The labour systems operating in these countries... make it extremely difficult for migrant workers to protect themselves...

Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International’s Middle East Research Director, said:

“Gulf countries are highly dependent on migrant workers in almost every major sector to help grow their economies - and yet they have utterly failed to protect migrant workers, and treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve.

“This pandemic has further exposed their extremely vulnerable position...

“... much more needs to be done to ensure COVID-19 will not result in further human rights violations and greater suffering for migrant workers in these countries.”