Gulf Migrant Worker Support 2026: What Help Is Available for GCC Migrants During the US-Iran Crisis

Last updated: Jun 5, 2026

What’s Happening and Why This Matters

As of 5 June 2026, the US–Iran ceasefire that began on 8 April 2026 remains in place but fragile, with repeated violations — including Iranian drone strikes on Kuwait’s main airport in early June — that have kept the conflict from being fully resolved. The disruption to life across the Gulf, which began in late February, is ongoing. This situation is changing rapidly — verify the latest before making decisions.

Approximately 35 million foreign nationals across GCC countries have been caught in the crossfire, facing flight cancellations, job losses, rising costs, and physical danger.

Whether you’re still working in the Gulf, stranded, or already back home, this guide covers every major support programme available to you.

Support From Your Home Government

Every major labour-sending country has activated some form of crisis support for its nationals in the Gulf. What you’re entitled to varies significantly by nationality, from full reintegration packages to emergency-only welfare.

Here’s what’s available, country by country.

Philippines: The Most Comprehensive Package

The Philippines has the most institutionalised support system for overseas workers in crisis.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have activated full emergency protocols.

If you’re still in the Gulf, you can request repatriation through:

The OWWA national hotline: 1348 (24/7)
The eGovPH app
Your nearest Philippine embassy or consulate

OWWA welfare officers will assess your situation, help arrange travel documents (including transit or exit visas if needed), and transport you to the nearest safe departure point via commercial or chartered flights.

The Philippine government covers immigration fines, penalties, and basic necessities during the process.

If you’ve returned home, the reintegration package includes:

Cash aid — up to ₱10,000 one-time Special Financial Assistance for distressed OFWs
Livelihood grants — up to ₱20,000 through the Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay programme
Business loans — collateral-free loans up to ₱5 million through the ₱2-billion OFW Negosyo Fund (one-year grace period on principal and interest)
Skills training — free upskilling vouchers through OWWA’s Skills for Employment Scholarship Programme
Psychosocial and medical support — coordinated with the Department of Health and DSWD
Employment assistance — special job fairs for returnees

Philippines Middle East Deployment Ban 2026: What OFWs Need to Know

India:

With more than 9 million Indian nationals in the Gulf, India has activated emergency consular support across the region.

The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) — available at Indian missions in all six GCC countries — provides on-site welfare assistance.

What the ICWF covers:

Boarding and lodging for distressed workers, especially domestic and unskilled labourers
Emergency medical care
Air passage home for stranded nationals
Initial legal assistance in deserving cases
Transport of mortal remains

The MEA has set up a Special Control Room operating daily from 9 am to 9 pm IST. Helpline numbers:

1800-118-797 (toll-free within India)
+91-11-2301-2113
+91-11-2301-4104
+91-11-2301-7905

India’s support is strong on emergency welfare but less structured as a post-return reintegration package. Indian embassies in the Gulf hold a combined ₹109 crore (approx. USD 13 million) in ICWF reserves, with the UAE holding the highest reserve at ₹38 crore.

Workers registered under the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) insurance scheme may also be eligible for additional coverage. Check with your nearest Indian embassy for your specific entitlements.

Pakistan

Around 3.9 million Pakistanis work across the Gulf, sending home roughly USD 1.7 billion per month from GCC countries alone.

The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) is Pakistan’s primary support body.

What the OPF offers:

Crisis assistance — logistics, accommodation, and post-repatriation support for stranded workers
Reintegration centre — the Pakistani-German Facilitation and Reintegration Centre offers advisory, skills development, employability, and entrepreneurship support for returnees
Grievance handling — assistance with wage disputes, contract violations, and employer complaints

Pakistan’s support is meaningful but more selective and programme-based than the Philippines’ universal package. Seafarers have been particularly affected — an estimated 20,000 crew members of multiple nationalities are stranded in Gulf waters facing food and medical shortages, according to the IMO and UN — check flights to Karachi and Islamabad for return options.

Contact your nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate, or reach OPF directly through opf.org.pk.

Bangladesh

Over 4.5 million Bangladeshis work in the Middle East, contributing more than USD 13.5 billion in annual remittances from the region.

The Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB) is the primary support body.

