Money advice and survival tips for temporary migrants facing hardship during COVID-19 crisis

Many temporary migrants have endured hardship during COVID-19, as found in a recent survey conducted by Unions New South Wales. With 87 per cent of respondents reporting that they had difficulty paying their weekly expenses and 43 per cent skipping meals on a regular basis, we explore some survival tips you may find useful during these turbulent times.

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COVID-19 has caused tremendous financial pressure for those who have lost their livelihood. The Unions NSW survey found that 65 per cent of temporary migrants had lost their job by early April.

Council of International Students Australia’s national welfare officer Kasun Kalhara says even though international students are encouraged to access their superannuation and savings, those initial savings did not factor in the extent of the pandemic’s damage to the economy.

Their predicament is exacerbated with 60 per cent of international students losing their jobs while 25 per cent had their hours significantly reduced by early April.

While 37 per cent of temporary migrants expected to rely on family, friends or a partner for support, Kalhara says that might not be a viable option as countries grapple with COVID-19.

Mostly we know international students are supported by their parents and parents back home might have been affected by the COVID-19 as well, so parents are not in a position to help international students during the COVID-19.

Click on the player at the top of the page to listen to this feature in Punjabi.

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