People often move abroad for economic reasons. Many do so voluntarily, others due to economic hardship. A lack of employment opportunities pushes them to places with a higher demand for labour, better working conditions, and the prospect of higher wages.

Labour migration also arises from the development of trade. As early as antiquity, vast parts of Europe and Asia were connected by networks of trade routes. Particularly well-known are the trade of spices, timber, and gemstones in the Indian Ocean, and the silk trade extending from China to the Mediterranean. In today’s globalized world, economic inequality is a key driver of labour migration. However, the hopes of people from poorer regions for a better life are often disappointed — they frequently encounter poor working conditions, low wages, and outright exploitation.