80 percent COVID-19 case of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain are migrant workers

In Saudi Arabia, COVID-19 infected cases surpass 15,000. According to government data, foreigners account for nearly 80 percent of the confirmed cases. In other Gulf countries like Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain, nearly all coronavirus cases are among foreigners, the Guardian reported. Many of these people live in camped labour camps. As per Internation Business Times, Amnesty International recently criticized Qatar after it deported migrant workers and stripped of salary and benefits even as the workers believed they were being taken for coronavirus testing. The country alleged that the workers illegally manufactured and sold banned substances, a charge they denied while speaking with Amnesty. Meanwhile, The Governments of Sri Lanka and Kuwait are in discussion to extend the amnesty period granted for over 19,000 Lankan workers who are currently out of status, in that country. Speaking on Sirasa TV the Secretary said through the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ web portal and other means, to-date, over 27,000 OSLs have expressed their wish to return. This number includes over 17,000 migrant workers and dependents, 6,000 students and around 3,000 short term visa holders and tourists.