Thematic Area: Migration and Urbanization
Temporary migration for foreign employment to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is common among South Asian nations. To protect migrant workers from various vulnerabilities abroad, several GCC countries are introducing or expanding social protection measures. Simultaneously, South Asian origin countries have introduced many migrant-specific unilateral safeguards alongside their national social protection systems. However, most of these unilateral measures lack integration with national systems in countries of origin or destination. Similarly, they suffer from limited cross-border coordination and weak regional dialogue. This constrained alignment between origin and destination systems, coupled with the standalone nature of available protections, results in significant coverage gaps for key contingencies and vulnerable groups.
To address these gaps, the advisory work aims to promote regional ownership and political buy-in for migrant-inclusive social protection. It ensures that reform pathways are grounded in national priorities, institutional realities, and ongoing policy processes across both origin and destination countries. Specifically, in strengthening the practicality and sequencing of options to progressively reposition unilateral measures within national social protection systems across the South Asia–GCC corridor. This will strengthen protection for specific categories of migrant workers while promoting alignment with emerging reforms in GCC destination countries. The advisory work will shape a shared South Asian vision and a coordinated regional approach, enabling countries of origin to engage GCC counterparts in a more structured and unified manner
