5     before their repatriation as they had no other option to get their personal documents such as passports and certificates. Over time wages - The workers did not receive wages for extra working hours, especially during the pandemic. Instead, many of them worked extra hours with a reduced salary. Absence of regular payment of wages - The standard type of wage theft occurs, especially in the informal sector and domestic services. During the pandemic, workers in the formal sector also faced the absence of timely payment of wages. Unwarranted deductions from the benefits and dues - The workers experienced deductions in the name of payments for recruitment expenses including air fare, visa charges, statutory payments which under the law the employer is required to make such as a payments to the Labour Markets Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO), fees and charges for medical check-ups, health services including quarantine facilities, covid insurance, and other facilities offered at the workplace. Filing false cases against the workers. If the workers demand wages or attempt to exercise their rights including their right to change jobs locally, the employers either threaten the workers or file false complaints such as theft, malpractices, or declare them absconding. 2.4. Occupation-wise evidence of wage theft The workers in occupations such as the hospitality sector, industry, and domestic jobs are disproportionately affected during the pandemic and recorded higher job loss. As mentioned above, workers in the industrial sector experienced relatively dignified returns. However, around 19.5% of the workers were advised to travel back without payment of their statutory dues. They have not received any assurance from the employers about paying their dues at any stages of repatriation. The workers from Construction (19.7%), hospitality sector (15.8%), and domestic workers (7.6%) suffered most because of the unwillingness of the employers to pay wages and dues. However, only 3% of the workers who lost their jobs were threatened with termination from the job. Apart from the 7% respondents in the construction sector, workers in all other sectors did not encounter any threat from the employer during the pandemic. The workers in the other service sectors such as medical services, banking and financial services, and education did not face the issue of wage theft or forceful repatriation without paying their dues. The workers in the affected sectors during the pandemic were more prone to 'wage theft.' The restaurant and hospitality industry consists of low-skilled and skilled workers. Nevertheless, their protection is often minimal since most of them, especially Keralites, travel on visit visas and find employment after the job search. So, most of these workers are out of the protection system offered, at least by the Indian government. There is a higher vulnerability when they are thrown out of a job by the employer. There was hardly any time to make arrangements to claim the dues since most of them are terminated and deported immediately. 2.4.1. Beyond the class question The high-skilled workers in the formal sector, often come under the wage protection systems in the Gulf countries, and they have the financial capacity to fight the cases legally in case of 'wage theft. However, several employers and firms have closed down their operations, and many highly skilled workers either face a reduction in wages or non-payment of wages. Many of them were asked to resign without receiving dues and other benefits. Unlike the pre-pandemic period, access to legal services is