Text

Booklet 1 introduction: why the focus on women international migrant workers

---

The Guide shows that changing labour markets with globalization have increased both opportunities and pressures for women to migrate. Women are migrating for employment on almost the same scale as men, accounting for about half of the total migrants worldwide. For many women, as for men, migration is a positive experience, leading to a better life and improvement of their economic and social position. The labour migration process can enhance their earning opportunities, autonomy and empowerment and, thereby, change gender roles and responsibilities and contribute to gender equality. Women migrants are able to achieve their goals and may gain comparatively more than male migrants, not so much in terms of income, but in status and position back home. Although they may earn less than male migrants and they usually work in non-regulated sectors of the labour market, they are often able to improve the economic position of their family and their own status, independence and decision-making power within the family. They may also be able to have a better chance in the local labour market upon return and to earn money to start their own business. But migration for employment can also expose women to serious violation of their human rights, including their labour rights. Whether in the recruitment stage, the journey across national borders, transit or living and working in another country, women migrant workers, especially those in irregular situations, are vulnerable. They are exposed to harassment, intimidation or threats to themselves and their families, economic and sexual exploitation, racial discrimination and xenophobia, poor working conditions, increased health risks and other forms of abuse, including trafficking into forced labour, debt bondage, involuntary servitude and situations of captivity. The concern is that the overall feminization of international migration is likely to continue and that the vulnerability of women migrants to discrimination, exploitation and abuse is also likely to increase – because of hardened attitudes towards migrants in general 1 and because gender-based attitudes and perceptions continue to be slow in changing. Gender inequalities persist and labour markets remain highly segmented and segregated in both origin and destination countries.

---

Availability

KP X.000129

KP X.IND i

My Library

Available

Detail Information

Series Title

An information guide preventing discrimination, exploitation and abuse of women migrant workers

Call Number

KP XI LIM i

Publisher

Jenewa : International Labour Organization (ILO)., 2006

Collation

80p. ; 30cm.

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

9221137635

Classification

KP X

Content Type

-

Media Type

-

Carrier Type

-

Edition

-

Subject(s)

Tenaga kerja perempuan
Perdagangan perempuan

Specific Detail Info

-

Statement of Responsibility

-

Other version/related

File Attachment

Comments

---

You must be logged in to post a comment