On the
#InternationalMigrantsDay reflecting on this timely conversation.
Our population demographics are changing, as per the 2022 census data. 26 percent of our resident population represents migrants, from which 98 percent are migrants workers.
These numbers are projected to reach 50 percent of migrants making up our population by the year 2040,
Migrants are driving our economy, filling labor shortages in critical sectors(construction, tourism, agriculture).
The data is indicating that, majority of the migrants fill jobs in the informal forms of employment, making them subject to be pushed into precarious forms of employment and forced to work with very low wages and without adequate social protection provisions. This phenomena of increasing informality shows an upwards trend since the exclusion of migrants from the Minimum Wage Policy.
Despite the significant role played by migrants to their host communities, they continue to experience poorer health outcomes than host communities. The 2022 WHO report on the health of refugees and migrants highlight that Migrants face a myriad of challenges in accessing quality healthcare, such as insecure legal status, discrimination, cultural and language barriers, and financial and administrative obstacles. Ensuring their right to health requires strengthening health systems to be inclusive and responsive to their needs and is vital to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
The health and wellbeing of our communities are determined by the health of our population, including the Migrant population.