Labour Migration in the Slovak Republic and in the EU Member States Bratislava, Slovakia 14 December - 2010 Meeting of the EMN National Migration Network “Labour Migration in the world – current global trends and perspectives” Ricardo Cordero Senior Specialist Labour Migration Department of Migration Management (DMM) IOM, Headquarters, Geneva
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Labour Migration in the Slovak Republic and in the EU Member States Bratislava, Slovakia 14 December - 2010 Meeting of the EMN National Migration Network.
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Labour Migration in the Slovak Republic and in the EU Member
States Bratislava, Slovakia 14 December - 2010
Meeting of the EMN National Migration Network
“Labour Migration in the world – current global trends and
perspectives”
Ricardo CorderoSenior Specialist Labour MigrationDepartment of Migration Management (DMM)IOM, Headquarters, Geneva
TOTAL IMMIGRANT AND EMIGRANT
POPULATION BY REGION
WHY IS LABOUR MIGRATION IMPORTANT IN TODAY’S WORLD?
The number of persons living outside their country of birth has increased from 75 million in 1960 to nearly 214 million in 2010 (UN, 2010)
Roughly 105 million of this figure (49%) constitute migrant workers (ILO, 2010)
In 2009 remittances sent to developing countries were estimated in USD 316 billion (World Bank)
Labour migration trends and characteristics
Session 2: Terminology, trends and characteristics
International migrant stock 1960-2010
-
50
100
150
200
250
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Millions
Years
United Nations Population Division, 2009
Labour migration trendsand characteristics
Session 2: Terminology, trends and characteristics
United Nations Population Division, 2009
Labour migration trends and characteristics
Session 2: Terminology, trends and characteristics
Feminization of labour migration
The term “feminization of labour migration” must not be misunderstood:
Women have always migrated The proportion of women in global migration flows has
not significantly fluctuated over the past 50 years (around 46.6% in 1960; 49% in 1990; and 49% in 2010)
What has changed is the share of women in labour migration flows; this share has increased since the 1970s
Highly Skilled Migration
Family Migration
Internal Migration
Tourism
Irregular Migration
Study Abroad
Types of mobility
10-15%of total flows
Low and Semi-skilled
Migration
WorkRefugees
Types of mobility
CAUSES OF INTERNATIONAL
LABOUR MIGRATION
1. The “pull” of changing demographic and labour market needs in high-income countries
2. The “push” of unemployment, crisis pressures, and income disparities in developing countries
Examples of the “pull” factors in high-income countries:
Ageing and shrinking population in developed countries (e.g. European workforce will decline by 20 million by 2030)
Low demographic growth versus a growing economy (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EU)
Different procedures in admission (EU) Opportunities for employment and a higher
standard of living The need for low- or middle-skilled
employment in industrialised economies Access to better education and information Lack of interest of local workers on 3D
occupations
Examples of the “push” factors in developing countries
Poverty Unemployment Income disparities Political conflicts Environmental degradation Lack of proper working facilities and structures Overpopulation in developing countries due to high fertility rates
The existence of labour shortages does not necessarily reflect a need for foreign labour
There are several ways to respond to labour shortages
Labour migration is one of the tools for filling labour shortages
Policy options for responding
to labour shortages
Increasing the capital- or technology- intensity of the production process
“Offshoring” or relocating to countries where labour costs are lower
Increasing working hours
Switching to production of less labour-intensive commodities
Responses that do not rely on migration
In a knowledge-based economy, the necessary skills may not be available through the domestic supply
Where shortages result from an inflexible labour force (mismatch in national labour market)
Migration as a tool for filling
labour shortages
DILEMMA: Permanent versus temporary
migration ?
Authorities in destination countries have to decide whether to opt for permanent or temporary labour migration.
Traditional countries of immigration (i.e. Australia, Canada, N.Z. and the USA) accept permanent immigration as strategy to ensure economic growth.
Most EU countries prefer the facilitation of temporary labour migration, distinguishing between skilled and lower-skilled migrant workers.
Temporary Schemes: Circular Migration
Session 3: Circular Migration
Country of destination: promise of flexible labour
Country of origin: promise of remittances and technology transfer; solution to brain-drain issues
Migrant workers: promise of new legal immigration channels
Circular migration: basic guidelines
Session 3: Circular Migration
An extra tool for promoting efficient migration management policies that respect migrants’ rights
Conditions for a circular migration that benefit all parties concerned:
Circular migration must be adapted to the labour market needs of countries of destination
Circular migration must be rights-based Circular migration must set a favorable context for return Circulation migration must enable the acquisition and the
transfer of skills and knowledge
Circular migration: good practices
Session 3: Circular Migration
Lessons learned from real circular migration projects: Labour market analysis in countries of origin and
destination Offer of incentives to returning migrants Information dissemination and training of migrant workers Flexible work and stay/residence permits Skills upgrading and transfer of competences Portability of social benefits and pensions Permission of dual nationality
Most activities require cooperation between countries of origin and countries of destination
Bilateral labour agreements are the principal means for developing circular migration schemes
Practical implementation of circular migration
schemes
Temporary seasonal agricultural workersfrom Guatemala to CanadaTwo MOUs:
IOM/Guatemala – FERME/FARMS
IOM/Guatemala – Gov. of Guatemala
2003: 215 workers / 21 employers
2010: 4,200+ workers / 350+ employers
Guatemala – Canada:Main counterparts
In Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs (recruitment support)
Ministry of Labour and Social Security (recruitment support)
Embassy of Canada (visas, medicals)
Embassy of Mexico (transit visas)
Mexicana Airlines (tickets)
In Canada The Office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
Consulates of Guatemala (Montreal, Ottawa)
FERME (Québec)
FARMS (Ontario,)
Individual employers (Alberta, B.C.)
Guatemala – Canada:Key aspects
Dynamic programme driven by requests from Canadian employers received by IOM Guatemala
Excellent coordination among the partners (GoC, FERME/FARMS, IOM, GoG)
Low drop-out rates: Early return 2.5% Non-return 0.2%
Guatemalan government highly interested and committed
Cultural orientation incorporates worker and employer feedback
Other forms of temporary labour migration
Contract workers in Germany: Secondment system under the “Werkvertrag”:
contract workers are posted to Germany, but continue to be employed by their employer in the home country.
Work permit is required in Germany, but no labour market test needs to be met.
Contract workers are only insured for social benefits in their own country, not in Germany; this reduces the cost of the worker to employers in Germany.
Main challenges of temporary
labour migration programs
Guarantee temporariness Keep migrants well informed Open and transparent process Ensuring human and labour
rights Need for a deliberate approach Institutional capacity Inter-ministerial coordination Inter-State cooperation