Xinhua
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Migrant workers experienced significant income gains that increased three to four fold on average, a United Nations official said here on Tuesday.
Jeni Klugman, Director of the Human Development Report Office, United Nations Development Program, New York, made this remark at the launch of the 2009 Human Development Report.
She said the potential gains from migration were the largest for people from the poorest countries.
Through migration, there was a potential for their earnings to increase over time, added Klugman.
Beyond income, Klugman said migrants also brought about empowerment especially for women.
This was the case when foreign migrants help locals to take care of their homes, allowing women to join the work force, explained Klugman.
She also said that migration could bring down the infant mortality rate by 16 times while raising gross school enrolment rates to 95 percent, compared with the original rate of 47 percent.
However, Klugman said migration channels should be liberalized and simplified to prevent migrants from ending up being victims of human trafficking and from being worse off.
There should also not be any discrimination against migrants and deprivation of migrants' basic rights, added Klugman.
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