Climate Change, Environmental Degradation and International Labour Migration in Asia: Exploring the Role of Business

South and South-East Asia are some of the most disaster-prone areas in the world. The impacts of climate-related disasters, exacerbated by socio-economic inequalities, lead to loss of access to water, food, shelter and livelihoods. As people migrate to escape these impacts, they become increasingly vulnerable to human and labour rights abuses during their journeys.

IOM launched a ground-breaking research project with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) looking at how climate change and environmental degradation heighten the risks of forced labour and human trafficking in international supply chains.

The IOM-SEI study will focus on agricultural sectors in Malaysia and Thailand, which are reliant on the employment of migrant workers, and which contribute around seven per cent to the national GDPs. To be launched in the fourth quarter of 2022, the findings of the study will inform relevant policy makers and businesses in Malaysia and Thailand on measures required to better protect migrant workers in agricultural supply chains through promoting safe, orderly and regular migration.

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