Good morning everyone!
Today I am going to talk about a topic that affects millions of people around the world: illegal migrant workers. I will also discuss the push and pull factors that drive migrants to leave their countries and enter others illegally in search of work and better opportunities.
To begin, let’s define what actually are illegal migrants workers. These are individuals who enter other countries without proper legal documentation to work and live. According to data, there are around 200 million migrants around the world, and one-third of that are illegal migrants. This means that they are working in other countries without government approval.
But why do people make such a risky decision?
There are two main set of reasons—push and pull factors.
First, let’s start with the push factors. The most significant factor is about the economic hardship in their original countries. Facing the high unemployment rate, low wages and lack of job opportunities, they can’t have a comfortable life in their home counties. In additions, many migrants are from the regions that are suffering political instability, such as war and persecution.
On the other hand, there are pull factors that attract migrant workers to other countries. One of the most significant pull factors is the higher wages in other countries. Many migrant workers hope to earn more money to improve their standard of living, so that they can transfer the money to their families. Also, job opportunities are a crucial factors that appeal to the workers, such as construction, agriculture and domestic manufacturing. Additionally, many migrants are seeking for a better living environment and a higher level of education. For instance, the US, many people feel there are more opportunities to improve their family quality of living.
After understand the push and pull factors, let’s look at how migrant workers decide which country to go to. Personally, immigration policies are a big factor. Countries with less strict immigration control allow workers enter the country easier or at least not being immediately deported. Geography also plays a significant role. Migrants are more likely to choose a neighboring country or those with more accessible borders.
But why migrants workers often resort to entering countries illegally? The answer is simple: for many, it is the only option.
Many countries have strict immigration policies that make it nearly impossible for low-skilled workers to enter legally. For example, in Australia, the criteria for entering is extremely high. They need to have high language proficiency and stable career. What’s more, the costs of visa applications is exorbitant and the process may last a month or even a year. These make legal migration inaccessible to many of the migrants workers, as they usually come from the countries where they cannot afford the high fees.The other reason is that the need is urgent. Many migrants come from desperate situation, such as conflict, famine and extreme poverty. Therefore, if they waiting for legal approval, they may lose everything.
Would anyone really choose to face all these risks if they had another choice? The truth is, most people don’t want to be undocumented workers. They take these risks because they feel they have no other choice.
Finally, should government do more to prevent illegal immigration? Of course, border control is important for national security. However, government should not only consider the safety of citizens but also consider the ethics problems. Providing more legal pathways for migrants workers to enter countries is one of the solution. To offering more work visas, the number of illegal immigration can be reduced.
To conclude, illegal migrants workers are driven by both push factors, like poverty and conflict, and pull factors, such as better job opportunities. While many migrants are forced to enter other countries illegally due to strict immigration policies, government should consider a more humane solution to this global issue.
