[Policy Brief] Migration and Social Protection: Protecting the Movers of Economies

Problem
Over 280M international migrants lack adequate SP coverage. Benefits are rarely portable, registries exclude them, and host governments fear fiscal pressure. Migrants remain contributors without protection.

Evidence

• Remittances exceed FDI in many LMICs.

• Portability MOUs exist but remain narrow (pensions only).

• Mobile-finance-linked pensions (Kenya) show feasibility.

Policy Options

1. Modular portability starting with pensions + health.

2. Migrant-aware registries using digital IDs.

3. Leverage remittances into savings and SP products.

4. Regional risk pools and donor co-financing to ease fiscal fears.

Impact
Migrant-inclusive SP protects households, strengthens remittances, and reduces fiscal shocks in crises. Migrants are not burdens; they are development multipliers.