Working abroad: Is it worth the risk?
Thousands of migrant workers from sub-Saharan Africa are stranded in Libya in the midst of fierce fighting. The International Organization for Migration, estimates there are at least 4,000 in the port area of Misrata and has already evacuated two boat-loads of them.
It also estimates that tens of thousands of migrant workers are still trapped in Abidjan after the violence of the past three months in Ivory Coast.
Every year more Africans leave their home countries in search of greener pastures. But sadly many of them end up working and living under horrendous circumstances in foreign countries.
Currently five Ugandan women are suing their government and a recruitment firm. They claim they were tricked into working as sex slaves in Iraq.
Is the benefit of working abroad worth the risk? What price are you willing to pay for a bigger salary? How do you assess the risk of working in another country? And who is responsible for the welfare of migrant workers when things go wrong? We would like to hear your experiences of working abroad - be they good or bad.
If you would like to debate this topic LIVE on air on Thursday 21 April at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published.

Comment number 1.
At 15:39 21st Apr 2011, jawikondiek wrote:East or west home is best. However, only professionals stand a better chance of being comfortable working abroad. Nevertheless, getting comfort while at home is more fulfilling than while abroad. Moving to a place like Europe to babysit, fumigate pig stys or to wash the elderly is quite demeaning and should be out of question to anyone who deserve respect.
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Comment number 2.
At 16:27 21st Apr 2011, Adokters wrote:Why should I go out of my country to work in another man's country where there is no job security, where I'll have to be always looking out for the police and running away from their site, Why should I leave behind my educational qualification and go and work for a lower based job? I'll rather stay in my country and look for a job to do and if I am not able to find one, I just have to create one for myself by using my skills.
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Comment number 3.
At 16:57 21st Apr 2011, George Oyeho wrote:Working in another country may be good and bad. It is good because it offers exposure not available in the country of origin. On the other hand it is bad because there is a lot of discrimination in job opportunities and in the welfare system.
The exposure provides the immigrant opportunity to sharpen their critical thinking and job skill and also learn new ways of doing things.
The discrimination denies an immigrant opportunity to use the skill set they bring as they are considered inferior and looked upon as coming to take over jobs from locals. This job market protection means who do you know around or who introduced you?
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Comment number 4.
At 19:29 21st Apr 2011, David Gordon Mwesigye wrote:Africa has always been complaining foul of slavery by the west in the past centuries. Now today, its amazing how this continent looks on and even encourages her sons and daughters to sell themselves into modern slavery. Its absurd to hear how africans are suffering in self imposed labor in the corridor of European cities leaving the rich resources go to waste at home. Its high time Africa hatched home based solutions to her home problems lest agony will never come to an end on this land.
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Comment number 5.
At 23:10 21st Apr 2011, AKPAN wrote:For most, it is extreme desperation caused by abject poverty, but for others, it is misguided expectations based on erroneous perceptions of life outside their own countries. This can be in the form of the high-end 4x4 brought home by a foreign-based crook, or of fake promises made to an unwary young woman by a people trafficker whose aim is to sell her into prostitution. In either case, it all boils down to one word:leadership (or the lack of it). For if we had leaders who were able to think beyond their own selfish priorities, we could actually make life much more tolerable for our longsuffering people.
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Comment number 6.
At 00:44 22nd Apr 2011, Nath wrote:A friend of mine said to me one day, if you know what is chasing you up, you don't always care where you are running to. Maybe EU countries should advertise more of the hardest side of venturing abroad. I find it difficult to understand why some people would spend at least £3k to risk for a trip to Europe they may not even reach. Yet, even if they do, it could take them decades to save to get this money back.
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Comment number 7.
At 05:08 22nd Apr 2011, badvocate wrote:This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.
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Comment number 8.
At 09:33 22nd Apr 2011, kalakuta wrote:I have been shaken a lot by what is happening in Libya. I cannot understand why the stability of Libya has been so shaken. If indeed, this war is about who controls the oil in the land. Then, Ghadafii, the rebel, and the west alike are guilty of causing chaos into the lives of citizens and foreigners of Libya. I try to think of what will Libya be tomorrow? It is definitely going to be a country, destroyed. I am so disappointed in the people who have the opportunity to save the situation, but have failed. Shame unto you all!
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Comment number 9.
