Abstract:
The spread of Covid-19 in Qatar and the pandemic-led economic slump in the
country have substantial financial implications for Sri Lankan migrant workers in
Qatar and the Sri Lankan economy as a whole, as Qatar has been one of the primary
destinations among Sri Lankan migrants in recent years. Based on 12 in-depth
interviews and an online survey of 101 Sri Lankan workers in Qatar, this paper
assesses the pandemic’s financial implications on three groups of Sri Lankan
migrants; the highly-skilled, skilled and semi-skilled. Using a mixed-method analysis,
the paper identifies that pay-cuts have been the most common financial issue across
all skill levels, with nearly half of respondents reporting deductions from their salaries.
The research also identifies that while all three groups of migrants have used various
coping mechanisms to mitigate the pandemic’s financial impact, highly-skilled
migrants have been more successful in weathering the storm than others due to
their accumulated savings. Though compared to the early months of the pandemic,
the financial stability of most Sri Lankans in Qatar had improved by September 2020
with the easing of restrictions imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19, it might
not necessarily transfer into stability in remittances to Sri Lanka, as an increasing
number of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Qatar are considering a permanent return
home.
Keywords: Covid
