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AuthorEwers, Michael
AuthorDiop, Abdoulaye
AuthorLe, Kien Trung
AuthorBader, Lina
Available date2023-10-03T08:49:01Z
Publication Date2023
Publication NameJournal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies
ResourceScopus
ISSN15562948
URIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2022.2128496
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/48237
AbstractThe ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has strongly reaffirmed the critical importance of labor migration to the global economy, even as it has raised questions about the temporary migration programs responsible for much of this migration. In the Arab Gulf states – home to some of the world’s highest proportions of migrants – the pandemic has highlighted critical structural weaknesses in the region’s kafāla migration regimes. Drawing on two nationally representative surveys of Qatar’s citizens and migrants conducted between October 2020 and June 2021, we argue that the Gulf’s temporary migration regimes have shown resilience during the pandemic regarding flexibility, networks, and policies. However, Gulf states have gained this resilience at the expense of migrant workers, which threatens the sustainability of the kafāla in its current form. Nevertheless, we also identify key reforms undertaken in Qatar, which continued during the pandemic, and we find general acceptance of these reforms by citizens and business owners. Additionally, we find that Covid-19 has promoted recognition of the importance of migrant workers in the national labor supply, even if significant steps are still required to reduce migrant vulnerability.
SponsorThis publication was made possible by NPRP grant # NPRP11S-1205-170065 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. The authors wish to thank Anna Triandafyllidou and two anonymous reviewers for the valuable comments and suggestions.
Languageen
PublisherRoutledge
SubjectGulf Arab states
Labor law
Labor reform
Migrant workers
Public attitudes
Qatar
TitleResilience and Sustainability in the Gulf Migration Regimes: Kafāla in the Era of Covid-19
TypeArticle
Pagination28-44
Issue Number1
Volume Number21
dc.accessType Abstract Only


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