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International Labour Migration: Development and protection issues

March 2008. International Labour Migration: Development and protection issues. International Labour Organization (ILO) Ibrahim Awad, Director International Migration Programme. OUTLINE. Introduction Statistics (Contribution of labour migration) Globalisation

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International Labour Migration: Development and protection issues

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  1. March 2008 International Labour Migration: Development and protection issues International Labour Organization (ILO) Ibrahim Awad, Director International Migration Programme

  2. OUTLINE • Introduction • Statistics (Contribution of labour migration) • Globalisation • Factors behind labour migration • Contribution to the Economies and Labour Markets of Destination Countries • Contribution to the Economies and Labour Markets of Origin Countries • Labour Migration Policy • Protection of Migrant Workers • International Legal Framework • ILO Approach to Development

  3. INTRODUCTION • Labour migration has acquired an increasing level of attention in international debates • Multiplication of international conferences, seminars and dialogues testifies to the willingness in reconciling the interests of different actors (Origin and Destination States, Migrant Workers): not a zero-sum game • 92nd Session - International Labour Conference 2004 • Global Commission on International Migration • Global Migration Group (GMG) • UN High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (September 2006 – New York) • Global Forum on Migration and Development 2007 • Regional, Inter-regional and Academic Conferences

  4. STATISTICS • 191 million migrants (half being migrant workers) - 2005 • 50 percent (%) are female migrant workers • 3 percent (%) world population (same as the beginning of the 20th Century) • Percentage (%) is higher in some countries (i.e.Western Europe) due to demographic changes (Shrinking Population growth rates and Labour forces) • 227 million people in the labour force in West/Central Europe • 2005: 4% are Third Country Nationals in Total Employment (EU-15) • World Bank study: Gains produced by the liberalization of migration surpass those of trade liberalization • 3% growth of migration by 2025 - $356 billion gains for the global economy

  5. International Migration Routes Migration is more complex than this picture may depict. Migration is intra-regional, inter-regional, and international. Source: Stalker,Peter. Stalker’s Guide to International Migration: http://pstalker.com/migration/mg_map.htm

  6. GLOBALISATION • Trade liberalisation of goods, services and capital • Labour mobility restrictions • Especially on low skilled workers • Unemployment and underemployment in developing countries • Poverty • Income inequality between countries and within countries

  7. LABOUR MIGRATION THEORY:Factors behind labour migration • Labour market pressures in countries of origin: unemployment and underemployment • Poverty • Labour demand in countries of destination • Demographic factors • Need to sustain economic activities and development • Income inequality between countries and within countries • Technological development in communication and transportation • Geographical proximity • Historical and cultural links

  8. LABOUR MARKETS Destination Countries Economic Theory:Increase in labour supply will reduce wages or increase unemployment. • Migrant workers are complements rather than substitutes for domestic workers. • Migrant workers improve economic performance • Migrant workers may affect salaries of low-skilled national workers, but the share of low-skilled workers is low and declining in industrialized countries • Majority of occupational distribution of migrant workers is very different from national workers - proof that they do not compete

  9. LABOUR MARKETS Destination Countries • Migrant workers specialize in labour market activities that would not exist at the same scale, or not at all, without their presence - therefore the economy gains • Increasing domestic demand for goods and services, migrant entrepreneurship • Migrant workers will augment the level of consumption (raise labour demand) and spur economic growth which benefits nationals as well • Contributing their entrepreneurial capacities, migrants boost economic growth in destination countries

  10. ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION Origin Countries • Labour migration can reduce pressures on labour markets in labour-surplus countries • In some countries, migrants are replaced easily without loss in production or increase of wages • But, migration is selective: • Produces upward pressure on salaries in certain sectors • In general, emigration of low-skilled workers generates gains for those who remain behind

  11. ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION Origin Countries Remittances:most immediate and tangible benefits. • 2nd Largest source of external funding for developing countries • More reliable source of income • The flows of remittances fluctuate with economic cycles (counter-cyclical) • Better distributed than Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) • World Bank: remittances transfers more than doubled • 1995-2005, up to $250 billion • Developing countries received 72% in 2005 = $190 billion

