COVID-19 and the vulnerability of migrant workers in Kuwait
Project 189 explains the vulnerable situation of migrant workers in Kuwait, and organisations in Israel advocate for the release of deposit funds for asylum seekers.
For the past few weeks, we’ve been following updates from partners around the world to find out how organizations are continuing to highlight human rights issues and support vulnerable communities.
This week, we worked with Project 189 to provide a more detailed look at the precarious situation of migrant workers in Kuwait during the pandemic.
COVID-19 and the vulnerability of migrant workers in Kuwait
Across the Gulf states, migrant workers account for high proportions of COVID-19 infections and are then locked-up, laid off and unable to return home. Amnesty International and a coalition of non-governmental organizations and trade unions recently sent letters to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman to raise their concerns.
Project 189 is extremely concerned about the vulnerable situation of migrant workers in Kuwait. All migrant workers are affected by the current crisis; however, our current concern is with three groups in Kuwait who are at a higher risk and are now even more vulnerable due to the pandemic: workers living in workers’ camps, domestic workers, and undocumented workers.
Those working in the construction sector live in workers’ camps, where eight people share (and live in) one bedroom. The camps vary in structure but tend to be overcrowded, with no kitchen facilities and no space for self-isolation. Currently, any workers who show symptoms have to stay in their room, shared with their seven roommates, in ‘isolation’. Given the highly contagious nature of the disease, this practice is highly lethal.
Domestic workers are the second community that we are highly concerned about. Our indicators suggest an increase in abuse and exploitative work as well as a lack of payment. Also, with families staying in their homes, the domestic workload has increased, leading to overwork and exhaustion.
As a result of this crisis, the government has given undocumented workers an amnesty to allow them to be repatriated without fines or detainment. However, this means that large numbers of people, all waiting for repatriation, will end up staying together in overcrowded conditions, therefore facing a high risk of infection.
Here’s a recap of other noteworthy updates and initiatives:
Organizations in Israel have been working to try to secure the release of deposit funds as a fallback for asylum seekers – about half of the community have lost their jobs. Under right-wing pressure, the previous draft bill, which allowed such withdrawals without demanding the return of the funds, has been changed to force asylum seekers to repay the amount they withdraw during the crisis.
IOM shared its latest ‘COVID-19 Analytical Snapshots’, a series of 1-2 page features in English and Spanish on migration and mobility-related issues around the world.
Breakthrough India organized a public town hall meeting on Zoom to discuss rising domestic violence cases in India during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The National Survivor Law Collective (NSLC) explains the impact of the crisis on human trafficking victims and survivors in the United States. The collective was founded as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is composed of U.S. organizations providing free legal services to victims and survivors of all forms of human trafficking.
The BBC has spent several months investigating allegations of the exploitation of fruit labourers in the southern region of Almeria, Spain, where migrant workers pick the fruit and vegetables that are sold in European supermarkets.
Instrumentl provides a database of grants for 501c3 nonprofit organizations serving those impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The USAID Asia CTIP team is conducting a social network analysis to identify and map connections between organizations working in counter trafficking in persons across Asia.
The Goble Family Foundation is currently surveying individual donors on the effects of the crisis on philanthropic investments – please share this with your networks.
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