4th edition of Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers: ILO Report 2022

1. The International Labour Organization (ILO) released its 4th edition of the Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers in December 2024.
2. This report talks about the important role of international migrant workers (IMWs) in the world economy.
3. IMWs help to fill jobs in host countries which support the economies of both regions.

Who are International Migrant Workers (IMWs)? International Migrant Workers (IMWs) are people who move from one country to another in search of work. These workers leave their home country to find a job in a different country, often to earn better wages and support their families and economies back home through the money they send. What is the International Labour Organization (ILO) ? The International Labour Organization (ILO) works to promote fairness and protect workers' rights around the world. Its goal is to ensure that social justice leads to lasting peace. ILO is the only U.N. agency that brings together governments, employers, and workers from 187 countries. The ILO was created in 1919, and India was one of the original members. Narayan Malahar Joshi, a founding member of the All India Trade Union Congress, was involved with the ILO from the beginning. The ILO has 8 core conventions. However, India has not ratified two of these conventions: Convention No. 87: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention No. 98: Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining In 2017, India ratified ILO Conventions No. 138 and 182, showing its commitment to eliminating child labor. Major Publications: World Employment and Social Outlook Global Wage Report Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers Unemployment Rate Index

Key Findings from the ILO Report:

1. The global labor force means all the people in the world who are able and available to work. This includes both those who already have jobs and those who are looking for work.
2. In 2022, international migrants made up 4.7% of the global labor force, which is about 167.7 million people. This is an increase of 30 million compared to 2013.

3. However, the growth rate in the number of IMWs between 2019-2022 slowed to less than 1% per year, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other global factors.
4. Age and Gender Distribution of IMs: Age Distribution of IMs (2022) shows that prime-age adults (25-54 years) make up the largest group.

Age Group	Proportion of IMs
Prime-Age (25-54 years)	74.9% (125.6 million)
Young Workers (15-24 years)	9.3% (15.5 million)
Older Workers (55-64 years)	12.5%
Elderly Workers (65+ years)	3.4%

5. Gender Distribution of IMs (2022): Male IMs are the majority, but the number of female IMs has increased over time. However, female IMs are less likely to be employed compared to male IMs.

Gender	Proportion of IMs (%)	Employed IMs (%)
Male IMs	61.3% (102.7 million)	61.3%
Female IMs	38.7% (64.9 million)	38.7%

6. Sectoral Distribution of IMs:  International migrants mainly work in the services sector, including healthcare, education, and caregiving, which are growing fields globally.

Sector	Proportion of IMs (%)	Proportion of Non-Migrants (%)
Services	68.4%	Higher than non-migrants
Industry	24.3%	24.2%
Agriculture	7.4%	24.3%

6. 1. Within services, women make up 80.7% and Men 60.8% of the migrant workforce, reflecting the higher number of women in caregiving and healthcare jobs.
7. Regional Distribution of IMs (2022) : The distribution of international migrants shows that high-income countries continue to attract the largest number of IMWs, mainly because of economic opportunities and aging populations.

Region	Proportion of IMs (%)	Comparison (2013-2022)
High-Income Countries	68.4%	Consistent trend over the decade
Upper-Middle-Income Countries	17.4%	Growing role in attracting IMs
Northern, Southern, Western Europe	23.3%	Slight increase over the decade
North America	22.6%	Decrease by over 1 percentage point
Arab States	13.3%	Decrease by 3 percentage points

7. 1. High-income countries continue to host 68.4% of international migrants, mainly in sectors like healthcare and services.
   2. North America and the Arab states have seen a small decrease in the number of IMWs over the last decade.
8. Economic Contributions of IMs: International migrant workers play an important role in the economy in both the countries they work in and the countries they come from.

1. IMs help fill labor shortages in important sectors like healthcare, hospitality, and construction.
2. They provide essential services in sectors like care, where there is high demand due to aging populations.
3. IMs send a large amount of remittances back to their home countries. This money helps support families and contributes to the economies of poorer countries.
   1. Remittances are money that people send back to their families or friends in their home country. This money is often sent by workers who live and work in a different country.
4. They also help increase the income and living standards of families in their home countries through the money they send back.

Challenges Highlighted by the Report

1. The report shows that many female migrants work in the care industry, which often has lower pay and fewer rights. Women also face a higher unemployment rate compared to men.
2. Migrant workers often face low wages and poor working conditions. Without proper social security, they struggle to cope with unexpected situations, like illness or job loss.
3. Many migrants face challenges in finding jobs due to a lack of qualifications or skills and language barriers, which make it harder for them to fit into the workforce of the country they migrate to.
4. Migrants often experience xenophobia, racism, and social exclusion, making it difficult for them to integrate into their new communities.
5. Migrants sometimes pay high fees to recruiters to find work, leading to debt and financial pressure. This can make workers vulnerable to trafficking and forced labor, as seen in systems like the Kafala system in many Arab countries.

Conclusion

The ILO report highlights how important international migrant workers are to the global economy. Despite challenges like the pandemic, IMWs continue to be a key part of the workforce, filling important jobs and supporting both host countries' economies and their home countries through remittances. High-income countries remain the main destinations for international migrants, especially in sectors like healthcare and caregiving.

UPSC PYQ 2018:

Q. International Labour Organisation’s Conventions 138 and 182 are related to:

1. Child labour
2. Adaptation of agricultural practices to global climate change
3. Regulation of food prices and food security
4. Gender parity at the workplace

Answer: 1

 

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