International Migrants’ Day

Happy International Migrants’ Day from the FAIRWAY Programme Team

At the close of a turbulent year for international migrants around the world, the FAIRWAY Programme reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted migrant workers in the Arab States and those forced to return to their countries of origin in Africa, and pays tribute to the resilience and contributions of migrants despite the hardship they have faced.

News | 18 December 2020
(Beirut, Nairobi) Even prior to the pandemic, the Arab states region was beset by difficult economic circumstances which had a direct effect on many of the migrant workers in the region. On the one hand, long-lasting oil price fluctuations had dampened GDP growth in oil rich Gulf countries; while Lebanon and Jordan had witnessed persistent challenges in job creation for national and refugee populations (see FAQ here). The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exacerbated many of these challenges, including a major reduction in employment for workers as a result of lockdown measures, and workers having limited financial capacity to cope with the crisis.

Migrant workers and refugees have been disproportionately impacted by these events (COVID-19: The multiple and protracted crises impacting labour markets in Arab States). The immediate effects of the pandemic included restrictions on mobility, imposed by countries of origin and destination to limit human-to-human transmission of the virus. As a result, many migrant workers were stranded in countries of destination, sometimes without food, shelter, access to essential services or the ability to return home.

Throughout the crisis, migrant workers have been at the forefront of the pandemic response, providing essential services including health care, cleaning, domestic work, agriculture and food production, and ensuring the continuity of supply chains across the Arab region.  Nevertheless, many other lost their jobs or were placed on unpaid leave. Those that were still able to pay rent or had accommodation provided by their employers found social distancing problematic due to crowded conditions.

A rapid assessment by the trade union federation in Bahrain showed that migrant workers have been deeply affected by the crisis:  61% of respondents have lost their jobs; 66% did not receive their full wages and more than 82% were unable to pay their rent. In Kuwait, a rapid assessment of (Filipina) migrant domestic workers showed that while most remained employed, 84% has seen their daily workers hours increase since the pandemic; while those no longer employed often didn’t receive their end of service benefits. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, migrant workers (including migrant domestic workers) were made even more vulnerable due to the worst economic and financial crisis in decades, and a disastrous explosion in Beirut that left more than 300,000 people homeless, including migrant workers from Ethiopia, Kenya and other African countries (ILO Rapid Diagnostic of Employment Impacts of COVID-19 in Lebanon).

Another tragic consequence of the pandemic has been the unforeseen repatriation of thousands of migrant workers including from the FAIRWAY Programme countries of Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Morocco. Around 38,113 migrant workers returned to Ethiopia between 1 April to 9 November 2020. Many others wished to return but were unable to, resulting in migrant workers assembling outside their respective embassies in their countries of destination seeking help. Especially vulnerable were low-wage workers including domestic workers or those in the hospitality and construction industries, though other workers in mid-level or lower-income jobs, were also deeply affected. Many have now returned without having received their due wages or end-of-service benefits, and are struggling to re-integrate into labour markets also impacted by the pandemic.
This International Migrants’ Day, the FAIRWAY Programme draws attention to the plight of migrants in the Arab States, and particularly many vulnerable workers from African countries. Despite the critical contribution that such workers have made to the Arab States prior to, and during the pandemic, reports documenting rising levels of discrimination and xenophobia against migrants have shown that, in times of crisis, stigmatization of the most vulnerable is always a risk.

The FAIRWAY Programme has been working with ILO’s tripartite constituents and other partners to strengthen the resilience of migrant workers at this challenging time, including supporting legal assistance to migrants (in Lebanon and Kuwait), promoting more balanced reporting on migration  (Jordan), provision of cash assistance and re-integration support on migrants’ return (Ethiopia), as well as other initiatives in African countries through larger ILO and UN programmes and other joint areas of support. Much more work remains to be done in 2021, and the FAIRWAY Programme team – now based in Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Ethiopia  – is working hard to ensure the protection of women and men migrant workers from African countries who are working in the Middle East, and those who have returned.

From the FAIRWAY Programme Team:

Sophia Kagan, Project Manager – Arab States, Beirut
Abed AlJawad Al-Natsheh, National Project Coordinator, Amman
Annas Shaker, Technical Officer, Kuwait
Grace Sebageni, Project Manager - Africa, Nairobi
Austin Erameh, National Project Coordinator, Abuja
Jesca Angida, National Project Coordinator, Kampala