Impact of COVID-19 on Women Migrant Workers: Case of Domestic Workers in the South Asia-Gulf Corridor

S Irudaya Rajan & Rakkee Thimothy  •  The chapter examines the impact of COVID-19 on low skilled women migrant workers by taking up the case of domestic workers from South Asia to the Gulf. The chapter builds on the extensive literature on the vulnerabilities faced by women migrant domestic workers and presents evidence of their extreme vulnerability during COVID-19. Their situation is made worse by the paternalistic attitude of the sending countries to protect women migrant domestic workers. At the same time, there are inadequate policies to ensure safe living and working conditions at the destination and their return and reintegration. The chapter concludes by presenting policy suggestions to improve migration outcomes of women domestic workers.