations that prioritize accessibility and empowering enabling environments for all members of society. These efforts reflect a broader national commitment to ensuring that prosperity includes everyone—not just economically, but socially. Celebrating community through shared experiences But community empowerment isn't just the responsibility of the government — it's a shared effort. Businesses and individuals all play a role in grassroots programs that reveal humanity behind the numbers. For nearly two decades, Camp Ka Champ has celebrated the creativity and spirit of worker communities, reaching over three million people. It's more than a singing competition - it's recognition, joy, and belonging. Carrying this spirit forward, Western Union on Wheels has taken cultural and financial support directly to communities. In 2024 alone, it connected with over 500,000 people across the country, celebrating Diwali, Pongal, Onam, Christmas and more. These aren't just festivals — they are reminders of identity, memory, and shared experience. A future built on empowerment As a society, we benefit immensely from the dedication of those who send remittances. We owe it to them to ensure they feel seen, supported, and included. This means not only recognising their economic role, but truly valuing their presence—socially, culturally, and emotionally. The Year of Community gives us a chance to reflect, yes—but also to act. To find new ways to make belonging more than just a feeling. To ensure that empowerment reaches everyone, no matter where they come from, or who they're sending money to.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Government exploring making farms and supermarkets pay to bring foreign farm workers to the UK
British farms and supermarkets could tackle the exploitation of fruit and vegetable pickers by paying their travel and visa costs, according to a government-commissioned report. The report, undertaken for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), follows growing allegations of mistreatment of migrant workers on the seasonal worker visa, including a legal challenge brought by an Indonesian fruit picker against the UK government for human rights breaches. Tens of thousands of workers come to the UK every year on a six-month visa from as far as Chile and the Philippines, and some accrue thousands of pounds of debt before they arrive, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The potential policy runs counter to tough new immigration rules announced by Sir Keir Starmer that make it harder for workers and students to come to Britain. But it would bring the UK closer in line with other countries, such as the United States, where employers are required to bear the costs of workers' recruitment and travel. Currently, a handful of operators are licensed by the Home Office to recruit farm labourers and can issue a certificate of sponsorship that can be used to secure a seasonal worker visa from the Home Office. But the workers are left to pay for it and for the cost of travel to the UK. Commissioned by Defra the study into the 'Employer Pays Principle', seen by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and The Independent, proposes four alternative options to government, which would see recruiters, farms, retailers and consumers bear the costs instead. In response to this story, a Defra spokesperson said the government 'has no plans to impose the Employer Pays Principle for seasonal workers', but The Independent understands the government will review the study and consider learnings alongside industry partners. In the first proposed model, recruiters would have to cover the costs upfront and would then charge farms higher fees for the service. In the second option, recruiters would still cover the costs, but they could then apply to a government or industry fund to be reimbursed. In the third, the worker would cover their costs, but then be reimbursed on arrival to the UK. In the fourth, the costs covered by the recruiters would be passed on in full down the supply chain, via farms and supermarkets, to consumers. The study, written by consultancy Alma Economics, estimates a range of £850-£1,500 that would be paid by employers for each worker on the seasonal workers' scheme. It also estimates fruit and vegetable growers will face the highest financial cost from options one and three. The first model could result in 70 out of 827 farms experiencing losses, compared to 43 in the second proposal, 57 for option three, and zero for the final scheme. Consumers would pay between one and three pence per week more for fruit and vegetables picked under the scheme, the research estimates. Making the employer pay for the recruitment would cost £43.1m in total and eliminate debt for 18,200 workers. The research cites a report which said 70 per cent of workers on the scheme had accrued debt to come to the UK. One seasonal farm worker, Elize*, has been travelling from South Africa to work on British farms for several years. She has often had to borrow nearly £2,000 from acquaintances to cover her travel and visa costs, at times being charged interest rates of around 20 per cent. She says not having to pay travel and visa costs would help her get out of a cycle of having to choose between taking on high-interest loans or barely eating throughout the year in order to save enough to afford flights to the UK. The report, which consulted supermarkets, farmers and recruiters, said that stakeholders supported making operators cover the costs and then pass them down the supply chain. While the study said farmers were reliant on the seasonal worker scheme because they believed 'UK workers often lack the skills and motivation' needed to pick fruit and vegetables, they largely opposed overseas workers having their recruitment costs covered. Many worried it would threaten 'worker commitment', since the current system provides 'strong incentives to work hard' to clear debts. However, most retailers were in favour of introducing the employer pays principle, as were some scheme operators, the report said. Meanwhile, worker representative bodies and human rights organisations welcomed the proposals but thought wider reforms were needed to ensure it improved worker welfare. Eleanor Lyons, the government's independent anti-slavery commissioner, called on the government to act and highlighted the increased vulnerability of these workers. 'This has an incredibly detrimental impact on the victims who can be forced to work excessive hours, trapped in debt bondage, and in incredibly challenging conditions,' she said. 'The government needs to act now to provide more protection for seasonal workers; the risks to them are clear and there must be more safeguards.' A National Farmers Union spokesperson said: 'The NFU is aware that Defra is conducting a study modelling the economic impacts of the Employer Pays Principle. This is part of a larger agriculture sector-wide ongoing discussion on enhancements to seasonal worker welfare in the UK. Seasonal workers are of the utmost importance to the production of UK food, fruit and vegetables in particular. 'We look forward to the publication of the review so we can assess the detail in full.'
