Migration is becoming an ever more important factor for the socio-economic situation of sending and receiving countries. In the last decades, a rich empirical literature on the causes and consequences of migration in many developing countries has emerged. However, until today, migration in Eastern Europe has not received a lot of attention in empirical research. While this article discusses the international legal framework for the protection of migrant workers, it is important to underline that other areas of international law are also relevant for the mobility of workers. International instruments protecting migrant workers do not generally disturb the sovereign right of states to regulate the admission of migrant workers into their territory.