The Covid-19 pandemic has had a number of knock-on consequences for economies around the world. Workers have found themselves doing their jobs remotely, and even confined to their homes for weeks on end.
Among the first levers that national governments have tended to reach for is a ban on international travel. When fewer people are arriving from parts of the world where infections are rife, that means fewer opportunities for the virus to get into the country.
Less Migrant Labour
This is bad news for migrant labour, which has found it more difficult to travel to where the work is. While exceptions are made for certain kinds of professionals, like scientists and world leaders, the majority of migrant workers can easily find themselves barred from entry.
This is especially bad news for migrant workers who are already overseas when the travel restrictions cut in, who might face a lengthy ordeal going through a more stringent visa process on the way back. Even those with competent immigration lawyers onside have faced challenges.
While the Covid-19 pandemic might be on the way out, with the omicron variant proving more mild than previous mutations, the chances are good that migration restrictions will be around for awhile longer – especially in countries whose populations are less vaccinated.
Global Inequality
To be sure, levels of global inequality were at unprecedented levels before the arrival of the pandemic. But the situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic, and the measures put in place to deal with it.
For many families in the developing world, remittances from workers in other countries are an important source of income. If the source of this income is removed, then these families will find themselves having to make alternative arrangements.
We should bear in mind that, while affluent western workers have the capacity to work from home, the same cannot always be said of low-income workers in the third world. Migrant workers might also face conditions that put them at increased risk of Covid-19 and other health problems, thanks to the way in which they often travel.
What about the UK?
So, what does this sudden shortfall in migrant labour mean for the UK. Mostly, it means fewer visas being issued for work and study, and a shortfall in National Insurance contributions from overseas visitors. This forms a relatively small, though significant part of the overall economic malaise the country finds itself confronted with. In the long term, this money will need to be found from somewhere.
