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IOM-MPI Issue in Brief No. 14 - Promoting the health of left-behind children of Asian labour migrants: Evidence for policy and action

International labor migration has become a vital component in not only driving economic development for many Asian countries, but also in transforming traditional roles of parenting and caregiving practices for millions of children of migrant workers. While remittances, consistently sent home by migrant workers, are one of the highest sources of foreign exchange earnings for many countries, labor migration can also at times create a negative influence on health, break down family and social cohesion, and increase the burden on health systems.

Risk of mental health and nutritional problems for left-behind children of international labor migrants

Abstract

Background: One-in-ten Sri Lankans are employed abroad as International Labor Migrants (ILM), mainly as domestic maids or low-skilled laborers. Little is known about the impact their migration has on the health status of the children they ‘leave behind’. This national study explored associations between the health status of ‘left-behind’ children of ILM’s with those from comparative non-migrant families.

Sri Lanka Floods – Health and Shelter Assistance for Crisis-Affected People – 2017

IOM is providing urgent health care and shelter assistance to disaster-affected Sri Lankans. Project activities include: (1) providing in-kind medicines, medical supplies and equipment; (2) rehabilitating damaged health facilities; (3) directly supporting health service delivery through existing facilities through deployment of additional medical staff; (4) providing temporary and transitional shelter, as well as relief items for families affected by the floods.

Comparative analysis of migration health and decelpment policies: Qualitative study to understand successes and challenges

Year Project Started
Region/Country
Asia and the Pacific
China
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
India
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Viet Nam
Role in the Project
Principal Investigator
Main Outcome
Lessons for policy framework in Indian context

Patterns of abuse amongst Sri Lankan women returning home after working as domestic maids in the Middle East: An exploratory study of medico-legal referrals

Abstract

Objective: Migrant worker abuse is well recognised, but poorly characterised within the scientific literature. This study aimed to explore patterns of abuse amongst Sri Lankan women returning home after working as domestic maids.

Methods: Sri Lanka has over 2 million of its citizens employed overseas as international labor migrants. A cross-sectional study was conducted on Sri Lankan female domestic maids returning from the Middle East region who were referred for medico-legal opinion.