Currently, migrant workers account for 4.7% of the global workforce (164 million workers), which are particularly vulnerable groups in the context of the pandemic. The majority of migrant workers work in informal sector jobs and are at high risk of lack of social and medical protection, as a result, when a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic strikes the society and the economy, they were the first ones to suffer. Business closures and limited mobility, combined with a lack of or limited access to social protection, increased the vulnerability of migrant workers. The extent to which migrant workers are affected depends on either their migration status or the tasks they are performing. Legal migrant workers of formal jobs may enjoy all or some of the benefits of social protection, while other migrant workers and their families are often not supported or enjoy very little especially on the medical care regimen.

In the Social Protection Report for Migrant Workers: A necessary response to the COVID-19 crisis, published by ISSA and ILO in June 2020, outlined the challenges faced by the migrant workers and the solutions that the Government and social security organizations dealt with have demonstrated the fundamental role of social protection in addressing a huge economic and social crisis, and the importance of creating layers of social protection for all, including migrant workers. The report emphasized that all migrant workers, regardless of their form of migration or legal status, must have access to certain social protection benefits. To do that, cooperation from countries of origin, transit and immigration is needed. Bilateral and multilateral agreements on the coordination of social security programs between countries are key to ensuring access to social protection for migrant workers. In addition to responding to the immediate crisis, more attention needs to be paid to the ratification and implementation of relevant international standards, such as the ILO Conventions and Recommendations in the field of social protection and negotiation of bilateral, regional and multilateral social security agreements.

To assist in the development and implementation of social security programs for migrant workers, ISSA recommends that insurance organizations refer to the ISSA Guidelines on Administrative Solutions for Coverage Extension, which is a highly appreciated expert reference on a global scale.