I have a problem with this statement!
These expats were enslave the minute their sponsor confiscated their passport. This is force slavery!! These expats came to Dubai with a understanding they would be paid a certain salary. As soon as their sponsor confiscated their passport, they quickly found out the hard way they were deceived.
Many of the expats attempted to get help through various Embassies and Non-profit organization through no avail. So the only alternative to their situation was to save up enough money to pay off the debt that enable them to travel to Dubai and pay for their return travel home. Many of these expats would not stay if their passport was return to them. Do you here these types of stories from professionals (i.e. Pilots, Medical Prof., Engineers)?
Many expats from all over the globe relocate to other locations so they could better their lives. Sadly many of them realized that the grass is not as green on the other side of the fence as they thought.
Bottom line, no person should be force into slavery.
Don't you think international humanitarian efforts would be all over Dubai and the UAE if these claims were actually substantiated. Do you think that these organizations have not come and investigated the accusations this guy made in his article? This Harri guy over exaggerated the situation here, highlighted a couple of horror stories, and made it look as though everyone here plays the same abusive game, which they don't. My god....go watch the national geographic special about young girls being trafficked across the US...at least that source is halfway credible.