Global migrant labourers swell to 164 million: ILO

The number of international migrant labourers in the world has increased by 9 per cent to 164 million between 2013 and 2017, even though the share of migrants seeking greener pastures in high-income countries fell to 67.9 per cent from 74.7 per cent during that period, indicating increasing xenophobic tendencies in advanced economies, indicated a report from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Both the European Union and the US in the recent year tightened their rules for allowing foreigners to work in their respective geographic territories. For instance, immediately after coming to power US President Donald Trump restricted the number of H1B visa available for foreign professionals. The EU parliament on the other hand passed a bill limited the number of months of a migrant labourers can work in 28 EU countries.

The share of migrant labourers has consequently increased upper middle-income countries. According to the report, 18.6 per cent of total migrant labourers went to these emerging economies as against 11.7 per cent in 2013.

Of these, 96 million are men while 68 million women. Significantly, the 2nd edition of ILO’s Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers showed that the share of male migrant workers increased by 2 per cent to 58 per cent with a corresponding drop in female migrant workers.

“While growing numbers of women have been migrating autonomously in search of employment in the past two decades, the discrimination they often face because of their gender and nationality reduces their employment opportunities in destination countries compared to their male peers,” said Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO Conditions of Work and Equality Department.

Nearly 87 per cent of migrant workers are of prime working age, between 25 and 64 years old. This suggests that some countries of origin are losing the most productive segment of their workforce. This, the report said, could have a negative impact on their economic growth.

Nearly 61 per cent of migrant workers are found in three subregions; 23 per cent in North America, 23.9 per cent in Northern, Southern and Western Europe and 13.9 per cent in the Arab countries. Other regions that host large numbers of migrant workers – above 5 per cent – include Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, South-Eastern Asia and the Pacific, and Central and Western Asia. In contrast, Northern Africa hosts less than 1 per cent of migrant workers.

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