COVID19 and Gulf Migration

Abstract

The Covid-19 and the resultant contraction in the Gulf economies affected the migrant workers, their dependents in home countries who depend on remittances from Gulf. It exposes the high degree of vulnerability and enforced the Gulf governments to push economic, and financial reforms to protect and maintain labour market stability which resulted in migrant’s unemployment. The slowdown had negative impact on migrant workers of Construction, aviation and tourism sectors. Decline in income, loss of employment, seeking part-time employment as an alternative financial source to offset their full or partial loss of jobs, non-payment of monthly rents, low level of assistance by embassies and non-eligibility for medical insurance were the problems impacted migrants. The pandemic intensifies the nationalization efforts in gulf region. They began to impose taxation on migrant workers which raised their cost of living. Recent trends in Gulf region indicate a ray of hope and optimistic future for the migrant workers.  The GCC has realised the vital role of migrants in the development plans. Labour sending countries have to improve the skills of migrants to meet the changing demands of Gulf labour market.