Sunday, June 29, 2008

"The new estimates also suggest that nationals are just over 50% of the population. Bahrain's 90,000 Bangladeshi residents tend to be among the lowest-paid foreign workers and often live in very poor conditions. After the killing, the press was full of reports stereotyping Bangladeshis as more violent and unhygienic than other nationals. Foreign workers are often scapegoated for unemployment among Bahraini citizens and there have been several attacks on low-paid immigrants in recent months. Furthermore, the government has announced that it will designate special zones for foreign labourers to live in as part of a long-term "masterplan" for Bahrain through to 2020." (thanks Parsa)