22/09/2020
Indians Worry Over UAE Job Losses
There are uncon rmed reports that Dubai's hosting of the 2020 World Expo (Expo
2020), which is scheduled to start in October, will be postponed.
Coronavirus
States
Our Journalists
Write-In
In the UAE, Dubai received 16.7 million tourists in 2019 and the tourism sector
contributed 11.5% of GDP at year-end.
Expo 2020 was expected to receive 25 million visitors in just six months. Of cials
anticipated that more than 70% would come from outside the UAE.
If the Coronavirus is not contained, visitor numbers will be lower than expected.
Migrants Should Not Be Ignored
Meanwhile, a group of migrant rights organisations and trade unions issued a joint
statement alleging that the Coronavirus outbreak has demonstrated that no
government was adequately prepared to deal with a health emergency of this scale and
as governments scramble to nd adequate responses to address the pandemic, they see
that many migrant workers are the rst to be left behind.
According to the statement issued by Migrant Forum in Asia, the Cross-Regional Center
for Refugees and Migrants (CCRM), Paci cwin Paci c, and Solidarity Center, the
Coronavirus pandemic, while largely an issue of health, is also an economic issue for
migrant workers.
“Many will be at the receiving end of the most severe impact of economic recession. As
major industries close down, migrant workers are among the rst to be let go. We have
received reports of many workers deported to their countries of origin while being
denied their salaries and bene ts,” the statement says.
“With many businesses closing down as a result of COVID-19, we call on governments
to ensure that migrants who have lost their jobs receive their entitled salaries, wages,
and bene ts before they are sent home,” the statement adds.
The organisations have urged the destination country governments that migrants,
regardless of their status, should have access to free screening and treatment for
COVID-19 without fear of arrest and detention.
On March 28, The Lede had reported on how undocumented migrants are at greatest
peril as they are denied access to healthcare.
https://www.thelede.in/inclusion/2020/04/01/indians-worry-over-uae-job-losses
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