The UN has estimated that the world’s stock of migrants, defined as persons residing
outside their country of birth, as 232 million in 2013.
48 percent are women.
30 percent of migrants (71 million) are in Asia. Since 2000 Asia added 20 million
migrants or 1.6 million per year ‐ more than any region (UN, DESA, 2013)
These numbers still do not fully reflect the significance of the migrant work‐force in
destination countries and economic sectors.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, a destination for many migrant
workers from South and South East Asia, rely on foreign labour to fill over 90% of
private sector jobs.
MWs account for almost a third of workers in manufacturing, construction and
agriculture in Malaysia.