Key Messages

• Access to credit can facilitate migration and contribute to improved life situations through greater livelihoods and opportunities.
• Over-indebtedness can lead to unsafe migration and exploitation.
• The high costs associated with irregular and, in particular, regular migration contribute to over-indebtedness, and associated risks of labour bondage and other forms of exploitation.
• To reduce the risk of debt-related exploitation and human trafficking, governments should ensure low-cost regular migration processes, prohibit recruitment agencies from charging workers for their services, and ensure that migrants do not have to rely on predatory loan schemes.

Report by the Overseas Development Institute