Abstract:
At the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the crowded labour camps, where most Sri
Lankan low-wage migrant workers in the Gulf resided, became breeding grounds for
COVID-19 and had to be placed in isolation with entry and exit barred. As the year 2020
progressed, lockdowns and other COVID-19 containment measures imposed, coupled
with the contraction of Gulf economies caused by the pandemic-led drastic decline
in oil prices in the world market, resulted in lay-offs, pay-cuts, delays in payments
and other financial issues for migrants belonging to all skill levels. Furthermore, while
certain Gulf countries implemented policies to provide financial support to help their
populations affected by the pandemic, most of these were geared towards benefiting
only citizens and local businesses, and migrant workers were given limited financial
assistance. As a result, the pandemic severely affected Sri Lankan migrant workers and
their families that depend on the remittances they send home. ...