Speech #1020125499

currently cites a total of 17 million refugees worldwide. Various sources indicate between 1520 million internally displaced persons. These are included as they are generally denied the protection of their own government and in many circumstances would cross international boundaries if they could. Figures cited by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that there are another 50 million more people on the move today. those nominally referred to as migrants. migrant workers or immigrants. 20 million of these are the acknowledged migrant workers and transient skilled professionals contractually employed across the global economic system. There are also at least 30 million migrant workers in irregular situations. These are the undocumented immigrants or migrants working and surviving without legal permission to remain in the countries where they are. Termed "illegal aliens" or similar by governments. they usually face even more exploitative conditions and hardships than those with permission. Sometimes. they are forced to accept conditions close to slavery as the alternative to being denounced to authorities and deported to situations which may be even worse. Meanwhile. the Labor Migration for Employment Division of the International Labor Office (ILO) estimates some 25 million migrant workers spread worldwide. Around 18 million of these are calculated to be in Europe. the Gulf region and North America. 3 million in Central and South America. and 1 million in Asia. and Oceania. Calculating an average of three dependents for each migrant worker. the ILO Indicates a total worldwide migrant worker population of 100 million. This presentation focuses on international migration. However. rural to urban migration has also now become a dominant process in this century in most larger and smaller Southern and less developed countries.