What the WEWB provides:

Repatriation assistance for distressed workers, including airport welfare desks
Death compensation — Tk 300,000 to families of deceased workers
Medical support — Tk 100,000 for ailing workers, plus ambulance support at airports for sick or deceased returnees
Returnee welfare centres — 30 district-level Migrant Workers Welfare Centres offering counselling and referrals
RAISE returnee platform — links returnees and their families to appropriate support based on needs

At least three Bangladeshi nationals have been killed and seven injured in the conflict, with casualties in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Around 55,000 passengers — mostly migrant workers — were stranded by roughly 300 cancelled flights to Dhaka and Chattogram in the first nine days of the crisis.

Nepal

An estimated 1.7 million Nepali nationals live and work across the Middle East, with the largest concentration in the UAE (478,000+), Saudi Arabia (384,000+), and Qatar (357,000). Remittances reached 28.6% of Nepal’s GDP in FY 2024-25 per Nepal Rastra Bank data — among the highest dependency ratios in the world.

What’s available:

Repatriation flights — coordinated through Nepal Airlines Corporation and Himalayan Airlines (travellers bear airfare costs)
Foreign Employment Board reintegration — formal Reintegration Programme Directives for returnee migrant workers, with local-level implementation
Emergency rescue — 318 stranded workers rescued from Kuwait on a single chartered flight to Gautam Buddha International Airport in early April

Nepal has a clearer reintegration policy framework than India or Pakistan on paper, but execution is still fragmented. National Assembly members have called on the government to formulate a proper rescue plan, and flight disruptions have slowed the repatriation of 38 bodies from the Gulf.

Contact the Nepali embassy in your host country or the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for guidance.

Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is the main support body.

What the SLBFE offers:

Insurance schemes — to help workers weather immediate income gaps
Self-employment support — material support for eligible registered returnees starting businesses
Reskilling and upskilling — programmes for workers whose deployments were disrupted, with certifications
Embassy outreach — Sri Lankan missions in the Middle East are contacting large-scale employers to reaffirm contractual obligations for wages

The SLBFE’s support is practical with visible livelihood elements, though not as expansive as the Philippines’ system. Contact the SLBFE or your nearest Sri Lankan embassy for current assistance options.

Indonesia

Indonesia has been actively repatriating nationals since the crisis began. Since October 2024, BP2MI has operated as an agency under the new Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection (KP2MI), which handles migrant-worker policy at cabinet level.

What Indonesia provides through KP2MI and BP2MI:

Emergency repatriation flights
Financial assistance for stranded workers
Legal support
Family communication assistance
Post-return empowerment programming — formal regulations on empowerment of migrant workers and families, including after return, with provincial-level programming through BP2MI/KP2MI

Indonesia’s framework is increasingly formalised, with strong empowerment language, though it doesn’t yet have a single flagship reintegration package like the Philippines.

Contact BP2MI or your nearest Indonesian embassy for guidance.

Protections in Your GCC Host Country

If you’re still working in the Gulf, your host country’s labour protections remain in effect.

These protections focus on wages, complaints, and end-of-service entitlements, not post-return reintegration. Know your rights.

Wage Protection

Both the UAE (MoHRE) and Qatar enforce Wage Protection Systems (WPS) that require employers to pay salaries through regulated banking channels.

In the UAE, a 2026 reform (Ministerial Resolution 340 of 2026) ended the previous 15-day grace period — from 1 June 2026, salaries must clear through the WPS by the 1st of each month. Late payment can trigger fines starting at AED 5,000 per affected worker (capped at AED 50,000 per incident), work permit suspensions, and potential business closure.

If your employer has stopped paying you or is delaying wages:

UAE — file a complaint with MoHRE through their app, website, or call centre
Qatar — the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF) may step in to cover unpaid wages after a ruling by the Labour Dispute Resolution Committee — including in cases where the company has closed, subject to caps
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman — contact the labour ministry in your host country to file a wage complaint

End-of-Service and Compensation

You are still entitled to end-of-service benefits if your employment ends due to the crisis.

Across the GCC, these typically include gratuity payments based on your length of service, unpaid wages, and repatriation costs borne by your employer.

If your employer refuses to settle these dues, file a labour complaint before leaving the country. In Qatar, the WSIF may cover your entitlements after a Labour Dispute Resolution Committee ruling if your employer defaults, subject to caps.

