“Shattered Dreams; Broken Hopes” The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Migrant Workers in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the world hard, and it has affected the migrant 
workers as well. The mitigation process of the Covid-19 by governments especially 
developing countries-lockdowns, shut down of public and private institutions, and border 
controls has further deteriorated the social and economic situation of already vulnerable 
migrant workers as most of them lost their jobs and faced health challenges during the 
pandemic. These migrant workers were dealing with pressing issues such as abuses, stigma 
and discrimination, with no or difficult access to health facilities, and unsafe living conditions 
The objective of study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on migrant workers and their 
families in Asian countries and uncover migrant workers, PLHIV migrants and women 
migrant’s issues due to the pandemic. Like other destination countries, migrant workers in 
Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand have lost their income to support themselves and their 
families due to the abrupt business closures and lockdowns. CARAM Asia took the initiative 
to carry out research on problems of migrant workers in three countries with the help of local 
partners in Hong Kong, North South Initiative (NSI) in Malaysia, and MAP foundation in 
Thailand. 
Methodology: This qualitative research was done by using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), 
Key Informants’ Interviews, and Interviews of migrant workers. In the total sample of 289 
respondents, 59% were male and 41% female.  
Conclusion: It was found that migrant workers were in vulnerable condition where most of 
them had lost their jobs, others who were still working were facing low wages and less 
working hours. Living conditions were overall deteriorated with almost no social security from 
the government. It was found that migrant workers experienced exclusion, stigmatization as 
if they were virus carriers, lack of support and protection from government, and loss of jobs 
and livelihood. Access to health facilities for migrant workers was difficult as they were not 
included in the governments’ social safety nets. It was also found that social and 
psychological distress caused depletion of living standards (20% responses in Hong Kong) 
and the experience of increased workload and insufficient protective equipment for 
combating the Covid-19 were also common. The total affected percentage of migrants 
who either lost their income completely or partially and socially affected due to the Covid
19 pandemic was roughly 20% in Hong Kong, 20% in Malaysia, and 65% in Thailand.