World leaders renew commitments to social protection for migrant workers across the Gulf, South Asia and Africa

Legislation across the GCC region grants migrant workers access to a limited range of social protection benefits. Most countries have legislation that cover migrant workers, but this is limited to certain risks – sickness, maternity and employment injury – and typically provided through employer liability mechanisms in the context of the sponsorship system. This individually financed approach reinforces the view of social protection as an employer-provided benefit as opposed to a workers’ right. This does not allow for solidarity across workers, employers or sectors, thereby falling short of international social security standards. Direct employer liability has demonstrated limitations for both employers and workers, limiting workers’ ability to claim their rights, leading to low levels of enforcement of labour laws and inefficient compliance mechanisms, and remaining incompatible with increased labour mobility.

Yet the situation is changing rapidly, with encouraging reforms under way across all GCC countries. Oman is paving the way for a new model for the entire region, having recently introduced legislation that gives migrant workers access to national social insurance coverage across multiple work and lifecycle risks.. In Saudi Arabia, migrant workers are legally allowed to access social insurance systems on equal terms with nationals with respect to employment injury and maternity protection. In Bahrain, this also applies to employment injury and unemployment, as a new provident fund for end-of-service indemnity for migrant workers as been established within the Social Insurance Organization. Migrant workers are also included in a new mandatory unemployment insurance scheme and a voluntary pension system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In her keynote speech at the solutions session, H.E. Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour of Qatar underlined that “the State of Qatar places particular emphasis on developing a comprehensive framework for the protection of workers and the promotion of justice in the labour market, through innovative legal and institutional reforms, including the establishment of wage protection systems, strengthened labour inspection measures, the promotion of equality and non-discrimination, and the expansion of social protection coverage. These efforts form part of a holistic national approach that places the human being at the centre of development – one that is grounded in justice, dignity and equal opportunity.” Qatar’s National Development Strategy 2024–2030 highlights the need to focus on coordinating policy reform on social protection to support the shift towards a more productive labour market focused on high-skilled jobs, an upskilled Qatari talent base, and high-skilled international talent. “The ministry aims to support joint initiatives between the GCC Executive Bureau and the ILO which aim to enhance social protection systems across migration corridors between the GCC, South Asia and Africa,” she concluded.

H.E. Khalid bin Salem bin Sulaiman Al-Ghamari, Undersecretary for Labour Affairs of the Ministry of Labour of Oman, shared information on the implementation of the Sultanate’s new Social Protection Law and its efforts to ensure that migrant workers can access and carry their social protection benefits across borders. Al Ghmari explained, “in developing both the Labour Law and the Social Protection Law, we were guided by clear principles. First, to advance social justice in Oman, second, to safeguard labour rights and uphold the dignity of all workers – nationals and migrants alike – and third, to ensure that no one is left behind, with everyone benefitting from the protection these laws provide.” Oman’s transformative social protection reforms have established a unified framework for extending social protection coverage to all residents. Crucially, these reforms extend several entitlements to non-Omani workers, gradually introducing inclusive maternity and paternity, sickness and employment injury benefits, and replacing the end-of-service indemnity with a national provident fund, thereby strengthening protection for migrant workers in line with international labour standards on social security. 

Despite their central contribution to economic development, migrant workers at both ends of labour migration corridors face compounded challenges to accessing basic social protection. A lot remains to be done to safeguard both de jure access and, even more importantly, de facto access to social protection. Research by the ILO shows that many migrant workers in GCC countries do not receive the benefits they are entitled to, such as end-of-service payments or paid sick leave. This is particularly true for migrant women, who face unique and intersecting challenges to accessing adequate social protection.

“From a workers’ viewpoint, the barriers to accessing social protection are both structural and practical,” noted Shakil Akhter Chowdhury of ITUC-BC Bangladesh during the solutions session. “The sponsorship system or kafala remains one of the main structural factors limiting migrant workers’ access to social protection. In most destination countries, labour laws and social security systems do not fully include migrant workers, with elevated vulnerability for those in low-wage, temporary or informal sectors such as domestic work, construction and agriculture, workers with irregular status and those in the platform economy.”

