Labour Migration in Europe and its side Effects on Children

Abstract

Labour migration in Europe is intensifying again after the COVID-19 pandemic and is generating a new social and behavioral phenomenon, including separated families and children left behind, being separated from their parents. Many children are left home with only one parent or grandparents.

Millions of children in Europe are affected by migration in different ways: children migrate with their parents or are left behind in their home countries, while other children come here for the first time from countries torn by conflicts or war. Labour migration of citizens from eastern European countries to the considerably wealthier and better developed western European regions has considerably increased over the past 15 years, and families do not always migrate entirely. The family and especially children are the first to suffer.

Contemporary migration in Europe has become a challenge for social cohesion at community level, as well as for the integrity of the institution of the family. That is why research and awareness of this phenomenon is of great importance.

A close, open and sincere relationship established by parents with children contributes on the one hand to the trust they gain in adults and on the other hand to an optimistic vision of their own future. In the context of lack of parents, the bond that is established between parents who have left and children who stay at home has a very important role in the psycho-emotional development of children.

The estrangement effect induced by migration strongly influences the psycho-emotional development of children left behind, their health, education and socialization. The psychological impact of parental migration on children left behind is characterized by feelings of loneliness, lack of affectivity, emotional deprivation, accompanied by early maturation, anxiety and fear of a possible divorce of parents. This negatively influences the development of children's personality. They become frustrated not only with the impossibility of receiving affection, but also with giving it. The tense psycho-emotional state these children go through generates disorders and diseases, and the increased volume of responsibilities causes mental and physical overtask.

How children suffer in case of migration of parents for work purposes, which are the negative consequences on their personality and psychical development as well as the difficulties they encounter – are some of the main topics I want to debate during this presentation.