International human rights activists criticize the Louvre and the Guggenheim Museum for violating workers’ rights

NEW YORK. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has published an 82-page report on the violation of the rights of migrant workers on Saadiyat Island in the United Arab Emirates working on branch construction Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) and the Guggenheim Museum (Guggenheim museums).

The report reports on several cases of human rights violations: the use of forced labor, the illegal seizure of work passports, dismissals, etc. According to HRW, there are cases of non-payment of wages, as well as non-compliance with sanitary requirements in the places of residence of workers. Human rights activists emphasized that the aforementioned Western cultural institutions did very little to eliminate violations and prevent their recurrence, believing that contractors from the UAE are responsible for the state of affairs.

“Companies should respect human rights and avoid complicity in their violation, prevent such situations, and not take on faith the assurances of the authorities to respect the rights of workers,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW Director for Middle East and North Africa.

Among the workers of the island, the majority are representatives of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Anna Sidorova © Gallerix.ru