Socio-economic Conditions of Migrant Workers in GCC Countries: A Critical Overview

Abstract

Migration is a worldwide phenomenon that has been happening since the dawn of human history. The main reasons for migration are economic and political. This could also be understood in terms of push and pull factors. When people migrate to other places due to the adverse situation that compels them, people is called the push factor. On the other hand, when people are attracted to get better opportunities elsewhere is called the pull factor. Gulf countries are one of the most important destinations where a large number of migrants have migrated. They have come to the GCC countries from several countries, especially South Asian countries. This is estimated that about 30 million migrants are living in the GCC countries. Of them, there are approximately nine million Indians are living in the region. This is evident that the working and living conditions of migrant workers are said to be poor. Their rights are often violated. This is also reported that their salaries are not paid on time. It is sometimes noted that their employers badly exploit them. The main aim of the paper is to examine all these issues deeply. This study would be largely based on secondary sources of literature available. The six GCC countries, namely, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE, have been
considered. The paper also tries to assess how the Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the socio-economic life of migrant workers