Ageing Indian Migrants In Gulf Stare At Multiple Challenges: Study

The ageing population of Indian migrants in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is staring at financial insecurity, costly healthcare, and residential insecurity, a new qualitative study published by the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) STREAM Programme has warned.

Idil Akinci, a lecturer in social policy at the University of Edinburgh, noted that retirement meant a return home for the ‘oil boom’ migrants who arrived in the GCC countries in the 1970s and 1980s, but that model has been reshaped by long-term settlement and demographic change. More families now have children and grandchildren born in the Gulf, he added.

Studies have shown that in Kuwait, non-nationals account for over one-third of the elderly population. In Qatar, they represent nearly half of those aged 75 and above.

In the case of the United Arab Emirates, many prefer to remain in the country and work post-retirement to meet expenses.

Considering that the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation’s (EPFO) mandatory retirement savings do not extend to employment in GCC countries and contributions made prior to emigration are usually small, a large share remains outside the EPFO coverage.

The author conducted interviews with over 40 children of first-generation migrant workers born and raised in the UAE as well as their parents who have retired or reached retirement age.

The findings have shown that the second generation was supporting their parents while facing similar constraints on long-term security.

The paper recommended that the GCC countries mandate an alternative end-of-service benefits scheme and consider the introduction of key features of a retirement pension, to ensure progressive alignment with international standards.

It also called for the expansion of affordable healthcare and elder care for ageing residents.

Lastly, it recommended the introduction of more flexible and inclusive retiree residency pathways.

“Migration is seen as temporary, with retirement seen as the endpoint of the migration journey”.

“However, many who have spent decades there prefer to stay and remain connected. This raises important questions not only in destination countries but also in the sending countries,” he said in an interview with ILO.

He said that future discussions on migrants should think more broadly about the challenges faced by the ageing residents.