COVID-19 Impact on International Migration, Remittances, and Recipient Households in Developing Asia

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic risks devastating impact on economies around the world, including widespread unemployment and lower incomes. Toward the end of June 2020, workplace closures applied to 77% of country observations worldwide, albeit to a varying extent—9 countries still required strict closing of all but essential workplaces.2 Alongside the effects of the pandemic on international and domestic travel, trade, investment flows, and other productive activities, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates employment in Asia and the Pacific to be lower by as much as 167 million person months should containment measures last 6 months from when the outbreak first intensified (ADB 2020). Job cuts in the region are reducing wage income, with estimates of the decline projected to range from $359 billion to $550 billion. Migrant workers may be among the hardest hit groups.