The mobility restriction and massive job losses during the covid19 pandemic forced the countries of origin to bring back their citizens…India… carried out the largest repatriation exercise from May 7, 2020, to bring back the stranded migrants. Considering the persistent requests from the Indian diaspora and workers stranded overseas, the Indian government executed the repatriation of Indians using the national carrier and navy vessels. It brought back the migrants in 10 phases under a mission titled 'Vande Bharat Mission .' The rapid increase in the number of Indians affected in the Gulf countries, and the loss of jobs and poor access to health services in the labour camps made the Indian workers increasingly vulnerable. Even though the Indian government addressed the immediate requirement in repatriation, the government failed to understand and recognise their post-arrival grievances...

… complaints from the Indian workers, especially on non-payment of wages and other benefits, had multiplied due to the economic crisis and panic precipitated by the spread of the infectious disease among migrant communities. Among the workers who had lost their jobs, some were terminated and repatriated forcefully, some were given false promises about the payment of wages and dues, and only a handful of the workers received all benefits and dues before repatriation.