Migrants

The number of women seeking work abroad continues to rise: from 40 percent in the pre-pandemic period to 46 percent in 2023. The main destination remains the Middle East, where they find employment mainly as domestic workers. The government is trying to reverse this trend, but still more than a thousand choose to expatriate every month.

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan the two countries in the region from which the largest number of labor migrants come. But the approach is quite different: the former seems to be abandoning its compatriots, while the latter operates a more careful policy, considering expatriates crucial to its economy. Pressures against Tajiks after the Krokus City Hall bombing in Moscow.

Despite Myanmar’s conflict, many Sri Lankans still travel to the former Burma in search of work but end up victims in trafficking networks. At least 40 have been freed recently, but dozens more are still captive. The authorities urge Sri Lankans, often vainly, to look for work at agencies registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

Another boat with 45 refugees on board sank in the past few hours in the very stretch of water at the centre of concerns over Houthis attacks against shipping. Almost one hundred thousand people travelled this route in the past year, which the International Organisation for Migration defines as the most dangerous in the world.

In a vademecum aimed in particular at workers from Central Asia all the behaviour to avoid in order not to suffer the measure, specco accompanied by a ban on re-entry for a period of between 3 and 5 years. A further 20 new articles of the Administrative Code have been added to the offences already reported directly by the police.

Despite its rich energy resources, for which it receives billions of dollars from exports, Turkmenistan continues to experience a severe internal economic crisis. And with the greatest difficulties in emigrating to other countries, thousands from the villages flock to the capital in search of work. With police harassing the 'vagrants'.

After the first forced repatriation by plane, the issue also entered the TV debate between Trump and Biden. The post-Covid economic crisis the main reason. Routes also to Italy via Serbia, with worrying contours of modern slavery.

Turkish police detain at least 474 people. In Afrin, four people died in gunfight between protesters and Turkish troops. Violence was triggered by reports that went viral on social media concerning sexual abuse by a Syrian refugee against a minor. The case reflects the growing intolerance towards foreigners in Turkey.

The regulation approved by the Diet overcomes the current employment system that ended up favouring abuses. A new attempt to counter the labour shortage. Increased flexibility is provided by reduced timeframes and favoured access to qualified positions: it will be possible to leave unprofitable and discriminating positions.

In his message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which the Church will celebrate this year on 29 September, the Pope writes: “How many Bibles, copies of the Gospels, prayer books and rosaries accompany migrants on their journeys across deserts, rivers, seas and the borders of every continent!” Blessing Okoedion, a Nigerian survivor of trafficking, says she “learnt again what it means to be a Christian.”

Thousands are camped at the airport, especially from Bangladesh and Nepal, waiting. The old quota system has been cancelled. Some 15 countries with specific agreements with Malaysia are involved. Foreigners are expected to cover about 15 per cent of the labour force by next year.

The workers have spent thousands of euro on documents, but for months they have been waiting for a clearance to leave that has not arrived. In the crosshairs the consultancy company VFS Global, which was in charge of handling the administrative paperwork. Also involved are brokers and swindlers who exploit conditions of need to do business.