Fear, Silence, and Survival: Why Migrant Workers Don’t Report Abuse

Abstract

Among the exploited migrant laborers in Sharjah’s Sajaa Industrial Zone, this study explores the lived experiences of mistrust, fear, and silence, often arising from exploitation by other migrants rather than shortcomings in the host country’s protections. It further seeks to examine viable avenues for enhancing migrant workers' access to the UAE’s strong and well-established justice system, through technical, community-based, and institutional initiatives that align with the country's commitment to safeguarding labor rights. The study combined ethnographic observations, digital ethnography, and semi-structured interviews to capture migrant workers' experiences of fear, silence, and exploitation both in physical spaces and online communities. Key themes include fear of deportation, lack of awareness, mistrust in institutions, and community-driven silence. The findings suggest that silence is not used as a passive condition, but it used as a socially enforced survival mechanism for migrant workers to survive. This study suggests that the implementation of smart contracts, blockchain technology, and discreet whisper networks could significantly enhance the anonymity, security, and efficiency of crime reporting processes among migrant workers, particularly in industrial sectors where abusive practices are perpetuated by fellow migrants.This study provides original insights by combining field interviews with digital and traditional ethnographic methods to reveal how legal protections in the UAE offer pathways to justice, yet migrant bosses exploit cultural and transnational fears to silence workers and shield abusive practices from authorities.