Health Void in Migrating Nations Print E-mail
Wednesday, 30 November 2005 14:21
When workers migrate from southern Africa, south-east Asia and eastern Eurpore to the UK and the rest of Europe, it can destroy family units, health and education services and an ability to deal with AIDS in the home countries.
Public Services International (PSI) and UNISON are using the upcoming International Human Rights Day and International Migrants Day to launch a week of campaigning around the issues of ethical recruitment of health care workers and the negative impact of migration on the health services in sending countries.


The international Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates there are more than 42 million migrant workers worldwide, many of whom are educated, qualified people filling skilled jobs in areas such as health, Local Government and engineering.  Most migrants in the UK work in health care and the bulk of them come from developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and south-east Asia.  There were 1,689 nurses and 6,208 doctors from South Africa on the register in 2003/4 alongside 4,338 nurses from the Philippines and 18,006 doctors from India.


PSI has developed a pack of information materials, including a model letter to the Minister of Health, a model resolution that public sector trade unions can use in running the campaign and a leaflet about the importance of ethical recruitment.


Gobally, the ILO has called for:


  • International guidelines on issues such as licensing and regulating recruitment and contracting agencies for migrant workers, in accordance with ILO conventions.
  • Measures to ensure all migrant workers benefit from all relevant international labour standards
  • Measures to ensure all migrant workers are covered by national labour legislation and applicable social laws

International Human Rights Day is 10th December 2005 and International Migrants Day is 18th December 2005.


For more information on how you can be involved in the campaign, then e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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