Abuse of foreign workers in the Middle East has caused growing international concern. The United Arab Emirates now says it's trying to address the issue with labor reforms. Jacob Greaves reports from Dubai.

This is the new face of domestic labor in the UAE that authorities want the world to see. The rights of low income workers in the Gulf and Middle East has been drawn into sharp focus in recent years amid accounts of abuse and exploitation at the hands of employers. The allegations even leading the Philippines to ban new domestic workers from going to the UAE. But last year the Gulf state passed new labor regulations billed as addressing the issues. One major shift has been simply spelling out the fundamental rights of workers.

BARNEY ALMAZAR PARTNER, GULF LAW "The household service worker has the right to retain his or her passport so that employers cannot withhold it from them and if that happens the process to retrieve the passport is straightforward they just have to go to the court."

Greater legal protection is a main pillar of the reforms. But there's also been attempts to better induct migrant workers into the UAE market.

JACOB GREAVES DUBAI "One of the headline measures of the Labor reforms has been the creation of these so-called Tadbeer centres, essentially government regulated recruitment agencies intended to make sure workers know their contractual rights, receive the necessary training and provide a safe environment to settle disputes with employers."

The reforms are perhaps long overdue. Cheap migrant labor has been behind much of the heavy lifting in the rapid economic growth of Gulf countries. From transport and infrastructure projects to services such as maids. It's a contribution to the UAE economy the government acknowledge as a reason for the reforms. But they accept more can be done.

DR OMAR ABDULRAHMAN SALEM ALNUAIMI MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMIRATISATION "We have been working with countries of origin many of them like India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines on new innovative ways to address some of the practices that happen during the recruitment process so a lot can be achieved and improved through this cooperation between countries of destination and origin."

The reality is its big business for both sides. The government estimates migrant workers send around $19-$20 billion home annually. In turn foreign employees at all levels are the lifeblood of the UAE's economy. Of a 9 million population, 90% of residents are born overseas. For years the harsh conditions facing low income migrants across the region have been somewhat swept under the carpet. It's too soon to tell how much the UAE's recent reforms will right a wrong. But the attempt speaks of a changing attitude within a country reliant on their labor. JG, CGTN, Dubai.