Panel discussion about IOM’s new report Spotlight on Labour Migration in Asia hosted by IOM in Hong Kong on 13 December / IOM Hong Kong SAR 2021.

Hong Kong SAR, China – On 13 December 2021, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) hosted a film screening and panel discussion event to mark International Migrants Day (18/12).

The event centered around IOM’s new regional report Spotlight on Labour Migration in Asia and was attended by 42 representatives from foreign consulates, civil society organizations and the private sector. It included a film screening of ‘Night Working’ (2017) directed by Kim Jung Eun, and a panel discussion moderated by Myriam Mwizerwa, Head of Sub-Office, Hong Kong SAR, China, with panelists including Michael Frank, Senior Analyst at Economist Impact; Archana Kotecha, CEO and Founder of The Remedy Project; and Matthew Friedman, CEO of the Mekong Club. 

The launch of IOM’s new report Spotlight on Labour Migration in Asia comes at a time when the world marks International Migrants Day this year. It is important to highlight the plight of migrants across the world but also their immeasurable contributions to societies. “Migrants play a crucial role in building stronger and sustainable communities amidst the challenges they face”, said Myriam Mwizerwa, Head of Sub-Office for IOM Hong Kong SAR, China in her opening remarks.

Myriam Mwizerwa, Head of Sub-Office for IOM Hong Kong SAR, China delivered her opening remarks during the panel discussion / IOM Hong Kong SAR 2021.

The report Spotlight on Labour Migration in Asia, written by Economist Impact and commissioned by IOM, explores how low-wage international labour migration in Asia has changed over the last two decades. It identifies the drivers behind these changes, and analyses how risks and vulnerabilities faced by migrants have evolved in parallel. Based on current economic social, political and technological trends, it then looks at how migration dynamics in the region may evolve over the coming years and decades, and considers the steps needed to maximize the benefits and mitigate the risks of this critical but often dangerous journey.

Globally, one in three migrants is from Asia and, of the roughly 169 million migrant workers globally, 15 per cent come from South and South-East Asia. Whilst safe, orderly and regular migration can significantly boost economic dynamism by filling critical labour market gaps, labour migration that is not properly regulated can bring risks and challenges such as poor and unsafe working conditions, exploitation and human rights abuses.  

“When we look at this upcoming period in the structure of Asia’s populations, we see that demographics in Asia are a very dynamic factor already driving new patterns of labour migration within the region”, said Michael Frank, Senior Analyst at Economist Impact. 

“More migrants, who may previously have looked outside the region, are instead finding opportunities elsewhere in Asia. This is just the beginning. The approach we adopted was to look at how these factors intersect with a variety of other forces, such as politics, geopolitics, technology, culture, and gender. All of these factors are interconnected and even when we try to pinpoint one key driver, we uncover a whole variety of different related factors that we need to delve into,” Michael explained. . 

The report was developed under the framework of IOM’s Corporate Responsibility in Eliminating Slavery and Trafficking (CREST), a regional initiative that aims to realize the potential of business to uphold the human and labour rights of migrant workers in their operations and supply chains.

For more information about the report, please contact Myriam Mwizerwa at mmwizerwa@iom.int  
For media inquiries, please contact Nguyen Thi Hong Yen at thihnguyen@iom.int