Migration alleviating poverty: ADB

Migration is helping reduce widespread poverty as it increases the income levels of the poor and decreases unemployment pressures, the Asian Development Bank said.  Its annual outlook report advised that governments should make it easier for migrant workers to move to destination countries by managing labor flows, reducing transaction costs and opening more labor markets.  In 2007, Asian migrant workers sent home $108.1 billion in remittances, which is over one-third of total global remittances.

WB calls for reduced remittance charges

A joint report by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund recommends the reduction of remittance charges to increase the disposable income of migrant families, especially for developing countries. The WB-IMF’s Global Monitoring Report for 2008 revealed that remittance flows serve as the largest source of foreign exchange for many countries and are also a valuable source of foreign financing for developing nations. In 2006, remittance flows to developing countries exceeded $200 billion and reached twice the amount of the total development assistance to these countries. The report said that countries receiving remittances need to create systems and streamlined banking procedures that will “maximize the benefits of remittances while minimizing their negative repercussions.” It added that partnership between banking, postal service and money transfer operators will help reduce costs in sending remittances without compromising security.

Asians protest UK’s new immigration rules

On 20 April, thousands of people protested UK’s new immigration rules that will make it more difficult for restaurant owners to hire foreign cooks. The protest, organized by the Ethnic Catering Alliance, has 19,000 members from China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Turkey. Police say there were about 4,500 participants. UK’s new points-based system allows foreigners to work in the country if they have qualified scores based on educational background and English proficiency, among others. Critics say it is unfair for skilled workers, including skilled foreign chefs and cooks, who may not be allowed just because they cannot speak English well. 

Sources: AFP, “Migrant labor helping reduce Asian poverty – ADB,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2 April 2008; David Dizon, “‘Cut costs of sending remittances’: WB-IMF report,” ABS-CBN News, 9 April 2008;

 Damon Pang, “Chinese roasting for new UK visa rules,” The Standard, 22 April 2008