Begging for Food in Pandemic

Begging for Food in a Pandemic

Time for Governments to Take Responsibility For Migrant Workers Basic Social Protection.

 7.5.20

 Here we go again – a downturn in the economy and the economic burden is immediately transferred to many low-wage migrant workers in the Gulf countries – through termination of contracts, unpaid leave and unpaid wages and end-of service benefits and sometimes forced labour – where workers who are strandedor prevented by employers or government actions from being repatriated are made to work without wages.

 Kanlungan has reported over the years on the limited implementation ofcore labour standards, including during economic downturns – such as in August 2016 in the report Thousands of Distressed Migrant Workers Stranded in Saudi Arabia– when there was a massive retrenchment of tens of thousands of migrant workers by companies in Saudi Arabia who were repatriated home with many never receivingtheir outstanding wages and end-of-service benefits (EOSB), which should be immediately payable on termination of employment.The EOSB is important as it is accrued over several years of work it represents a substantial amount and acts like a pension.

 Despite the presence of so-called wage protection systems and hollow claims of corporate responsibility initiatives these labour violations are happening again during the global health crisis, withnegative psychological impacts (including suicides)for many workers facing also the loss of livelihood.These labour violations should never be normalized – Governments must act to ensure workers receive what money is due to them, especially as access to justice is even more limited by possible court and tribunal closures and likely backlog post-pandemic - when workers and their families need money now.

 Companies should prioritise the payment of wages and benefits as a privileged debt before paying ordinary creditors. Outstanding wages and end-of service benefits must be protected from arbitrary deductions contrary to the workers contract under national law. Swift payment of outstanding wages and EOSB should be directly to the migrant worker concerned and prior to repatriation.

 A temporary inclusion in financial public relief measures should be urgently considered. No workers should be asked to sign waivers that they will make no more claims against the employer or recruitment agency in exchange for: relief assistance or so that they can be repatriated. Low-wage migrant workers are disproportionately affected by the health, social and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic. A compassionate just response is required.

 Migrant workers who still have employers are supposed to be provided with minimal humane health standards of food and accommodation in the public health crisis. Historically food was not uniformly provided when wages stop – leaving migrant workers in an arbitrary game of survival based on who has a decent employer that fulfills their rights or relying on random charity from other migrants, their own strategies or the government of their country of origin.

 During the COVID-19 pandemic this continues to be the case – with workers going hungry without wages or having their dignity undermined by begging for food that rightly should be provided. Undocumented workers who live precariously often on daily wages are at greater risk having even less possibility of basic food assistance without an official employer. This lack of basic food safety exacerbated by the pandemic has its roots in the Kafala sponsorship system that fosters conditions for the exploitation and abuse of migrant workers.

 The need to call urgently for food security for migrant workers during a pandemic is truly appalling. Access to healthy adequate foodis even more important when immune systems must be strengthened to help the body potentially respond to COVID-19. Governments in the countries where they work must be migrant inclusive in their social protection – especially given the greater obstacles to: migrants’ usual survival strategies, delivering assistance and monitoring of safety during a public health crisis with quarantine measures. In a pandemic when most countries are affected, surely each country must do more to care for all people living in their country. Stop abdicating this responsibility by outsourcing the basic human right to food to employers without any oversight to ensure its implementation.Act now to protect migrant workers health and ensure no one goes hungry in your country.