Migrant workers still at great risk despite key role in the global economy

Over the past few decades, migrants in the worldwide labour force have tripled. The COVID-19 pandemic has proved that migrant workers play an important role in the global economy. Economic globalization has created more migrant workers than ever before even during Covid-19.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched a report on Thursday on migrant workers. IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC) provides the latest statistics and trends of workers, including the impacts of COVID-19 on mobility.

Remittances sent to countries

Many workers in developing countries go to developed countries to earn more money. The analysis also highlighted that remittances sent home to lower and middle-income countries (LMICs) have outpaced foreign aid. According to the UN report, remittances made up more than 25 per cent of total GDP (Gross Domestic Product) last year in El Salvador, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Tonga.

Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director-General for Operations said that reliable data can help us understand the potential of migration for economic development globally. Demand for migrant workers also increased during Covid-19. Reportedly, foreign doctors account for 33 per cent of the United Kingdom’s physicians. There is also an overall reliance on foreign healthcare workers in Europe and the United States, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the latest IMO report, migrants in the worldwide labour force have tripled as there are nearly 170 million foreign workers globally. The statistic is more than triple the 53 million registered migrant workers in 2010.

Migrant workers at risk due to less legal migration option

Frank Laczko, GMDAC Director said that the recent report on migrant workers stands as a clear reminder to highlight the importance of migrant workers globally. However, migrant workers face various problems when they try to go to another country. The data available show a trend towards limiting safe and legal migration options. The report highlights the need for a strategy to increase legal migration options for safe travelling.