The drama of migrant workers: unemployed when returning home or without resources and far from their families
No job at home or money thousands of miles away. These are the two realities that migrant workers face in the coming months as a result of COVID-19. The International Labour Organization (ILO) said that tens of millions of people employed abroad have been forced to return home after losing their jobs during a press conference in Geneva on Wednesday. Back in their home countries they face unemployment and poverty. Meanwhile, others find themselves stranded in their host countries with no access to social protection and little money to pay for their cats. Even those who have kept their jobs have had their wages cut and have to live in places where social distancing is impossible.
The ILO warns that this situation may trigger a labour crisis, in addition to the health crisis. As restrictions are relaxed, millions of migrant workers may have to return home to low- and middle-income countries, where labour markets, already fragile before the advent of COVID-19, are now further weakened by high levels of unemployment. In addition, their families will suffer greatly financially from the loss of the remittances they normally send, the ILO says.
"We know that millions of migrant workers, who were confined to their countries of work, have lost their jobs and are now expected to return home to countries that are already struggling with a weak economy and rising unemployment. This is a potential crisis within a crisis," said Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO's Department of Labour and Equality, in a statement to the media.
The organization estimates that there are 164 million migrant workers worldwide, almost half of them women, representing 4.7% of the global workforce. Although not all of these workers will return home, ILO research in more than 20 countries indicates that many millions are expected to do so.
Most countries of origin have very limited scope for reintegrating such large numbers of people, and often lack policies and systems to ensure effective governance of labour migration and plans for re-entry of labour skills. Governments in Asia and Africa, in particular, expect the return of millions of migrant workers, either forced or voluntary, as their employment prospects fade. If returns occur within a short period of time and if migrants are not covered by social protection measures or are not assisted in reintegrating into the domestic labour market, there will be a strong economic and social impact.
ILO research suggests that returning migrant workers bring skills and talents that can help their home economies recover better from the pandemic. But the organization recommends establishing an orderly, rights-based return and reintegration system.
"With the right policies, the return of these workers can become a resource for recovery," said Michelle Leighton, head of the ILO's Labour Migration Department. "These migrants will bring with them talents and new, and in some cases capital, labour skills that can support efforts in their home countries for a better recovery. We must help these countries seize the opportunity."
Helping returning migrants reintegrate will also reduce tensions in their home countries, where some communities may fear that these people will bring the virus or take jobs away from them. Restoring the livelihood strategies of returning migrants will enable them to repay any debts related to their original recruitment abroad, avoiding the risk of forced labour and trafficking, or further migration through irregular channels.
