Millions of Migrant Workers Face 'Survival Crisis' Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Economic Activity Halts, Migrant Workers Face Unemployment Crisis
Whether Returning Home or Remaining as Illegal Residents, They Are in a 'Blind Spot'

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Amid the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) crisis, millions of migrant workers are losing their jobs and facing the situation of returning to their home countries. The economies of developing countries that relied on remittances from overseas migrant workers are also being threatened.

On the 24th (local time), the International Labour Organization (ILO) introduced in a report that millions of migrant workers are at risk of losing their jobs due to lockdown measures and social distancing caused by COVID-19. As borders that were closed by countries to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have reopened, migrant workers have been forced to return to their home countries.

According to the ILO's assessment of the situation of migrant workers in more than 20 countries, the situation in South Asia, where many migrant workers are concentrated, is not good. Despite lockdown policies, 500,000 Nepalese workers who worked in India have already left India and returned to their home country. The ILO predicted similar situations in the Middle East and Malaysia. 220,000 Indian workers who worked in the Middle East have returned home, and 250,000 from Bangladesh have either returned or are expected to return. It is estimated that 130,000 and 100,000 workers from Indonesia and Myanmar, respectively, will return home. Ethiopian migrant workers are also expected to number between 200,000 and 500,000 returning home by the end of the year. In the Philippines, where many migrant workers are domestic helpers, 50,000 have already chosen to return home, but even more are expected to return to the Philippines. The ILO estimated that migrant workers account for 4.7% of the global workforce, totaling 164 million people.

The jobs of migrant workers were directly hit because face-to-face service industries such as healthcare, transportation, services, and domestic work rapidly contracted due to the pandemic. The ILO explained, "Migrant workers played a significant role in key sectors, but when the crisis hit, their employment situation became vulnerable." In particular, the employment situation of female workers who were responsible for domestic work was pushed to even greater limits. Above all, although migrant workers perform essential tasks in each country, the bigger problem is that they were excluded from support targets in each country's COVID-19 protection measures, as if they were 'invisible.'

Concerns have also grown that migrant workers who refuse to return home may become undocumented immigrants. As undocumented immigrants, they cannot receive institutional protections such as social security and are exposed to poor health and hygiene environments, making them more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Manuela Tomei, ILO Director for Conditions of Work and Equality, said, "Migrant workers are at risk of becoming prey to labor exploitation." She added, "Migrant workers returning home will also face difficulties due to the deteriorating economic situation and soaring unemployment," calling it "another potential crisis within the crisis."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.