Migrant workers in Gulf countries face heightened political, social and economic risks from violence caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned Wednesday.

Michael Page, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW, warned about the gravity of the situation, stating:

Millions of migrant workers employed across the Gulf countries are navigating threats to their physical safety and job security amid the conflict. The conflict has brought new risks to migrant workers while also exposing the gaps in labor and other rights, including those enabled by the kafala (sponsorship) system.

HRW described migrant workers as essential to the economies of Gulf states, “delivering food and water, providing health care, and maintaining critical infrastructure” in the region. However, many workers cannot afford everyday necessities or bills due to loss of income, rising costs, and limited access to social services. If the conflict persists, remittances that migrant workers send home may drastically decline.

A report from the Business and Human Rights Center warned that migrant workers face unique threats as the conflict continues:

Low-paid migrant workers are also uniquely vulnerable as the conflict widens. They are more likely to live in overcrowded housing with insufficient exit routes, putting them at greater risk if explosions or fires occur. They are more likely to hold essential jobs, as grocery store cashiers, sanitation workers and delivery drivers, that require them to continue working as usual while many citizens and wealthier foreign residents can take shelter…

HRW encouraged all Gulf states to “take emergency measures to mitigate and, where necessary, compensate for income loss.”

Articles 8, 9, and 11 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers stipulate that migrant workers should be free to leave any state, receive protections, and be free from forced or compulsory labor. Article 16 guarantees migrant workers and their families the right to liberty and personal security.

In an effort to enforce Article 8, HRW said “Gulf states should also ensure that workers seeking to return to their home countries voluntarily have airfare support, or coordinate with country of origin governments and airlines to provide affordable flight options.”