By IANS
Brussels : Europe will be facing increasing labour shortage at least over the next 20 years and will need people in various sectors of the economy, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barrosso said Tuesday.
In his keynote address at the Global Forum on Migration and Development here, Barroso said, "Europe will need highly skilled students and researchers and also will need people to fill gaps in the agriculture, construction, social sector and health systems in particular."
But he called for tough action against those who employ and exploit illegal migrants in Europe, reports news agency INEPNEXT.
"Very recently, the European Commission has put forward a proposal for a legislation that criminalises the action of those employers that contract illegal migrants," he said.
On his part, UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon in his inaugural speech said, "migrants with low skill levels are also critical to the success of our economies: every day they take care of our sick, our elders, our children.
"They work in sectors of economy where they are vulnerable to exploitation, discrimination or worse…. We must learn to protect the rights of migrants."
Around 120 governments and international and regional organisations are taking part in the two-day forum which is being hosted by the Belgian government.