"In this emergency situation, migrants working and living in cramped quarters with poor ventilation, fearful of authorities, with limited mobility, language barriers, and fear of losing wages or being laid off, are all factors that contribute to migrants' vulnerability to the pandemic," said Caram Asia, a coalition of 42 member organisations in 18 countries across Asia.
And while affected countries take drastic measures such as lockdown and temporary restrictions of movement like Malaysia's movement control order (MCO), Caram Asia stated that there is virtually no chance to use "social distancing" for migrant workers who may be suspected of or diagnosed with Covid-19.