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The 13 million foreign workers in the six Gulf Cooperation Council nations are 37 percent of residents.

Bahrain. About half of the million Bahraini residents are foreigners. The Bahraini Labour Market Regulation Authority became the sponsor of foreign workers beginning August 1, 2009; it issues two-year work permits to foreign workers that allow them to change employers by giving three-months? notice. The 70,000 foreign domestic helpers are not covered by the new labor permit system.

Private employers urged a delay in freedom to change employers, saying that labor costs would rise. The Bahraini labor minister responded that freedom to change employers would reduce illegal migration and improve protection for workers, and predicted that Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE would adopt similar reforms in the next year or two. He also wants to limit unskilled foreign workers to a maximum of five years in Bahrain.

Migrant workers terminated before the end of their contracts will receive UI benefits for a month while searching for a new job. The Bahrain government introduced a minimum wage of 200 dinars ($530) a month for nationals and began to allow some union activity.

Since July 2008, the LMRA has been collecting a BD 10 ($26) a month levy on employers of foreign workers to train Bahrainis to replace foreigners. However, employers say that Bahrainis will not work for the same wages as foreigners.

UAE. Emiratis are 16 percent of the six million residents of the UAE. The largest group of foreigners were the 1.8 million Indians.

Some 2,000 migrant workers employed by Al Habtoor Engineering protested in September 2009, saying their wages of 700 dirhans ($190) a month were too low. Workers said Al Habtoor, which employs 30,000 workers, recently reduced the amount of overtime, which lowered their earnings.

Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's Shura Council in July 2009 approved a bill requiring employers of the 1.5 million foreign domestic helpers in the country to give them at least nine hours of rest a day, suitable accommodation, and rest breaks. Saudi labor laws do not apply to domestic helpers.

Israel. There are an estimated 300,000 foreign workers in Israel, including 75 percent who are irregular. A newly established Immigration Authority began to crack down on unauthorized foreigners in July 2009, prompting an outcry. Some 2,800 children have been born in Israel to foreign workers; threats to deport the 1,200 whose parents are unauthorized foreigners were stayed for three months until November 1, 2009 after protests.

Rebecca Torr, "Labor fees forcing shops to shut down," Gulf Daily News, August 1, 2009.