Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Taiwan’s Ministry of Labour has recently published its annual migrant labour survey, revealing critical insights into the earnings, working hours, and challenges faced by migrant workers across various sectors. Conducted in July and August of last year, the survey gathered responses from 8,554 participants, including 4,538 businesses and 4,016 household employers. The survey provides an overview of the changing dynamics of migrant labour in Taiwan, focusing on sectors like construction, industry, and domestic care. How Much Do Migrant Workers Earn in Taiwan’s Construction and Industrial Sectors? Migrant workers in Taiwan’s construction and industrial sectors earned an average monthly salary of…

The Limpopo River, a seasonal waterway, has become a quiet yet active route for Zimbabwean migrants illegally crossing into South Africa. As the riverbed dries, it offers an easy passage for people fleeing economic hardship and drought in Zimbabwe. Despite the rising anti-immigration sentiments in South Africa, the border remains surprisingly unguarded in some areas, allowing migrants to move with relative ease. Young men, women with children, and even elderly individuals cross the dried riverbed, often without facing any major obstacles. “You can’t stop someone who is suffering,” one migrant said anonymously, explaining the desperate need for survival. These crossings,…

The English Channel has witnessed its first migrant crossing of 2025, with a Border Force vessel intercepting a small boat early Saturday morning. The group was brought safely to Dover, reigniting discussions about illegal migration and the UK’s approach to managing this ongoing crisis. Last year, nearly 37,000 individuals risked their lives to cross the Channel in small boats. While poor weather conditions had halted crossings since December 29, this first incident of the new year underscores the persistent nature of the issue. By the end of December 2024, the total number of migrants arriving in Britain since the start…

New Zealand has recently made significant changes to its immigration policies, specifically reducing the work experience requirement for migrants from three years to two. This move is expected to benefit skilled workers, particularly those from India, who have long contributed to New Zealand’s growing workforce. The new policy aims to simplify access for skilled migrants, making it easier for them to fill roles in high-demand sectors across the country. How Will Indian Workers Benefit from the Policy Change? The reduction in the work experience requirement is a key part of New Zealand’s efforts to attract skilled workers to address labor…

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has announced that the European Union may propose the establishment of ‘return hubs’ as early as March 2025. These hubs aim to streamline the deportation of migrants who lack the legal right to remain in the EU. Kristersson revealed this potential timeline during a meeting in Vienna with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Both leaders called for stronger EU measures to combat illegal immigration, emphasizing the urgency of collective action. The concept of return hubs gained traction in October 2024 when EU leaders discussed sending migrants to facilities in safe non-EU countries. These hubs are designed…

Malaysia’s coastguard announced an increase in patrols to locate boats carrying undocumented Myanmar migrants after authorities detained 196 individuals on Langkawi island in Kedah. The migrants were apprehended early Friday when their boat reached the resort island’s shores. According to coastguard director-general Mohd Rosli Abdullah, surveillance efforts now include air patrols and cooperation with Thai authorities to track two additional boats reportedly carrying migrants. Despite these measures, the exact locations of the vessels remain unknown. While the coastguard did not confirm whether the detained migrants were Rohingya, local reports suggest that around 200 Rohingya refugees were among those who arrived…

The Turkish Coast Guard reported intercepting 55,467 irregular migrants in the country’s waters in 2024, highlighting the ongoing challenges of migration in the region. August saw the highest number of incidents, with 245 cases, followed by September and November, according to official data. In addition to the migrants, Coast Guard operations apprehended 484 smugglers who often exploit migrants by charging thousands of dollars for dangerous sea crossings. Tragically, 45 migrants lost their lives attempting these perilous journeys. Türkiye remains a critical transit point for asylum seekers from Africa and Asia aiming to reach Europe, particularly Greece. While many attempt sea…

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged global leaders to prioritize the safety and well-being of migrant children following recent Mediterranean tragedies. The latest shipwrecks off eastern Tunisia claimed the lives of at least 27 people, including women and children, highlighting the dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe. Among the survivors of a New Year’s Eve shipwreck near Lampedusa, Italy, was an eight-year-old girl whose mother remains missing. In another heartbreaking incident last month, an 11-year-old girl was found adrift near Lampedusa, believed to be the sole survivor of a vessel that departed from Sfax, Tunisia, with…

A small group of migrants began their journey from Tapachula, a city in southern Mexico near the Guatemalan border, on Thursday, hoping to make progress toward the United States. The caravan includes migrants from Venezuela, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, and Ecuador, many of whom expressed frustration with being unable to move freely through Mexico. Despite their intentions, the caravan faces significant challenges. Historically, few migrant caravans have reached the U.S. border, with most being stopped or dispersed by Mexican authorities. The likelihood of this group making it far is slim, given recent crackdowns on similar efforts near Tapachula. Giscarlis Colmenares,…

A tragic incident took place near the Italian island of Lampedusa, where a migrant boat sank while making its way from Libya. The boat, which was carrying several people, capsized in the early hours of Tuesday morning, leaving at least 20 people missing. Seven survivors were rescued, including an 8-year-old Syrian boy who was traveling with his mother. Sadly, the boy’s mother is among the missing. The boat had set off from Zuwara, a city in western Libya, on Monday night. It was attempting to cross the central Mediterranean, one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world. The…