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The Unequal World of Migrant Domestic Workers in the Middle East: The Paradoxical Role of Technology

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Implications of Information and Digital Technologies for Development (ICT4D 2024)

Part of the book series: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology ((IFIPAICT,volume 708))

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Abstract

This qualitative study examines the experiences of African domestic workers in the Middle East, with a focus on understanding the role of technology in shaping their experiences of social exclusion and invisibility. Utilising in-depth interviews with 21 returnee African domestic workers in Nigeria and Ghana, the study explores the multifaceted impact of technology on their lives in a foreign work environment. The research reveals that ICTs play a paradoxical role in the lives of these workers. On one hand, technology facilitates the global reach of traffickers, providing digital platforms for the commodification of human lives, on the other hand, technology emerges as a beacon of hope, offering means for these workers to maintain their identity and seek external assistance. A key finding is the varying levels of access to technology among the workers, which significantly influences their experiences of surveillance, control, and isolation. The study uncovers the intricate interplay of technology in both exacerbating and alleviating their marginalisation. The deprivation of technological access is revealed as both an economic issue and a form of social alienation. This study contributes to the understanding of the complex dynamics of social exclusion and the role of technology in the context of domestic work in the Middle East. It underscores the need for nuanced approaches in addressing the challenges faced by migrant domestic workers, highlighting the imperative for interventions that ensure equitable access to technology and enhance their social and legal agency. The findings of this study have significant implications for policy and practice, calling for a re-evaluation of the ethical and societal obligations towards migrant domestic workers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sussex Business School, Brighton, BN1 9SN, UK

    Ayomikun Idowu

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Correspondence to Ayomikun Idowu .

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  1. University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Wallace Chigona

  2. University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Salah Kabanda

  3. University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Lisa F. Seymour

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Idowu, A. (2024). The Unequal World of Migrant Domestic Workers in the Middle East: The Paradoxical Role of Technology. In: Chigona, W., Kabanda, S., Seymour, L.F. (eds) Implications of Information and Digital Technologies for Development. ICT4D 2024. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 708. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66982-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66982-8_11

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