Even where provisions exist, workers often face barriers to accessing and enjoying social protection entitlements. “Migrant workers often do not know what schemes exist, how to enrol or how to claim benefits. Complex documentation, language barriers and limited outreach make it even harder,” Mr Chowdhury continued.

This exclusion is far from gender neutral. Women migrant workers, particularly those in domestic and care work, face overlapping barriers that heighten their vulnerability. “Domestic and care workers are among the most vulnerable. Many leave their homes out of necessity – because of crises or a lack of opportunities – and too often remain unseen,” explained Sister Lissy Joseph, Chairperson of the National Workers Welfare Trust of India. “Migrant domestic workers need to be included in the broader social protection framework. Their priorities include access to pensions, sickness and employment injury benefits, and child and family support. Their rights, dignity and security must be at the heart of our policies. Social protection for domestic workers creates a win-win situation: when you care for them, they care for you, and they perform better and live with dignity. When we protect them, we all benefit,” she continued, calling for recognition and inclusion.

On the other end of migration corridors, countries of origin in Asia and Africa are taking measures to strengthen protection for their nationals abroad by enrolling outgoing workers in national social security systems, mandating pre-departure insurance, and setting up migrant welfare funds for those in the greatest need. While these cannot substitute protection in destination countries, they create the foundation for stronger coordination along migration corridors.

The ILO’s Strategy on Extending Social Protection to Migrant Workers, Refugees and their Families highlights that both origin and destination countries have a shared responsibility and pivotal roles to play in reforming laws, enabling access, negotiating bilateral agreements and expanding protections to ensure that migrant workers live and work with dignity.

Sharing perspectives from countries of origin, Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe, Deputy Minister of Labour of Sri Lanka, highlighted that “the Government of Sri Lanka has developed its National Policy on Migration for Employment and National Action Plan 2023–2027 that aim to establish social security systems for migrant workers in-country, in collaboration with host country governments and employers.” Among others goals, the policy seeks to develop a pension programme for migrant workers, and to include provisions for social security in bilateral labour agreements and memoranda of understanding. 

“While extending social protection to migrant workers is a shared commitment, ILO standards emphasize that the primary responsibility rests with destination countries,” noted Shahra Razavi, Director of the Universal Social Protection Department of the ILO. “They are best positioned to guarantee that all workers under their jurisdiction are covered, contributions are paid, and rights are realized. Of course, origin countries also have a critical role, including ensuring that workers are informed of their rights and entitlements and maintain strong links with national systems,” she continued. 

H.E. Roseline Kathure Njogu, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, emphasized the importance of preparedness and partnerships. “Kenya is committed to ensuring that workers abroad enjoy strong protection and access to social security benefits. Through partnerships with key GCC countries, Kenya is embedding clear enforcement criteria and reviewing policies regularly to safeguard workers’ rights. Pre-departure training and preparedness – developed in collaboration with TVET institutions and international organizations such as the ILO – remain essential to equip workers before they migrate.”

Mr Ahmadul Haque, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh also reaffirmed this commitment. “In recent years, we have taken concrete steps to extend coverage to migrant workers and their families. The Labour Reform Commission is helping to make our systems more inclusive. The new measures, together with existing welfare schemes, are expanding access to welfare and insurance benefits for returnees.”

Extending social protection to migrant workers has been part of the ILO’s mandate since its very foundation. The ILO’s Constitution recognizes the importance of protecting “workers employed in countries other than their own.” To achieve this, the ILO has developed a comprehensive body of standards that aim to guarantee the social security rights of all workers, including migrant workers. These instruments establish several key social security principles, including equality of treatment between nationals and non-nationals (whereby migrant workers have the same rights and obligations as nationals in destination countries), the maintenance of acquired rights, payment of benefits abroad, and the maintenance of rights in the course of acquisition which represents the accumulation of qualifying periods under different national social security schemes.

