Development Matters
Development Matters is a platform for discussions on
development opportunities and challenges.
Protecting migrant workers in the Gulf: don’t build
back better over a poor foundation
19 January 202119 January 2021
Covid-19, Immigration, Jobs, Labour,
Migration
Migration, work
By Vani Saraswathi, Editor-at-Large and Director of Projects, Migrant-Rights.Org
The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states need to completely revamp past
policies, and not merely attempt to bridge gaps or provide a salve to deep
wounds.
As of February 2020, millions of
migrants –– primarily from South
and Southeast Asia and increasingly
from East African countries –– were
holding up Gulf economies, working
in sectors and for wages unappealing
to the more affluent citizens. In
countries with per capita GDP of
US$62,000
Construction workers in Dubai, UAE. Photo: LongJon /
Shu erstock