At 20:31 22nd Apr 2011, Olulere Adewale wrote:Migration has been happening throughout the world for ages (even in the bible) due to security or economic reason in most cases.
When African stakeholder fail to adress the issue of sustainable population and resource management,we will continue in this dehumanising abuse.
I nearly wept when I saw Ivorian in assylum camp in Russia being abused.
The question is what will African youthful energy be looking for all over the world, if the system make most African nation peaceful & prosperous?
A student said in Abiola's lecture on repartration at OAU, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in 1992."We are talking of forceful shipment of Africans to slavery, If a ship is at the wharf today with promise to take African to most part of the world for whatever excuse,the ship will be full within three hours no matter how big she is,with people stampeed and bribing to get in".
This is very sorry state of many African countries.
When will African nations become net attraction for Capital including labour?
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Comment number 10.
At 00:25 25th Apr 2011, winnernebo wrote:Crossing your border/seeking greener pasture mostly requires lot of sacrifices to be made. One of the sacrifices is you're ready to do anything to settle you down by all means. this require working sometime under pressure, under paid and abuse of your rights. you're denied your pay and there is no one to talk for you. persuing such matter may get you into trouble by being depoted. Most of us that working out of our own countries face with wide range of discrimations, directly and indirectly. there is no Equal Employement Opportunity, most applications are checked based upon your place of origin not your skilss or qualifications. The treatment from your boss and fellow workmates is not friendly and you're not recognise for your good work and never promoted.
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Comment number 11.
At 10:06 25th Apr 2011, kenagie wrote:Working abroad is never good because when any goes wrong or the economic is bad, foreign worker are to be blame or be a target. I do not see any reason someone should leave is country of origin in search for a better life somewhere.
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Comment number 12.
At 01:30 9th May 2011, prue wrote:working abroad has never been wonderful or easy.But because of the economic aspect, we end abroad.I am currently staying abroad, home will always be sweet home.You get respect there and you are always known by name not as an international.Most Africans i have met here, are living from hand to mouth and they will never cross the bridge.Not when locals themselves are having a hard time.If you situation is better off at home, just remain there.Unfortunately, we all want to expirience things-it is human nature
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Comment number 13.
At 17:07 18th May 2011, Nchang wrote:Working abroad!! em em Good and Bad!!!
It depends where, and how one got or gets there.
If one got there regularly and has a regular stay documents, then it is good. But without these, then it is very bad. It is even worse when one goes illegally.
However, if the governments of the Sub Saharan countries render their economies favourable, then home is the best place to work. Many young people nowadays move out of their countries because the jobs are not there, or they are underemployed or there is tribalism and favouritism of one sort or another.
Of late, the Cameroonian government requested for the youths to apply for twenty five thousand (25000) jobs, and about eleven (11) times the number of youths requested, applied. Since then she is quite. What shall become of the others? They shall have to work with a private sector that is not well organized and is plagued with either to much taxation or over exploitation of their employees.
It is in the face of these that many young and qualified Cameroonians, not sure of whether they could be treated fairly, prefer to battle it abroad.
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Comment number 14.
At 20:42 18th May 2011, Ewenet Hagere wrote:Working abroad in the truly civilised countries such as Britain, Canada US and some of the Nordic countries is worth a try. It is also a life changing experience for many of us. At least if and when things go wrong, their is a certain level of protection. This is not to say abuse of migrant workers in these places do not exist but those who do wrong know if caught, they will face the full forces of the law. In places such as the Middle East as well as making money, one should also be prepared to face all sorts of troubles including life threatening situations. In this era of mass movement and deregulation, there are many many cruel people who exploit their fellow humans. Modern slavery is the biggest problem the world faces
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Comment number 15.
At 13:28 22nd May 2011, Sahawe wrote:The causes of Africa's poverty are quite complex. However, if in this 21st century, African countries can take stock of how far they have come especially after colonization and what they have accomplished, it would enable them to realize in some cases how let down Africans feel. The definite lack of socio-economic opportunities forces people to seek 'greener pastures' outside of their home countries whether they are professionals or not. It hurts to read about boats that have capsized somewhere in the sea or people dying in the Sahara desert because they were trying to escape their home countries for a 'better life' overseas. Africans need to read and listen to real life stories that overseas is not really a bed of roses as has often been portrayed in the media.
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Comment number 16.
At 13:52 29th Sep 2011, kiranmark wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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