“We see access to social protection as a human right that protects migrant workers and their families, who are often excluded by legal, administrative and practical barriers,” said H.E. Valérie Berset Bircher, State Secretary for Economic Affairs of the Government of Switzerland. “For Switzerland, the principle of non-exclusion and non-discrimination is particularly important: social protection should be available to all people, irrespective of their nationality and status.”

H.E. Cristian Tudor, the European Union’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar, noted that “The Gulf countries are home to some of the world’s largest migrant communities, and it is precisely in this context that our collaboration can make a difference – by supporting the development of systems that extend protection to migrant workers, reduce inequalities, and strengthen governance in line with international standards.” 

The ILO’s Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), is the only international instrument that sets global minimum standards for all nine branches of social security, including protections for migrant workers, alongside the ILO’s Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202). Several other key ILO Conventions and Recommendations safeguard migrant workers’ right to social protection. These include the Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118), which ensures equal social security rights for migrant and national workers and their families, and the Maintenance of Social Security Rights Convention, 1982 (No. 157), which guarantees the maintenance of acquired or accruing social security rights for migrants.

Alignment with international standards was a key consideration for recent social protection reforms in Oman. “As we worked on both laws, we collaborated with international organizations like the ILO to make sure we are in line with best practices and international standards in designing the new law,” noted H.E. Khalid bin Salem bin Sulaiman Al-Ghamari in his intervention.

The link between social protection, skills, and the sustainability of economies and enterprises was central to the debate at the solutions session. "We are entering a new era in the protection of migrant worker rights in the GCC, where ensuring social protection is seen as fundamental to labour productivity,” said William Gois, Regional Coordinator of the Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA).

Sonya Mohamed Janahi, Board Member of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and IOE Vice President for Asia, underlined the critical role of employers and businesses in making social protection a shared responsibility. “As employers, we want our workers to be safe, to have a future, and to feel secure,” she highlighted. “If they are not protected, we cannot expect them to innovate, produce, or grow with us. Social protection is therefore essential – not just for workers, but also for employers. We must meet our obligations and pay contributions that guarantee workers’ rights and benefits.” She added: “For micro and small enterprises, which often have short lifespans, social insurance systems provide a vital safety net. When a business closes, its employees should not lose everything they have earned. Moving toward stronger social insurance helps guarantee those benefits and gives employers peace of mind. At the same time, we must recognize that sustainability remains the bottom line for any business. It is about finding the right balance – protecting workers’ basic rights, dignity and future, while ensuring that enterprises can remain resilient and competitive. In the end, it’s about shared security and shared prosperity.”

A recent report prepared by the ILO and the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) analyses employers’ views on specific social protection provisions for expatriate workers. It reveals substantial gaps in employers’ familiarity with current legal requirements. Around half of the employers surveyed – especially those operating smaller companies – were either wholly or partially unaware of their legal obligations regarding social protection for expatriate workers. They viewed social protection as important for ensuring a healthy and productive workforce, and in around half of all cases, for ensuring that expatriate workers are protected. Other perceived benefits, particularly for larger companies, included protecting the company’s competitiveness and international reputation. That said, some employers were concerned about increasing social protection benefits for expatriates because of the potential impact on their profits. The main perceived disadvantages of current social protection arrangements, particularly for smaller enterprises, included financial risks incurred by workers due to high out-of-pocket expenses.

A smooth transition for businesses to new social protection requirements was recognized as a key priority in Oman's reform process. H.E. Al Ghmari explained, “The social protection law includes a timeline for progressive implementation. Why did we do that? Because the employers said they need to plan their businesses. So we took into consideration the demands of employers to make sure their businesses will not be affected by extra costs.”