What GCC Protections Don’t Cover

Human Rights Watch has warned that GCC labour protections still have significant gaps during this crisis. Key issues to be aware of:

The kafala (sponsorship) system in some Gulf states still ties your legal residency to your employer, making it harder to change jobs or leave freely
Emergency information is not always provided in workers’ native languages
Social security coverage for migrant workers remains limited in most GCC states
There is no GCC-wide compensation mechanism for income lost due to the conflict

HRW has called on Gulf states to provide airfare support for workers seeking to return home and to compensate for income lost due to the crisis, but most GCC governments have not yet responded substantively.

What to Do Right Now: A Practical Checklist

Whether you’re still in the Gulf or already back home, take these steps now to protect yourself and access the support you’re entitled to.

If You’re Still in the Gulf

Register with your embassy. If you haven’t already, contact your country’s embassy or consulate in your host country. This ensures you’re on their radar for evacuation, updates, and assistance
Document everything. Keep copies of your employment contract, pay slips, residence permit, and passport. Take photos and store them digitally — you’ll need these for wage claims, end-of-service benefits, or legal disputes
File wage complaints now. If your employer has stopped paying you, don’t wait. File a complaint with the host country’s labour ministry before you leave — it’s much harder to pursue once you’ve departed
Know your flight options. Use Wego’s flight tracker to monitor flights from your location — you can track departures from Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, or any Gulf airport. Check if your home government is running chartered repatriation flights
Don’t surrender your passport. Your employer is not legally allowed to hold your passport in the UAE, Qatar, or Saudi Arabia. If they refuse to return it, report this to the labour authority

If You’ve Returned Home

Register with your government’s returnee programme immediately. In the Philippines, contact OWWA (1348). In Bangladesh, visit your nearest WEWB Welfare Centre. In Nepal, contact the Foreign Employment Board. Registration is the gateway to every benefit
Collect your entitlements. Ensure your employer paid your end-of-service gratuity and any outstanding wages. If not, file a complaint through your embassy in the host country — many accept remote complaints
Explore reintegration support. Several countries offer livelihood grants, business loans, and skills training specifically for returning migrant workers. See the country-by-country section above
Access psychosocial support. Returning from a conflict zone takes a toll. The Philippines offers this through OWWA, and other countries have support through welfare boards and NGOs

Emergency Contacts

Keep these numbers saved in your phone. If you or someone you know needs help, call immediately.

Philippines (OWWA/DMW) — 1348 (24/7 national hotline)
India (MEA Control Room) — 1800-118-797 (toll-free) | +91-11-2301-2113 | +91-11-2301-4104 | +91-11-2301-7905
Pakistan (OPF) — opf.org.pk | contact your nearest Pakistani embassy
Bangladesh (WEWB) — wewb.gov.bd | contact your nearest Bangladesh embassy
Nepal — contact the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security or your nearest Nepali embassy
Sri Lanka (SLBFE) — slbfe.lk | contact your nearest Sri Lankan embassy
Indonesia (BP2MI) — contact BP2MI or your nearest Indonesian embassy

In the UAE, MoHRE can be reached at 600-590-000. In Qatar, report wage violations through the Ministry of Labour hotline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my employer withhold my wages because of the conflict?

No — your employer is legally required to pay your wages regardless of the political situation. If your wages are delayed, file a complaint with the labour ministry in your host country or contact your embassy.

Do I lose my end-of-service benefits if I leave the country during the crisis?

No — end-of-service gratuity is your right under GCC labour law. Document your employment dates and salary, and file a claim with the labour authority before you leave if your employer hasn’t settled.

Who pays for my repatriation flight?

It depends on your nationality and situation. The Philippines covers repatriation costs for distressed OFWs. India’s ICWF can fund air passage for stranded nationals. Nepal’s repatriation flights require workers to bear their own airfare. Check with your embassy for your specific entitlements.

Is it safe to stay and keep working in the Gulf during the ceasefire?

The ceasefire is fragile and violations have been reported. Follow your home government’s travel advisory for your specific host country. If you are in a country under Alert Level 3 or 4 (Philippines system), you are advised to leave. Register with your embassy so they can reach you if the situation changes.

What if I’ve lost my job but my employer won’t release me from my visa?

Contact the labour ministry in your host country immediately. In the UAE and Qatar, reforms have made it easier for workers to change employers or leave without employer consent. Your embassy can also intervene on your behalf.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.