7/10/2020
Covid-19 And Migrant Workers: The great wage robbery | The Daily Star
"Gulf countries are highly dependent on migrant workers in almost every major sector…
and yet they have utterly failed to protect migrant workers, and treat them with the
dignity and respect they deserve"—these words were spoken by a representative of
Amnesty International while highlighting the plight of migrant workers during Covid-19
times.
In a letter to the UN Secretary General, Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants expressed
concern that during the pandemic, some destination countries are exerting pressure on
the origin countries to take back the latter's nationals, and appealed to him to exert his
influence on those governments "to take the responsibility of this group of vulnerable
workers at this time of crisis".
Despite migrant workers' colossal contribution in building the edifices of and shoring up
the economies of the Gulf and other Arab countries for decades, coronavirus has betrayed
the ill treatment and injustices that have been structurally embedded in this labour
market. If anything, thanks to the pandemic, the reality that has thus far remained behind
the scenes has been laid bare. Neither the opulent host countries nor most of the
countries of origin (in their rush to secure the flow of remittances), have ever cared to
duly acknowledge the problems that over time became well entrenched, let alone put in
place mechanisms to address them.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, narratives (largely on social media) of migrants located in
various destination countries convincingly conveyed the dire quandary they are in. Many
are without adequate food for days or even weeks, crammed in unhygienic and
unsanitary quarters, some even without proper shelters, making a mockery of the WHO
call for social distancing. A large segment remains idle as construction sites and other
production facilities, restaurants and markets remain shuttered. Faced with a situation of
possible deportation, many were forced to accept withholding or reduction of wages
without any guarantee of whether they would be reimbursed at all, a measure that is in
breach of labour standards. Bereft of any earnings and with fast depleting savings (if they
had them at all), they face virtual starvation and are trapped in great uncertainty. Those
lucky to retain jobs are unable to send money to their loved ones at home as remittance
transfer facilities in destination countries remain closed. The diplomatic missions of their
respective countries command meagre resources—far less than the amount the distressed
migrants need.
In this grave uncertainty, what has come as a bolt from the blue is the arbitrary
termination of contracts by employers. Like aftershocks during an earthquake, a large
number of migrant workers were speedily notified that their services are no longer
required. It was done at a time when their contracts remained valid. This was not the end
https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/covid-19-and-migrant-workers-the-great-wage-robbery-1914953
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