Social protection for migrant worker

Online discussion on access and portability of social protection for migrant workers: Final report

People who cross borders for purposes of work face multiple disadvantages because of lack of information about the conditions in the countries they go to, inability to work in a language they understand, discrimination and social exclusion, limitations on their rights to mobility as a condition for their admission, being in occupations not covered by labour laws of the host country, and exclusion from key elements of social protection such as membership in social security.

This online discussion will discuss the situation of millions of Asian migrant workers who, for one reason or another, also suffer the disadvantage of not being able to enjoy benefits from social protection already being enjoyed by national workers. Of particular interest is the question of “portability” of entitlement to social security since most Asian migrants are on short-term contracts and temporary work visas.