Determinants of COVID Induced Repatriation of Emigrant Labourers from GCC Countries to Kerala, India: An Econometric Analysis

Abstract

The COVID-induced repatriation of the emigrant labourers from GCC countries to Kerala, India, unprecedentedly unfolds more significant ramifications for the Kerala economy. The study empirically estimated the significant determinants behind the abrupt decision to repatriate emigrant labourers from GCC countries to their country of origin, India. The data compiled from COVID-induced repatriated emigrant labourers using Logistic regression revealed that factors like age, marital status and status of family migration at the destination were the compelling reasons for the distress of return emigrant labourers. The repatriated labourers belonged to the younger age group with acquired experience and skill sets at their destination, giving them an added advantage to get them remigrated to GCC countries rather than be a part of the domestic labour market.