Rising unemployment as the global recession worsens is dampening flows of migrant workers. Many are returning to their home countries. But migrants have a role to play in development, experts said.

Steps taken nationally and internationally could stem the economic and personal losses now being suffered by the world's millions of migrant workers. And labour migration could function as a "tool" for recovering from the worldwide financial crisis, high-level officials on migration and economic development issues said at a 29 July meeting.

"The crisis will be impacting quite significantly on the flow of migrants, especially in terms of unemployment," UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi said. He said global unemployment will continue to worsen this year, with an estimated 60 million put out of work by end of 2009. That would bring total unemployment caused by the worldwide recession to an estimated 240 million.

Sectors affected by significant job losses include some that employ numerous migrants, such as construction and manufacturing, Mr. Supachai said. For women, the impact will likely be felt in declining employment in health care, education, and domestic services.

Economic migrants channel skills, technology, and money -- known as "remittances" -- to their home countries.

The ad hoc expert meeting on the contribution of migrants to development heard from other high-level officials.

Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), said current trends indicate that the total number of international migrants could reach 214 million by 2010. But he said that excluding refugees, there has been a deceleration in the growth of the number of migrants in recent years, and high unemployment will likely dampen future migration flows.

William Swing, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, said the flow of labour is a "neglected element" of the globalization process. There are many agreements dealing with free flows of money, investment, and goods, he said, "but migration policies haven't kept pace. And migration today is overwhelmingly about labour mobility."

He said remittances home from foreign workers may drop by 9% this year.

And Marielza Oliveira, Associate Director of the Governance Unit of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Chair of the Global Migration Group, said there is a "win-win potential" to effectively linking migration and development, "but enhanced dialogue and the sharing of ideas and practices" is vital, especially in times of crisis.

Topics discussed over the course of the day included "migration trends and the impact of the economic crisis;" "trade, investment, and development linkages;" and "policy frameworks to enhance migrants' contributions to development."