Marietta Dias - Bahrain

Marietta Dias, an Indian retiree and naturalized Bahraini citizen with no formal training in social work or counseling, works tirelessly through her NGO the Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) to care for migrant laborers from any country. MWPS maintains a small shelter for trafficking victims, and works hard to influence the press to publish victims' stories and raise awareness of their plight. They assist laborers in court, facilitate mediation between workers and their sponsors, and educate workers about their rights in Bahrain. They also work with employers to improve working conditions for migrant laborers. Marietta Dias heads MWPS's action committee and functions as the face of their efforts, coordinating her work with embassies, government agencies, and welfare groups to seek justice or repatriation for workers. Between August 1, 2007 and February 1, 2008, the MWPS action committee assisted many of the almost 60,000 workers who took advantage of the government's amnesty by legitimizing their presence or returning home. She has also worked to increase international awareness of Bahrain's migrant labor force.