CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND: THE IMPACT OF LABOR MIGRATION IN

MOLDOVA AND UKRAINE

This article shows that the absence of a parent can be detrimental to the childs social and
psychological development. Although migration may assist in achieving financial stability, it has
a negative impact on the future development of a child. This article specifically focuses on the
impact of labor migration on children left behind, examining this phenomenon through a lens of
economical, social, and gendered implications. The findings are discussed in the context of two
countries of former USSR: Moldova and Ukraine. According to the article, migrant parents in
Moldova have left behind 100,000 children in 2014. The country has become reliant on
remittances, which equal nearly US $ 2 billion. On the other hand, migrant parents in Ukraine
have left behind 200,000 children. The parents sent home an estimated US $9 billion in
remittance in 2014. This article further discussed about the children left behind by migrant
parents. The first question was, who is raising the children after the parents migration? As we
know migration uproots a familys stability as a result of separation, and reduced care and
resources may negatively impact the social and psychological development of left behind
children. Children are negatively impacted emotionally. But it is impossible to measure the
emotional state of the children who are left behind before and after the parents migration. So,
instead of dealing with the emotional state of the children, the writer has explicitly explained the
effect of migration on the children left behind using the following points.
A. Adverse effect of labor migration on the children left behind. The childrens academic
performance deteriorate, declining attendance, and lack of motivation in school. For

instance in Moldova, 22% of migrants children do not attend school. Left behind
children are also vulnerable to human trafficking and labor exploitation.
B. Care deficit
When a mother migrates, only a small percent of men become he primary caregiver, the
job falls to a grandparent. Therefore, a mothers departure is more detrimental to a childs
development than the fathers migration. But if both parents migrate, the child is left in
the care of relatives or friends, the distance between child and caregiver is more
significant.
C. Financial implications
Although the money sent by migrant parents has so many positive impacts, it has also a
significant negative impact. Financing migration is expensive, with initial departure
resulting in significant costs, and returns not coming in until later. Many families find
themselves in a worse financial situation, as remittances may be used to pay off debts.
In his article the write has used different data from Moldova and Ukraine. The writer has
used facts and figures about Moldova and Ukraine from international organization for
migration (IOM). The writer has also used facts and figures from the Italian Ministry of
Labor and social policy about the negative effect of migration on minors and families left
behind in Moldova. In addition, the writer has also used facts and figures from Ukrainian
Independent information agency about juvenile delinquency.
The writer has presented detailed information and facts about the negative impact of the
migrating parents on the children left behind. The writer has done great job. Personally I
have some personal experience and facts about this topic. For instance, I know so many
children from East Africa who are abused by their caregivers after the departure of their
parents. They raise and keep these kids to get financial support from the migrating parent
and they exploit and torture these kids. In addition, I know so many kids, 14-17 years old

who run away from their caregivers and fall in the hands of human traffickers. And some
unfortunate kids die on the way crossing borders of different countries.

Yanovich, Liza. Children Left Behind: The Impact of Labor Migration in

Moldova and Ukraine. www.migrationpolicy.org, 23 January 2015.
Web. 9 July 2015.