America's War Workers

From India to Dubai and Afghanistan, we probe the system that brings foreign labourers to US military bases abroad.

Today there are nearly 40,000 foreign contract workers on bases in the US military’s Central Command.

Hailing primarily from India and Nepal, these labourers serve American troops in facilities in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere - doing jobs including cooking, housekeeping and driving.

The US military subcontracts these manual jobs to private companies, which in turn subcontract hiring to Gulf-based contractors and local recruiters.

The promise of high salaries makes these so-called 'third country nationals' believe heading to a war zone is worth the risk.

To get the jobs, many dip into their savings and take out loans to pay thousands of dollars in local agents fees. But in Afghanistan, they find wages far lower than anticipated. Locked into an indentured workforce, they nevertheless remain to earn enough funds to repay their loans.