“Extending social protection to migrant workers is not only a moral imperative, there are very good economic reasons for it too, especially in GCC countries,” noted Luca Pellerano, ILO Senior Technical Advisor on Social Protection and STREAM Programme Manager. “It prevents downward pressure on wages and working conditions, avoiding unfair competition between migrant and national workers. It also creates a level playing field for employers, so those who pay for social insurance are not penalized. It acts as a key lever to attract and retain skilled labour, supporting the transition to more productive economies. It enhances the credibility and image of national labour markets. It strengthens the sustainability of social protection systems in the face of demographic, climate and economic transformations.”

The solutions session also highlighted the role of enterprises in advancing fair labour mobility and social protection by promoting ethical recruitment, skills development, and the fair treatment of workers across operations and supply chains. “Businesses can help drive real progress on labour standards by taking practical action – working with local partners to implement fair and transparent recruitment practices, investing in upskilling and the certification of workers, supporting responsible subcontracting, and using their own operations as a benchmark for decent work and social protection,” said H.E. Cristian Tudor, Ambassador of the European Union to the State of Qatar. 

The event shone a light on ways to strengthen collaboration and dialogue on extending social protection for migrant workers by joining efforts by stakeholders along the GCC, South Asia and Africa labour migration corridors, with the goal of ensuring the portability of social protection benefits and entitlements.

“Social protection cannot stop at our borders; it must be part of a global conversation on portability, one that we are advancing through dialogue with our partners and the Kenyan diaspora,” noted H.E. Roseline Kathure Njogu CBS, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs of Kenya. But progress towards putting in place bilateral social security agreements has been limited in the GCC region to date. “Social security contributions made in destination countries are rarely transferable to origin countries. A worker who spends years contributing abroad may return home without being able to access those benefits,” noted Shakil Akhter Chowdhury of ITUC-BC Bangladesh.

While the number of bilateral social security agreements has increased globally in recent years, these are complex to negotiate and implement, and it is hard to keep up with the pace of the many migration corridors that exist, especially to the Gulf. Shahra Razavi, Director of the ILO’s Universal Social Protection Department, pointed to the need for out-of-the-box solutions: “Turning our collective vision into reality requires perhaps an effort of innovation. Regional or global multilateral solutions – from clearing mechanisms to model provisions on portability – can play a transformative role in the future. Together with the ratification of ILO standards social protection and labour migration, countries should collaborate to develop common regional frameworks and interoperable systems that allow contributions and benefits to be tracked and transferred seamlessly.”

H.E. Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Obaidly, Director General of the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs (GCCLSA), expressed the GCC’s readiness to move in this direction. “We should move from a collection of national reforms to an integrated regional framework by identifying a minimum set of common GCC social protection standards – particularly in areas such as health insurance and end-of-service indemnities. This approach has a solid legal foundation in the GCC framework.” 

In recent years, the Executive Bureau has been a key partner of the ILO in the Arab States region, advancing a regional perspective of social protection policies and facilitating consultations that reflect the evolving priorities of social partners across the GCC. “As for the possibility of developing a common regional approach and a unified mechanism for engagement with countries of origin,” said H.E. Al-Obaidly, “it is highly feasible – and increasingly necessary. Domestically, harmonizing social protection systems strengthens the integration of our Gulf labour markets and prevents unfair competition. Externally, speaking with one unified Gulf voice gives us great strength in ensuring clear and fair employment contracts, protecting our markets from harmful practices, and making social protection an integral part of our relations with countries of origin. This also places a responsibility on sending countries to strengthen their systems and frameworks to achieve shared interests.” 

All participants at the solutions session stressed the importance of enhancing collaboration and dialogue across actors at both ends of migration corridors to advance the social protection agenda. 

In her keynote speech, H.E. Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour of Qatar called for “strengthened regional and international cooperation to achieve fair labour practices, ensure workers’ rights, and create inclusive employment systems.” She added: “The conclusion of the first edition of the Doha Dialogue reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation on labour mobility to promote fair and ethical recruitment, uphold decent work principles, and foster the meaningful participation of African workers in advancing sustainable development in both countries of origin and destination.” 

