The Middle East war is squeezing two pillars of Indian employment, forcing Gulf-based workers home and crushing demand for manufactured exports.
For decades, work in the Gulf and global demand for labor-intensive manufacturing gave Indians stable incomes. Now, the conflict deals a double blow.
Mohammad Qureshi, formerly a jeweler in Saudi Arabia, now earns a third of his previous salary at a tea stall in Kanpur. "Life was easy in Saudi," he says.
India's economy grows at 7%, but unemployment rises. Youth joblessness is nearly 14%, fueling social unrest risks.
Leather exporter Taj Alam says: "Outlook remains bleak until the Strait of Hormuz stabilizes."
About 9 million Indians work in the Gulf. Since hostilities began, 1.1 million have returned home.
Experts warn of weak wage growth and worsening job quality, with many stuck in informal work.