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
Why financial literacy efforts must be inclusive to benefit Gulf migrant workers
Across the Gulf, low-income migrant workers form the foundation of national economies. They build our cities, keep essential services running and support households and businesses alike. Yet despite their contributions, they remain among the most financially vulnerable communities in the region. The issue is not simply low wages; it is the lack of access to financial education and services that can help workers build more secure futures. Many blue-collar workers in the UAE and wider region arrive with little to no exposure to formal financial systems. They often earn modest wages, and a significant portion of that income is sent home to support families abroad. But without basic financial literacy, knowing how to budget, save, avoid scams, or access secure digital tools, even those earnings can fall short of their long-term goals. Low-income earners who lack financial knowledge are obviously more likely to fall into cycles of debt, be targeted by fraud, or rely on informal financial arrangements that offer little protection. But this is not just an individual risk, it has implications for broader economic resilience and financial stability. While digital banking and FinTech platforms have accelerated across the region, many migrant workers remain excluded from these services. Why? Because the systems were not built with their realities in mind. Traditional banking often requires documents that many workers do not have, use interfaces in languages they do not speak, or require processes they may not understand. Cultural and digital literacy barriers further widen the gap, while a lack of trust in formal institutions pushes many to rely on unregulated alternatives. Even in a country as digitally advanced as the UAE, where smartphone penetration exceeds 99 per cent (according to cyber security company CrowdStrike), the benefits of financial innovation cannot be fully realised without deliberate inclusion. The solution begins with education. By equipping workers with the knowledge to manage their money, how to budget, set goals, use mobile wallets and spot scams, we unlock tools for economic mobility, not just survival. Moreover, financial education helps reduce reliance on predatory lending practices and informal saving schemes that can wipe out hard-earned income. It also promotes better long-term planning, including health savings, education for children, and early retirement goals. At a regional level, this means more resilient households and communities. It also means more stable remittance flows, a key economic driver in countries like India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, which collectively receive billions in remittances from Gulf-based workers annually. Financial inclusion is more than a policy goal; it is a moral and economic imperative. And financial literacy is its foundation. We must encourage public-private partnerships that embed financial education into onboarding programmes, workplace benefits, community outreach and mobile apps. Employers, FinTech companies, regulators, and NGOs each have a role to play in this ecosystem. By taking a human-centred approach to financial design and creating multilingual apps, simple interfaces, and culturally sensitive content, we can ensure that the most underserved members of our workforce are not left behind. The UAE and other Gulf countries are already investing in digital transformation and financial innovation. To truly lead, these efforts must be inclusive from the ground up. Because a thriving economy does not just depend on how much people earn, it depends on how well they are empowered to manage it.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Walmart Cuts Some Florida Jobs After Immigration Rulings
Walmart Inc. is terminating some jobs in Florida following recent Supreme Court rulings about legal residency of migrants, the latest sign that such orders are hitting US workplaces. The company has told some employees in at least two stores in the state that they would lose jobs if they don't get new work authorizations, said people familiar with the matter.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Farms and supermarkets could pay to bring foreign farm workers to UK, government-commissioned report says
