New York  - The economic crisis crippling the world has a direct impact on its 200 million migrant workers, putting them at risk of destitution, stigmatization, discrimination and abuse, the United Nations said Thursday on International Migrant Day.

It said reports of layoffs and lower remittances have been just the beginning of what could be a long story of human suffering. At the same time, migration policies of some governments have become more restrictive.

"To save migrants from abuse, and allow them to contribute to development in their home and receiving countries, we must acknowledge them as human beings whose rights, like those of everyone else, must be protected," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.

Ban urged UN members to sign the international convention protecting migrant workers and their families. It took the international community 13 years to hammer out the convention, and only 40 countries have ratified it.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said migrants continued to be discriminated against and illegal migrants are more likely to become involved in crime.

The UN mission in Iraq said more than 1,000 illegal foreign workers were stranded at Baghdad's international airport, brought by contractors engaged in the reconstruction of the war-torn country. It said some of them have been repatriated, but some of those remaining are living in cardboard boxes amid freezing nighttime temperatures. (dpa)