  12. ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION Origin Countries Remittances:Example of the relative weight of remittances in external funding. Remittances to the Caribbean: Higher than FDI and ODA

  13. ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION Origin Countries Remittances: • Positive Effects: • The first waves of migrants, coming from middle class, their remittances may increase inequality. As low-skilled workers, from poor families, start to migrate,their remittances reduce poverty and inequality. • Families receiving remittances spend more than average on human capital formation (education and health care) • Long-term: increase local production (income and investment) • Negative Effects: • Spent on non-tradables – additional demand drive up the prices of such goods and services • Short-term: may reduce local production (rely heavily on labour)

  14. ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION Origin Countries Brain-drain:However, is a major challenge – conflict with development objectives. • Can set in motion vicious circles that slow development by reducing human capital. It is particularly serious in certain sectors: health care and education • Lowers returns to capital because: • Governments may be reluctant to invest in higher education • Local firms that invest in training people will find it difficult to recoup their investment if trained workers leave • Might affect capital movement • Companies take into account skills and personnel locally available and might be discouraged to invest

  15. ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION Origin Countries Trade: • Theoretically, trade and migration are substitutes • Due to the increase in trade, migration pressures are reduced • effects of trade liberalization • However, the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has stimulated an increase in migration pressures. • In the case of high technology and financial goods and services, trade and migration are complementary.

  16. POLICY: Labour Migration International Cooperation Examples of fora, policies and measures: • Bilateral Agreements • Regional and inter-regional conferences • Evaluation of labour market needs in the countries of destination • Increasing opportunities and means of regular migration • Reducing the cost of remittances by promoting competition and development of intermediate financial services • Ethical Recruitment Practices: • Destination countries should refrain from actively recruiting skilled workers in low-income countries with skills shortage • Promoting investment in critical skill areas • Mutual recognition of academic degrees and qualifications • Accumulation and portability of social security pension benefits • Exchange of statistical data

  17. POLICY: Labour Migration Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration (2006): A set of non-binding principles, guidelines and best-practices for Governments, organizations of employers and workers to pursue a rights-based approach to labour migration. The Framework aims to foster cooperation in order to assist in the implementation of effective policies on labour migration. • Based on significant international instruments, an analysis of policy, and the mandate of the ILO Nine (9) sections, 15 principles and about 120 guidelines: • Decent Work for All • Governance • Protection of Migrant Workers • Migration and Development • International Development • Annex: Examples of best practices, corresponding to the principles, drawn from all regions.

  18. POLICY: Labour Migration Protection of Migrant Workers: • Protection of migrant workers and respect for their labour and human rights are important values per se • Most effective instrument for ensuring their equality of treatment with native workers • Non-discrimination and equality of treatment • Among the four (4) categories of fundamental principles and rights at work recognized by ILO members • Best means to protect the interests of native workers • Guarantee labour market efficiency

  19. International Legal Framework International Labour Conventions: All International Labour Conventions, including the eight fundamental ones, under the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up, apply to migrant workers. Eight Fundamental Labour Conventions • Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) • Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No. 87) • Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) • Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) • Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) • Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) • Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)

  20. International Legal Framework Specific ILO standards in reference to migrant workers • Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97) • Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143) • Basic components of a comprehensive labour migration policy • Measures to facilitate migration movements • Promote equality of treatment and opportunity for migrants and nationals

  21. International Legal Framework Protection of Human Rights under the UN: • Universal Declaration on Human Rights, 1948 • Seven (7) Human Rights Instruments adopted in the context of the United Nations • Special Focus: Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, 1990

  22. ILO Approach to Development • Promoting development and combating poverty, through the creation of employment and decent work, in countries of origin. • By promoting development and employment, conditions would be created for countries of origin and destination to cooperate fully in formulating and implementing labour migration policies that realize their interests, as well as those of migrant workers. • Best means to reduce migration pressures so that people migrate by choice and not by necessity.

  23. Thank you for your kind attention.

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