covid
Chapter 2 – COVID-19 and Migrant Workers in the Gulf
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While the Gulf states have largely reopened their key sectors, migrants remain vulnerable to employment insecurity and exploitation. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many of the pre-existing issues that migrant workers face in the Gulf region, including non-payment of wages, exclusion from social protections, and limited access to healthcare. The migration systems and practices in the region not only render workers more vulnerable to negative health outcomes but place them in financial jeopardy. The following chapter provides context to key COVID-19-related issues and examples of good coverage, alongside tips for reporting on the crisis as well as an analysis of Gulf nations’ vaccination rollout policies. Migrant workers account for the majority of the labor force in the Gulf states, and workers of all income classes have been most affected by the pandemic’s economic crisis.