> This is all supposed to be illegal. Employers are meant to pay on time, never take your passport, give you breaks in the heat – but I met nobody who said it happens. Not one. These men are conned into coming and trapped into staying, with the complicity of the Dubai authorities
> There's a huge number of suicides in the camps and on the construction sites, but they're not reported. They're described as 'accidents'. Even then, their families aren't free: they simply inherit the debts.
I was made aware of such labor traps meted out to Philippine and Thai women as well, who were forced to work in beauty & massage parlors, or as house maids. I was accompanying my parents a decade ago, who were rapporteurs on behalf of UNHRC. In many places, we were physically stopped from proceeding. The situation I am told has improved a tiny bit, but still remains grim. When you look at Dubai's manpower resources - you aren't looking at a industry, but more of a cartel working at a nation-scale.
[1] https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-har...