MANILA: Global remittances will likely grow by US$34bil (RM142bil) this year and about US$31bil (RM129bil) in 2022, reversing last year’s decline, as economies recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

       Estimated remittance growth of 4.8% globally this year reflects a comparison to last year’s low base, as well as migrant workers’ desire to send money home to make up for foregone remittances in 2020, the ADB said in an update to publications released since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis.

       Growth in the money repatriated by migrant workers will slow to 4.2% in 2022 as base effects fade.

       Economic contraction at the height of the pandemic led to job cuts and reduced working hours in many destination countries for overseas workers, resulting in “unprecedented” waves of returning migrants.

       They included almost 400,000 Filipinos and four million Indian nationals in 2020, with a huge majority returning from jobs in the Middle East and the United States.

       Global remittances declined 2.3% in 2020, according to estimates by ADB economists.

       The ADB said the simulation assumes a “pessimistic” recovery from Covid-19 in Asia-Pacific, with a resurgence expected to continue in 2022 although the cases may be 50% less than in 2021.

       Even with the better outlook for this year and next, the Manila-based multilateral lender warned against the challenges faced by migrants, including changing immigration and health protocols.

       These could limit migration options, which could in turn breed smuggling and human trafficking, the bank said.

       “Governments should improve collaboration to establish flexible procedures for cross-border labour mobility, as well as ensure greater access to social protection and health services,” the ADB said. — Bloomberg