migrantworker

A migrant worker is a person who moves to another region or country primarily to seek employment. The term covers international migrants who cross borders and internal migrants who relocate within a country, often for seasonal or temporary work. Migrant workers are distinct from refugees or asylum seekers, who flee persecution.

Common sectors include agriculture, construction, hospitality, manufacturing, and domestic work. Motives include wage differentials, labor shortages, and the prospect of remittances. Migration may be driven by climate change, conflict, or policies that limit local employment. Many migrate on temporary permits or guest worker programs; others work irregularly.

Rights and protections vary by destination. National laws and international standards (for example, ILO conventions) provide protections, but enforcement is uneven. Risks include exploitation, unsafe conditions, wage theft, confiscation of documents, and trafficking. Access to health care, social protection, and pathways to permanent status differ widely across programs and countries.

Economic and social impacts include remittances that support families and sometimes local development, alongside potential skills erosion or brain drain. Gender dynamics are important, as domestic and care workers comprise a large share of migrant labor and face specific vulnerabilities.

Regional patterns show flows to the Gulf, North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, with substantial internal migration in large economies. International organizations estimate migrant workers number in the tens of millions worldwide.