GCCLSA Director General H.E. Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Obaidly also reiterated that “dialogue between countries of origin and destination should be fostered to explore mechanisms for the transferability of social insurance benefits between them – ensuring sustainability and realizing the concept of universal social protection. The Abu Dhabi Dialogue and the Doha Dialogue can serve as useful platforms for this purpose.”

From their perspectives, countries of origin highlighted the importance of enhanced engagement across migration corridors. “We firmly believe that labour migration should take place under transparent, government-to-government frameworks, ensuring that both workers and destination countries benefit through fair, safe, and dignified employment relationships,” said Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe, Deputy Minister of Labour of Sri Lanka. 

Mr. Ahmadul Haque, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of integrating social protection into regional migration discussions and made a concrete proposal. “Bangladesh is working closely with destination countries to make social protection benefits portable and gender-responsive,” he said. “We are following with great interest the policy developments in the GCC and welcome the ILO’s engagement through the STREAM initiative and its corridor-based approach. Looking ahead, Bangladesh proposes that social protection be included as a regular agenda item within the Abu Dhabi Dialogue.” 

The solutions session also discussed the important role that technology plays in connecting systems across borders and in facilitating collaboration. “We must adopt innovative solutions: digital registration systems to track contributions across borders, simplified benefit claims process, and stronger partnerships between governments, social partners and international organizations like the ILO,” noted Shakil Akhter Chowdhury of ITUC-BC Bangladesh.

Participants further emphasized the need to leverage opportunities for triangular and region-to-region learning. “Social protection is a cornerstone of the European social model – but migration dynamics are evolving rapidly. Across Europe, social protection systems differ in structure, in how they involve public and private actors, and in how they adapt to local realities. This diversity can be a real asset in our dialogue with our Gulf partners as they define their own approaches to social security and to extending coverage to migrant workers,” said the Ambassador of the European Union to the State of Qatar.

The solutions session highlighted the importance of understanding the views and preferences of migrant workers concerning their experiences, priorities and potential policy options. 

“Migrant workers must be represented in the social dialogue process that shapes social protection policies. Trade unions both at home and abroad can ensure that migrants’ voices are not missing in policy discussions. Stronger cross-border collaboration can be built around social protection advocacy, linking unions in the GCC, South Asia and Africa to jointly call for reforms and equitable coverage,” stressed Shakil Akhter Chowdhury.

A recent ILO publication identifies a lack of organization among workers as one of the main barriers to migrant workers engaging in dialogue and policymaking on social protection in the GCC region. Creating stronger channels for migrant workers to voice their interests could play a key role in supporting more inclusive and sustainable policy outcomes. Potential enablers of rights are emerging via channels of representation and advocacy, such as joint worker–management committees and collaboration with national and international trade unions.

“Workers need to be organized both in countries of origin and destination. This is essential for workers to have a collective voice and to have a seat at the table,” observed Ghada Abdel Tawab, Global Senior Program Officer of the Future of Workers Program at the Ford Foundation. She added: “We need to ensure that workers’ voice is supported by solid evidence and tested worker-led solutions. We know from global experience that policies and legal reforms do not automatically translate into better conditions for migrant workers on the ground. We need strong feedback loops from migrant workers to enhance implementation. Governments in both countries of origin and destination must lead by example and include workers’ representatives in negotiations of bilateral labour agreements. Workers’ groups should not be ‘optional extras’ but should have an input on labour and social protection clauses in those agreements.” 

The solutions session also emphasized the vital importance of data to design more effective and inclusive policies, which depend on having a clear understanding of the current state of social protection for non-national workers through data that accurately reflects the realities they face. H.E. Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Obaidly stressed the importance of data and information on social protection to enable decision-makers and stakeholders to make informed, evidence-based choices. “In this regard, a data platform is currently being studied in partnership between the Executive Bureau, the International Labour Organization, and the GCC Statistical Centre, he explained. “This platform, dubbed the Social Protection Monitor, will serve as a reliable information hub on social protection statistics, including for migrant workers across the GCC.”