British farms and supermarkets could tackle the exploitation of fruit and vegetable pickers by paying their travel and visa costs, according to a government-commissioned report. The report, undertaken for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), follows growing allegations of mistreatment of migrant workers on the seasonal worker visa, including a legal challenge brought by an Indonesian fruit picker against the UK government for human rights breaches. Tens of thousands of workers come to the UK every year on a six-month visa from as far as Chile and the Philippines, and some accrue thousands of pounds of debt before they arrive, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The potential policy runs counter to tough new immigration rules announced by Sir Keir Starmer that make it harder for workers and students to come to Britain. But it would bring the UK closer in line with other countries, such as the United States, where employers are required to bear the costs of workers' recruitment and travel. Currently, a handful of operators are licensed by the Home Office to recruit farm labourers and can issue a certificate of sponsorship that can be used to secure a seasonal worker visa from the Home Office. But the workers are left to pay for it and for the cost of travel to the UK. The study commissioned by Defra into the 'Employer Pays Principle', seen by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and The Independent, proposes four alternative options to government, which would see recruiters, farms, retailers and consumers bear the costs instead. In response to this story, a Defra spokesperson said the government 'has no plans to impose the Employer Pays Principle for seasonal workers', but The Independent understands the government will review the study and consider learnings alongside industry partners. In the first proposed model, recruiters would have to cover the costs upfront and would then charge farms higher fees for the service. In the second option, recruiters would still cover the costs but they could then apply to a government or industry fund to be reimbursed. In the third, the worker would cover their costs, but then be reimbursed on arrival to the UK, and in the fourth, the costs covered by the recruiters would be passed on in full down the supply chain, via farms and supermarkets, to consumers. The study, written by consultancy Alma Economics, estimates a range of £850-1,500 that would be paid for by employers for each worker on the seasonal workers' scheme. It also estimates fruit and vegetable growers will face the highest financial cost from options one and three. The first model could result in 70 out of 827 farms experiencing losses, compared to 43 in the second proposal, 57 for option three, and zero for the final scheme. Consumers would pay between one and three pence per week more for fruit and vegetables picked under the scheme, the research estimates. Making the employer pay for the recruitment would cost £43.1 million in total and eliminate debt for 18,200 workers. The research cites a report which said 70 per cent of workers on the scheme had accrued debt to come to the UK. One seasonal farm worker, Elize*, has been travelling from South Africa to work on British farms for several years. She has often had to borrow nearly £2,000 from acquaintances to cover her travel and visa costs, at times being charged interest rates of around 20 per cent. She says not having to pay travel and visa costs would help get out of a cycle of having to choose between taking on high-interest loans, or barely eating throughout the year in order to save enough to afford flights to the UK. The report, which consulted supermarkets, farmers and recruiters, said that stakeholders supported making operators cover the costs and then pass them down the supply chain. While the study said farmers were reliant on the seasonal worker scheme because they believed 'UK workers often lack the skills and motivation' needed to pick fruits and vegetables, they largely opposed overseas workers having their recruitment costs covered. Many worried it would threaten "worker commitment", since the current system provides 'strong incentives to work hard' to clear debts. However, most retailers were in favour of introducing the employer pays principle as were some scheme operators, the report said. Meanwhile, worker representative bodies and human rights organisations welcomed the proposals but thought wider reforms were needed to ensure it improved worker welfare. Eleanor Lyons, the government's independent anti-slavery commissioner, called on the government to act and highlighted these workers' increased vulnerability. 'This has an incredibly detrimental impact on the victims who can be forced to work excessive hours, trapped in debt bondage, and in incredibly challenging conditions,' she said 'The government needs to act now to provide more protection for seasonal workers, the risks to them are clear and there must be more safeguards.' A National Farmers Union spokesperson said: 'The NFU is aware that Defra is conducting a study modelling the economic impacts of the Employer Pays Principle. This is part of a larger agriculture sector-wide ongoing discussion on enhancements to seasonal worker welfare in the UK. Seasonal workers are of the upmost importance to the production of UK food, fruit and vegetables in particular. 'We look forward to the publication of the review so we can assess the detail in full." *Name has been changed.
