Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) is profoundly concerned about the intensifying global economic meltdown and its impact on migrant workers.<\/p>\n
Around the world, countries have prospered as migrant workers build the infrastructure\u00a0and fuel the engines of their economies. Yet during economic downturns, migrants\u00a0have been accused of depressing wages and stealing local jobs. As millions of working\u00a0people are let go amidst the mounting the economic crisis, politicians have begun to\u00a0exploit the recession to instill fear in job loss and promote classes of workers. Statements\u00a0such as \u201clocals first\u201d have become divisive strategies that set migrant workers against\u00a0national workers. Couched in racism, \u201clocal first\u201d policies are frequently used to justify\u00a0attacks on migrants and are cheap attempts to absolve government of responsibility.
\nUnemployment, subcontracting and other policies that diminish rights and increase\u00a0worker \u201cflexibility\u201d are driven by a concern for profit margins over people. Employers\u00a0and governments, the staunchest supporters of the neo-liberal paradigm, must be held\u00a0to account.<\/p>\n