18th December is celebrated as International Migrants Day around the world. The IOM’s World Migration Report 2024 says that migration is good for both people and the economy. According to the most recent reports, there were about 281 million foreign workers in the world in 2020. This is 3.6% of the world’s population. They had been forced to leave their homes because of war, crime, natural disasters, and other causes. Today, as societies increasingly grow and interconnected, this is all due to migrants’ sacrifices. Migrants continue to work hard, enhance cultural awareness, boost economies, and build communities.
Here, on this International Migrants Day 2024, we will honour the Migrant’s contributions to building societies and their influence on the world.
Big Influence of Migrants
People leave their country and move to another country for better lives, to seek safety, to flee conflicts, or for better opportunities. Yet migration is discussed as a negative lens due to some misconceptions. Despite the misinformation, international migrants consist of 3.6% of the global population. This means still, 96.4% of people live in their birth countries.
But it’s clear that this small group of migrants affects both the country where they were born and the country where they now live. Research shows that the money that migrants give back to their home countries helps the economies of many of those countries. In 2023, about $750 billion was sent back to low- and middle-income countries by people living in other countries. This amount is more than the government assistance for growth and the direct investments from other countries in those areas.
Investing in trade and movement is happening in Eastern Africa and many other places. They know that letting people and things move freely is important for long-term stability, job creation, and economic growth.
Cultural Advancement
Migrants bring their cultures with them to the host country. The cultural contributions of migrants are visible in their daily lives. They create diversity in music and fashion and create awareness among communities by sharing a mixed culture. Migrants also establish new food traditions in host countries and birth countries. They help societies become more open-minded and inclusive.
On International Migrants Day, recognise the importance of global culture, music, art, and literature which contributed to migrant communities. Most migrants adapt to a new living style and learn new languages. Learning that country’s language creates many job opportunities for Migrants that help them to support their families financially. The success and development of migrants automatically impact their countries of living and their countries of birth.
Civic and Political Contribution
Migrants play a big role in politics and public life. They are in charge of being supporters, leaders, businesspeople, and people who have a lot of impact. In the US, both first- and second-generation immigrants serve in Congress and do a lot of work. Similar stories are becoming more famous around the world, where foreign leaders are setting good models of progress and justice. One person who has moved to Ireland is one of the best examples we have seen so far. The Prime Minister of Iran is a migrant, which inspires others to make the biggest difference possible.
One of the most important things that refugees bring to the table is new and different points of view. These thoughts go beyond societal rules and push for progress. To protect human rights and make towns more welcoming, they work hard to improve knowledge between cultures. Migrants’ participation and interest in politics benefit other migrants. They urge people to get involved, which makes democratic nations stronger.
Leadership and Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship and leadership are some of the most important and impactful contributions of migrants. Across the globe, migrants are the most significant entrepreneurs, leaders, and inventors, in the fields of science and technology. 8% is the average number of migrants who are entrepreneurs in the world.
However, the number of migrant leaders and entrepreneurs has been increasing in recent years. In the European Union and non-EU OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, migrant entrepreneurs have doubled in number over the past decade. In various developed countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia people are more likely to prefer to start their own business than native-born individuals.
In the US, for example, migrants make up almost 30% of all business owners, even though they only make up 13% of the population. Some of the most important companies in the world, from tech businesses to startups, were started or co-founded by migrants. These companies have made important contributions to fields that affect everyone’s daily lives.
Remit Choice Celebrates International Migrants Day
As we honour International Migrants Day, we appreciate the efforts of migrants around the world. We value their courage and contributions, which is why we make international money transfers, more secure swift, easy, and affordable. Migrants are bridge-builders by sending support back home and we are making these connections even stronger. Remit Choice empowers each and every migrant to uplift those who depend on them.
Remit Choice understands the importance of migrants’ hard-earned money, it is more than money. It is a gesture of love and support for their loved ones back home. Whether they are sending money to Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Europe, or any other country, we are with them to build better futures. Our services are easy to access for every expat in the world and it gives them a comfort of mind.
Happy International Migrants Day to all migrants!
