Unfree: Migrant Domestic Work in Arab States

In Unfree, Rhacel Salazar Parreñas examines the labor of women from the Philippines who represent the largest domestic workforce in the United Arab Emirates. Operating under the kafala employment sponsorship system, these migrant domestic workers are legally bound to their employers. Drawing on data collected over four years, Parreñas explores the complex realities of unfreedom, labor standards, and moral mediation on the ground. The work offers an analysis of global migration, labor, and sociology, focusing on the lived experiences of these workers and the structural forces that govern their daily lives.