The Impact of COVID-19 on temporary migrant workers from South and Southeast Asia

The COVID-19 global pandemic has forced an unprecedented level of reverse migration of temporary migrant workers to many South and Southeast Asian countries -- a region that sends more temporary workers abroad than any other in the world. The long and pervasive global economic crisis is expected to have devastating consequences for these returning migrant workers who rely on foreign employment to support their families.

On January 21, 2021, CERC Migration hosted a webinar to explore the impact of COVID-19 on temporary migrant workers from South and Southeast Asia. Our panelists discussed:

• Why governments must do more to support the reintegration of returning migrant workers,
• How wage theft is causing more injustice, and
• How civil society can provide a buffer against the impact of the pandemic.

Speakers:

Laura Foley, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Queen Mary University of London

William Gois, Regional Coordinator, Migrant Forum in Asia

Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, Professor of Economics, Yale University

Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow and Head of Migration and Urbanization, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

Chair:   Richa Shivakoti, Senior Research Associate, CERC in Migration and Integration, Ryerson University