Migrant workers in Asia approach pre-pandemic levels

Remittances to home countries in Asia-Pacific region hit record high in 2022

Foreign workers work at a construction site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia following the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. © Reuters

SHIGERU SENO, Nikkei senior staff writer, and YUICHI SHIGA, Nikkei staff writer

July 6, 2023 10:22 JST

TOKYO/MANILA -- Cross-border traffic of migrant workers in Asia is on the rise as the effect of the pandemic fades. In 2022, the number of new migrant workers totaled 4.6 million, close to the figure before the COVID-19 outbreak, after countries eased or eliminated restrictions imposed to stop the spread of infections.