It is estimated that today between 60 and 65 million persons are economically active in a country other than their own. The number of people migrating across the border rises taking into account the number of accompanied dependants. Several factors are combining to drive this rising cross-border mobility of workers, including intensification of trade and investment, widening income differentials between countries, transition of political regimes and the declining cost of transport. More than 100 countries are now engaged in migration either as receiving countries or countries of origin, or both.
The international labour migration is increasingly a complex and diverse phenomenon. The policy issues and dilemmas relating to migration have surfaced with the growing flexibilization of employment and informalization of work. The issue of undocumented or "illegal" migrants, and the social adaptation of migrants are also among major issues.
International migration is the topic for discussion at the 92nd International labour Conference in 2004. The discussion will be held around the following three main themes: (1) international labour migration in the era of globalization; (2) policies and structures for more orderly migration for employment; (3) improving migrant workers' protection.
At this forum, Mr. Manolo Abella, Chief, International Migration Branch of the ILO will give an overview of the three issues. Mr. Akihiro Koido, Associate Professor of Hitotsubashi University will speak about international migration in the context of the production of businesses. The ILO social partners are invited, to present their perspectives.
All those interested in this topic are cordially invited to attend (admission free, simultaneous interpretation provided).
