South Asian expatriates in the Gulf are concentrated in Saudi Arabia (50 percent) and UAE (26 percent). Kuwait accounts for 11 percent, Oman seven percent, Qatar three percent and Bahrain two percent. Preliminary studies done on international migration have found out that the deepening of the crisis in GCC countries would have diverse impacts on migrant workers, their families and their home countries.

The conference would delve into questions like how the crisis will affect the demand for migrant workers and the strategies the migrants need to adopt to cope with the situation at the home country and at their place of work.

The conference is being held by the Centre for Development Studies with technical and financial support from International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Development Fund for Women.