abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

28 Apr 2020

Author:
Sebastian Castelier, Asia Times

Kuwait: Free visa migrant workers left without food, accommodation & financial support from employers

"Gulf workers out of cash under Covid-19 lockdown," 24 April 2020

[Kuwait has imposed] a full lockdown on two densely-populated areas predominantly inhabited by foreign workers... a sense of panic is spreading among workers whose meager reserves are quickly depleting...

[Many migrants] work as freelancers, driving taxis. “We rent the cab for 8 KWD per day ($26) and do most of the maintenance by ourselves. None of the renting companies provides us with food, accommodation or other allowance, our daily wages should pay for it”.

...un-tethered workers are left on their own, unable to benefit from a legal provision that asks employers to pay wages. This population is “badly affected”, the spokesperson of the GCC-based advocacy organization [said] Migrant-Rights.