The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the unfair and vulnerable situations endured by migrant workers. This article explores the realities of migrant workers stranded overseas during the pandemic. Focusing on evidence from the experiences of Sri Lankan migrants, it aims to create better policies and frameworks to improve their conditions. This study uses qualitative and quantitative data collected from Sri Lankan migrant workers. The analysis of migrants’ nuanced experiences overseas during the pandemic, in terms of employment outcomes and social and psychological experiences, shows mixed evidence. While the positive experiences are comforting, the negative experiences give direction for further attention.
Keywords: migration, pandemic, COVID-19, migrant rights

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the unfair and vulnerable situations endured by migrant workers. This article explores the realities of migrant workers stranded overseas during the pandemic. Focusing on evidence from the experiences of Sri Lankan migrants, it aims to create better policies and frameworks to improve their conditions. This study uses qualitative and quantitative data collected from Sri Lankan migrant workers. The analysis of migrants’ nuanced experiences overseas during the pandemic, in terms of employment outcomes and social and psychological experiences, shows mixed evidence. While the positive experiences are comforting, the negative experiences give direction for further attention.
Keywords: migration, pandemic, COVID-19, migrant rights

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Bangladeshi migrants have returned home, while many others are about to be repatriated. Drawing on qualitative research conducted with Bangladeshi migrants who returned from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, this article analyzes the experiences of Bangladeshi laborers overseas during the pandemic to develop a better understanding of why these migrants returned to their home country. The main research questions here are twofold: How did COVID-19 affect the normal socioeconomic lives of Bangladeshi workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council, and to what extent is their return migration related to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Keywords: COVID-19, lockdown, Bangladeshi laborer, Gulf Cooperation Council, return migration

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Bangladeshi migrants have returned home, while many others are about to be repatriated. Drawing on qualitative research conducted with Bangladeshi migrants who returned from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, this article analyzes the experiences of Bangladeshi laborers overseas during the pandemic to develop a better understanding of why these migrants returned to their home country. The main research questions here are twofold: How did COVID-19 affect the normal socioeconomic lives of Bangladeshi workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council, and to what extent is their return migration related to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Keywords: COVID-19, lockdown, Bangladeshi laborer, Gulf Cooperation Council, return migration

In Dve Domovini / Two Homelands volume 54, we pointed out that because of their employment, legal, and housing status, immigrants were particularly vulnerable to the pandemic that arrived in 2020. One year on, those trends have been confirmed, as we highlight in this section.Regarding health, (low-skilled) migrant workers, refugees, and asylum seekers have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic everywhere, regardless of the political system in place.

In Dve Domovini / Two Homelands volume 54, we pointed out that because of their employment, legal, and housing status, immigrants were particularly vulnerable to the pandemic that arrived in 2020. One year on, those trends have been confirmed, as we highlight in this section.Regarding health, (low-skilled) migrant workers, refugees, and asylum seekers have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic everywhere, regardless of the political system in place.

A couple of years ago, I tried to collect information about the ethnic policies in South-Eastern Europe for university teaching. Slovenian colleagues were very cooperative and supplied me with rich information about the social integration policies concerning Roma. This information was enough for resolving the tasks I had at that time. However, step by step, I learned more about the ethnic composition and interethnic relations in Slovenian society. I was struck by the fact that the ethnic picture there was much more complex and complicated than the single case of the Roma minority. In addition, I received a lot of information about Slovenian ethnic minorities in the neighboring countries.

A couple of years ago, I tried to collect information about the ethnic policies in South-Eastern Europe for university teaching. Slovenian colleagues were very cooperative and supplied me with rich information about the social integration policies concerning Roma. This information was enough for resolving the tasks I had at that time. However, step by step, I learned more about the ethnic composition and interethnic relations in Slovenian society. I was struck by the fact that the ethnic picture there was much more complex and complicated than the single case of the Roma minority. In addition, I received a lot of information about Slovenian ethnic minorities in the neighboring countries.

The essays gathered in the volume Emotional Landscapes: Love, Gender, and Migration, edited by Marcelo J. Borges, Sonia Cancian, and Linda Reeder, give a valuable insight into the multifaceted migration experience imbued with emotions. Attending to subtle and variable affective languages, the authors “painted” compelling “emotional landscapes,” historically contingent and shaped transnationally by love and an array of other emotions accompanying people on the move, such as loss, nostalgia, hope, and joy. Love, gender, and migration are interwoven in all the narratives. Love as a driving force of migration, its meaning, the main bond overcoming distance, and an affective underpinning of public discourse pursuing political interests. Changeable in time and space, the meanings of love entail various ways of emotional expression and reshape gender norms.

The essays gathered in the volume Emotional Landscapes: Love, Gender, and Migration, edited by Marcelo J. Borges, Sonia Cancian, and Linda Reeder, give a valuable insight into the multifaceted migration experience imbued with emotions. Attending to subtle and variable affective languages, the authors “painted” compelling “emotional landscapes,” historically contingent and shaped transnationally by love and an array of other emotions accompanying people on the move, such as loss, nostalgia, hope, and joy. Love, gender, and migration are interwoven in all the narratives. Love as a driving force of migration, its meaning, the main bond overcoming distance, and an affective underpinning of public discourse pursuing political interests. Changeable in time and space, the meanings of love entail various ways of emotional expression and reshape gender norms.