Assessing COVID-19’s Economic Impact on Future Prospects of Indian Workers in GCC

The repercussions of the COVID-19 shutdown have been widespread, encompassing an economic downturn, the closure of diverse businesses, restricted mobility leading to job losses, and salary reductions for expatriate workers. The gradual economic recovery has sparked concerns about the future employment prospects for Indian expatriates in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), particularly for those in low-skilled occupations. Research findings indicate a decline in new overseas migration from India to the GCC, influenced by factors such as the kafala system, structural adjustment policies, a slowdown in the construction sector due to oil price fluctuations, remittance taxation, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19. During the lockdown, many expatriates found themselves either compelled to work reduced hours or faced unemployment, resulting in diminished incomes and a surge in wage theft cases. The primary focus of this chapter is on blue-collar workers, specifically low-skilled labourers, aiming to investigate the heightened uncertainty surrounding the employment status of Indian expatriates in the post-COVID-19 era. The chapter also ventures into examining whether the working attitudes of Indian emigrants in the Gulf have undergone any changes that might influence their prospects. This quantitative chapter is based on a sample survey involving 133 expatriates from Bihar working in both public and private sectors in the GCC. The survey data underwent analysis using descriptive statistics, including the chi-square test and the t-test for dependent samples. The results of the Chi-square test highlight significant disparities in the perceptions of COVID-19 management by the GCC government between low-skilled and skilled emigrants, impacting their anticipated future employment.