Social Protection Responses in the Arabian Gulf Region

Abstract

This paper analyses social protection and labor market responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in six Arab Gulf states: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE. It includes a comprehensive set of social protection and labor market measures, using data from the global COVID-19 SPJ Policy Inventory and other resources. A total of 111 social protection measures have been implemented by Gulf states. Social assistance measures in the form of cash transfers, food, vouchers, and utility waivers & financial obligation support followed by labor market policies in the form of wage subsidies, labor regulations, and activation measures were the most prevalent responses used by the Gulf states. Labor regulatory flexibility targeting migrant workers was the most widely used labor market policy. Gulf countries have permitted new working conditions and methods, such as teleworking and other flexible work arrangements not previously stipulated by law, with 45% of countries announcing this type of adjustment. Nevertheless, labor supply measures in terms of unemployment benefits and wage subsidies programs have been geared towards benefiting only citizens, and migrant workers have been given limited financial support. Unemployment benefits and wage subsidies programs in the sample were directed exclusively to citizens. An important aspect of the social protection responses to COVID-19 in the Gulf region is a shift from targeted interventions to providing universal support. However, the pandemic highlighted systemic gaps in social protection systems and has exposed and magnified some of the critical social protection challenges in the region.