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The number of international migrants worldwide is estimated at 214 million, with women comprising almost 50 per cent. Migrant workers (those persons who migrate for employment) total about 105 million, who together with their families comprise about 90 per cent of all international migrants.¹ International migration is now high on national, regional and global policy agendas as the movement of labour across borders has established itself as an important and enduring global phenomenon associated with growth and development.

This important flow of populations has many economic and social impacts on both the labour sending and receiving countries.

• Positive effects include the possibility for a considerable number of people to find employment and the creation of large flows of remittances which can be beneficial to receiving countries.
• On the other hand, labour migration can also have negative effects by creating situations of irregularity that may lead to trafficking of people. It also creates a brain drain phenomenon, particularly in lesser developed countries which are seeing a large part of their trained professionals leave to work in countries offering better conditions.        

Motivations for work migration are diverse, creating equally diverse groups of migrants. Receiving countries often differentiate migrant workers on the basis of the anticipated time of employment; temporary or permanent, and their level of skill; high-skill or low-skill.

Permanent migrants are admitted within the host country without any limitation of time whereas temporary admissions are given on a contractual basis or for determined periods of time. High-skilled migrant workers include professional workers, posted workers, self-employed persons, government employees or diplomatic persons. These are often understood as having good working conditions and are more welcomed in receiving countries. On the other hand, low-skilled workers may face difficulties in obtaining working permits.

Women are strongly represented in this group which includes as well farmers, miners, construction workers, seafarers and service area employees such as nurses and domestic workers. Most vulnerable groups of migrants usually enter countries under temporary provisions and do low-skill jobs.

Also, these workers are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation or even sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking. Furthermore, they are often directed into traditional forms of ‘women’s work’ that may lead to the situations cited above; this is the case for domestic workers. From the nature of their occupation, they may find themselves in situations of undeclared work resulting in variable remuneration and lack of social protection. Children and migrants with irregular status are also groups of workers at risk. Because of their precarious legal position they may be influenced or forced into difficult labour conditions or illegal activities. Children, specifically girls, are particularly vulnerable to abuse, trafficking or smuggling networks.  

The vulnerability of these categories of migrant workers demonstrates the need for measures of formalisation for all categories of migrant workers. This would permit them to have decent work conditions including access to social protection.