SHAPING THE FUTURE HOW CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS CAN POWER HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

104
Young migrants
are highly vulnerable
to physical and
social insecurities
TABLE 3.14:
International migrants tend to be young
International migrants by age group, 2015 (millions)
Note: Asia-Pacific includes East Asia, South-east Asia, South
Asia and Oceania.
Source: UN DESA 2015a.
international students. 82 In an effort to attract
more, some countries are introducing policies
such as work rights for students, simplified
visa procedures and permission for graduates to
seek employment. 83
Youth are more likely to migrate in search
of jobs particularly when there are challenges
finding opportunities at home. Many become
providers of remittances for their families that
can significantly reduce poverty and in the longterm
be a driver for economic development. For
some developing countries, remittances make
a major economic contribution. For instance,
in 2014, the share in Nepal was equal to 29.9
percent of GDP. 84 In countries receiving migrants,
young immigrants may ease pressures
from ageing populations, and help respond to
labour shortages and sustain economic growth.
The rural-urban labour migration of young
people in Asia-Pacific has increasingly driven
the region’s rapid urbanization. Many young
migrants, however, are vulnerable to exclusion,
discrimination and insecurity—as are the typically
very young and older people they may
leave behind in rural areas. The consequences
are complex, context-specific and subject to
change over time.
The absence of legal migration channels or
lack of documents forces some young migrants
to choose irregular migration, with heightened
risk of abuse, health hazards, poor living and
working conditions or low wages. So far, the
effort to penalize employers or brokers who
recruit irregular migrants has been to a large
extent insufficient, resulting mainly in penalties
imposed on workers themselves. A more effective
approach, consistent with human development
and rights, is for countries of origin and destination
to cooperate on encouraging regular,
safe channels for those who wish to migrate. 85
Trafficking is another major concern. In
East Asia, South Asia and the Pacific, 64 percent
of trafficking victims end up in forced
labour with another 26 percent trafficked for
sexual exploitation in 2010-12. 86 Although
trafficking in persons usually occurs to internal
migrants, 29 percent of persons in forced labour
were international migrants. 87 Across the entire
migration process, migrant women of all ages
face particular risks of abuse, exploitation and
violence, including disproportionately low wages,
sexual exploitation, and restrictions on leave
and movement. 88 Many countries in South and
South-west Asia have restrictions on women’s
migration, which may increase the chances of
irregular migration. 89
With millions of unskilled, young, undocumented
and female migrants on the move, protecting
their rights and well-being has become
a challenge that must be met. Also at stake
are potentially large untapped opportunities
for channelling remittances towards greater
human development returns in labour-sending
countries. 90 This will require better migration
policies and closer collaboration among all actors,
as well as a clearer understanding of specific
concerns for youth migrants.