Gulf: Conflict-driven economic disruption prompts return of Indian migrant workers, prompting concerns on risks for labour rights and supply chains
"Indians forced to return home as Iran war rocks Gulf economy" 24 April 2026
The Iran war has forced thousands of Indian workers to leave their jobs in Gulf nations and return home. Their future remains unclear, and now India itself is feeling the economic impact...
Meera Kurian, 46, had worked in Dubai long enough to stop counting the years. Earlier this month, the hotel where she worked let her go. Occupancy had fallen sharply after the outbreak of the Iran war...Kurian is one of some 9 million Indian nationals who, as of earlier this year, held a job in the Gulf nations...Around 984,000 Indian nationals flew home between the outbreak of the Iran war in late February and mid-April, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs. This number also includes students and other vulnerable groups in addition to migrant workers...It is an uncertain wait with no end in sight. If the war persists, they may face layoffs or unpaid leave. Those who return to India must also deal with expensive travel and relocation costs...
Economists also warn of a potential "labor shock," with rising underemployment, debt and pressure on public finances...For many workers, the impact is already being felt...
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