The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a decline of annual growth in migration by 27% compared to 2019, as reported by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The migration flow was lessened by an average of two million people in 2020. According to the Secretary-General of DESA “The report affirms that migration is a part of today’s globalized world and shows how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the livelihoods of millions of migrants and their families, and undermined progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
However, although the numbers have lessened, the impact on migrants all over the world has been severe. According to the OECD Policy Response to Coronavirus, immigrants are potentially in a more vulnerable position in the labour market due to their generally less stable employment conditions and lower seniority on the job. Discrimination against immigrants has also been prevalent in current times in Europe as a result of a slack labour market. The report suggests that people rely more on their networks to find a job, a factor that migrants are not advantageous in. Moreover, migrants are saturated in the labour sector that is strongly affected by the pandemic to date. For example, the hospitality industry, the cleaning industry, and more. This growing unemployment and the belated prohibition of international travel in the initial spread of the virus has caused a rise of backlash in public opinion against immigrants. The negative impact goes so far as to include children as well. Distance and online learning have presented the harsh truth that immigrant parents have fewer resources to help their children with homework and studying, in addition to the finding that 40% of native-born children of immigrants do not speak the host-country language at their home.
The consequences of strict lockdown across the region affected the ability of migrant workers to send money home and to earn money that’s needed for their families and the home countries from which they come. The World Bank has shown projections that remittances sent back to low- and middle-income countries may have dropped by $78 billion, which is about 14% of the total amount. In addition, the Caritas Network in Europe reports an increase in demand for housing and food support. The majority of migrants do not have the option to apply for the government’s support, making it harder for them to sustain a living. When taking vaccination and national health policies into consideration, undocumented migrants are often excluded from national health programs or social protection schemes that could facilitate access to health and social services. Many do not seek health care, including for COVID-19, due to financial constraints or fear of deportation.
In addition, there are migrants who were unable to return to their home countries due to the closure of borders. IOM Assisted Voluntary Return projects were affected worldwide due to border issues and the cancellation of flights. This meant that some migrants were stuck in foreign countries, unable to return home nor receive the necessary assistance to sustain their living abroad. Asylum procedures across Europe were similarly put on hold, preventing some people from receiving the necessary assistance.
In a study conducted by WHO to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrants in December 2020, WHO found that more than half the respondents across the globe said that the pandemic brought them greater levels of depression, fear, anxiety, and loneliness. One in five even mentioned how this caused an increase in their use of drugs and alcohol. Limited access to information due to language and cultural barriers, coupled with the marginalization of refugees and migrant communities, places them amongst the hardest to reach populations when information is disseminated.
Yet in the midst of the harsh reality that immigrants face in such a time, and among being a segment that is highly hit by any economic shock, they have still managed to play a crucial role in sustaining various industries that are worth highlighting. In the EU in particular, migrants have played a vital role in keeping supermarkets, public transport, home care and healthcare services working even in the midst of the shortages faced long before the pandemic. This has been ongoing for a while as a result of lower wages and poorer working conditions provided to them. In light of such truths, one can conclude that migration has been a key role in keeping European economies and societies together, yet the efforts given to ensure that migrants have a decent and stable living environment, social security, and accessibility to the job market are very limited. Migrants and refugees need to be included in national policy levels that address the pandemic or any similar situation that places this segment of people at risk.
Lina Mansour is currently pursuing a Masters in European Politics and International Relations. She previously worked for the International Organization for Migration (IOM Egypt) and has a particular interest in Euro-Mediterranean relations. She is an avid reader who enjoys books about cultural and identity politics. Linkedin: @linamansourTwitter: @mindoflina