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Stop Human Rights Abuses
"Bad Dreams"
July 13, 2004

Bad Dreams:

Exploitation and Abuse of Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia

SUMMARY..
METHODOLOGY..
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
I.MIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA..
II. THE FOREIGN LABOR SPONSORSHIP SYSTEM AND ITS ABUSES
Workers' Contracts and Wages: False Promises
Job Substitution
"Free Visa" Illusions
III. VULNERABILITY AND EXPLOITATION...
Official Documents: Consequences of Illegal Employer Practices
Fear of Arrest and Deportation
No Access to Medical Care
Long Working Hours without Overtime Pay
Unpaid Salaries
Denial of Paid Vacation Leave
Summary Dismissals
IV. WOMEN WORKERS:FORCED CONFINEMENT, LABOR EXPLOITATION, AND SEXUAL ABUSE
Labor Exploitation and Forced Confinement: Voices of the Victims
Legal Obligations of the Government of Saudi Arabia
Sexual Abuse and Rape
Pregnancy
Escape Attempts and Consequences
V.LABOR GRIEVANCES: THE GOVERNMENT'S PROCESS FOR COMPLAINTS AND REMEDY
Available Remedies
Official Labor Grievance Bodies
Complaints of Migrant Workers
VI.DEPORTATION OF MIGRANT WORKERS
Deportees with Outstanding Labor Grievances
Current Conditions in Deportation Jails
Legal Responsibility for Conditions in Deportation Jails
VII. MIGRANT WORKERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: RIGHTS DENIED
The Lack of Transparency
Imprisoned Women Migrants
Torture, Coerced Confessions, and Unfair Trials: Clear Patterns
The Government's Obligations under Domestic and International Law.. 105
VIII. THE DEATH PENALTY AND EXECUTIONS: MIGRANT WORKER VICTIMS108
The Government's Obligations under International Law.. 118
Mortal Remains: Whereabouts Unknown121
IX. RECOMMENDATIONS123
To The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia123
To the Minister of Labor124
To the Minister of Interior125
To the Minister of Justice125
To the Consultative Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia125
To United Nations Treaty Monitoring Bodies126
To the Labor and Justice Ministers of Countries of Origin, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka127
APPENDIX A: INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION (ILO) CONVENTIONS IN FORCE IN SAUDI ARABIA.. 129
APPENDIX B.. 131
Letter to the Parliamentary Relations and Devolution Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from the Clerk of the Committee, 23 September 2003131
Letter to the Clerk of the Committee from the Parliamentary Relations And Devolution Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 13 October 2003131
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS134