Beyond Solidarity: Migrant-on-Migrant Exploitation in Agricultural labor Economies

Abstract

This study examines the structural and intersectional determinants of migrant-on-migrant exploitation within informal economies by dissecting cultural narratives of solidarity and systematic inequalities. The study uses six months of immersive ethnographic observation in the central regions of Sharjah, including Al Dhaid, Al Madam, and Maliha, areas known for their conservative social environment. The study focused on informal labor dynamics within the agricultural sector, where migrant workers are highly concentrated. It was observed that migrant laborers are often exploited by other migrant intermediaries, operating silently and informally in violation of the UAE’s strict labor laws. The study findings expose how migrant entrepreneurs exploit migrant workers under the appearance of solidarity and mutual aid, while states outsourcing labor regulations to informal sectors. The study reveals that restrictive immigration policies like the Kafala system in the United Arab Emirates and racial hierarchies institutionalize precariousness, trap workers in a cycle of debt and surveillance. The cultural frameworks, like bayanihan (community unity), are weaponized to justify wage theft and reinforce vulnerabilities. The study highlights intersectional disparities with migrant women and racialized minorities enduring compounded exploitation in care and manual labor. The study has significant policy implications, advocating for portable labor rights, tech accountability, and intersectional protection in informal sectors. The study advances academic debates on migration and labor injustice and offers actionable frameworks to dismantle systematic complexities. This migrant-on-migrant exploitation remains largely invisible to local authorities due to the secrecy, confidentiality, and informal nature of these arrangements.