Development remains one of the most prominent issues on the global agenda since the second part of the 20th century. Improvements in communication and transport infrastructure in the past decades have facilitated the emergence of a new era in development, that of an increased rate of globalization. Globalization has thus accelerated in the past years as countries continue to make efforts to integrate their economies into the global economy, and adopt global approaches to finding solutions that affect mankind as a whole. The recent global approaches towards issues of climate change and environmental protection as well as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals are examples of these global efforts. With this new trend towards globalization has come the increasing awareness by people in all parts of the world of other cultures and ways of life. Economic globalization has also led to even more inequalities around the world, which together with other factors have set in motion an increased wave of international migrants from the less industrialized to more industrialized countries in search of better lives. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the areas most affected by international migration.
International migration, within and out of the African continent has been on the rise in the past decades. This situation has posed enormous challenges to the governments of African countries, most of whom do not have well drafted migration policies. While there has been an acknowledgement of the contributions of migrant workers both to host and home countries and increasing emphasis laid on migration and development as closely related concepts, the human rights of migrant workers around the world have not received sufficient attention. Migrant workers, especially undocumented migrant workers have continued to be victims of abuse and discriminatory policies in both developing and developed countries.
This study takes a look at the contributions of migrant workers in both the host and home countries, and takes a step forward to look at the relationship between globalization and the protection or respect of the rights of migrant workers. The study concludes that while globalization has triggered an increase in international migration, it has also led to an increased violation of migrant workers rights in the specific case of South Africa. The recommendations emphasize among other measures the role of the civil society in educating the public opinion on the contributions and human rights of migrant workers.
