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International Migrations Statistics in ESCWA Region

UN Expert Group Meeting on Measuring International Migration: Concepts and Methods 4-7 December 2006, New York. International Migrations Statistics in ESCWA Region. Neda Jafar United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) jafarn@un.org. Contents.

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International Migrations Statistics in ESCWA Region

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  1. UN Expert Group Meeting on Measuring International Migration: Concepts and Methods 4-7 December 2006, New York International Migrations Statistics in ESCWA Region Neda Jafar United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) jafarn@un.org

  2. Contents • ESCWA ACTIVITIES IN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION: 1990-2006 • REGIONAL TRENDS • INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION STATISTICS STATUS: SOURCES, METHODOLOGY AND CHALLENGES • ESCWA PROPOSED FUTURE ACTIVITIES FOR 2007-2009

  3. ESCWA ACTIVITIES IN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION (1990-2006) The issue of International Migration gained importance as a result of the repatriation of migrant workers from oil-producing countries in Western Asia during the Gulf war, followed by new inflows once the war had ended. • Early nineties: few unplanned and limited activities in response to emerging issues dealt with social and economic challenges posed by return migration • In 1999: Expert Group Meeting on International Migration in the Middle East: Patterns and Implications for Sending and Receiving Countries • In 2001: Study on Migration and Population Policies in the Arab Region • In 2002: Study on Responding to globalization: trends, challenges and labor market policies and population dynamics • In 2005: ESCWA Expert Group Meeting on International Migration Statistics • In 2006: Expert Group Meeting on International Migration and Development in the Arab region.

  4. Regional Trends • In 1973, sharp increase in oil prices • The oil-producing countries accelerated recruitment of foreign workers needed to build infrastructure. • Migrants in the six member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates • 1 million in 1970 • 4 million in 1980 • 9.6 million in 2000, of which 5.3 resided in Saudi Arabia.

  5. In 2000 • Arab countries in the list of major receiving countries in the world • Saudi Arabia (3.0%) • Jordan and United Arab Emirates (each 1.1%) • Migrant labor constitutes an avg. 35% of labor force in oil producing countries & in some as much as 80% • In 2002 the Arab countries received US$14 billion, ie 2.2% of GDP.. Highest receiver of remittances in the world. • International migrants constituted:

  6. Stock of Migrants in the ESCWA Region

  7. INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION STATISTICS STATUS: SOURCES, METHODOLOGY AND CHALLENGES • The dearth of data as a result of: • wide spectrum and incongruent sources • lack of comprehensive framework and methodology • weakness of capacity and limited resources • inadequacy of administrative records • lack of surveys

  8. Types of immigrants • Students • Workers .. “overseas workers” • Family reunification/formation • Refugees/Asylum seekers

  9. Administrative Records • Purpose is administrative • Missing detailed data on migrants • Scarcity of statistical reports • Non-existence of population registers • Inadequacy of exit/entry forms for boarders • Insufficiency data/inadequacy of quality data from work permits

  10. Population Censuses • 2010 Round Principles and Recommendations of Population and Housing Census • “citizenship” - all mc • “place of birth” - 6 mc • “Place of previous residence” - 7 mc, however, there is no time reference • “reasons for migration” – 5 mc on education, work, and family reunification • “refugees” & ”asylum seekers”- 1 mc • “duration of residence” – long term migrants >12 months ** Lebanon = 0

  11. inside country (name of governorate) or outside (name of country) yes, or previous nationality for those don’t have papers United Arab Emirates (2005) Yemen (2004) yes yes yes

  12. Example of country x • International visitor: <6 months • International migrant: >6 months • Long-term migrant: who has permanent residence • Short term migrant: <6 months • Permanent residence: who has changed his permanent residence, got another nationality or permanent residence, or resided no less than 10 years • Usual place of residence: usual place of residence on a continuous basis • Foreigner: person residing for any reason and non national • Category of migrants: • visitors (from country to abroad for less than 12 months) • migrants for settlements • refugees

  13. Challenges • Adoption of international standards • definitions and concepts • categorization of types of migrants • Dissemination of data on international migrants and in particular on flow of migrants • Coordination and collaboration with different producers • Exchange of data • Mandate /legislation

  14. ESCWA PROPOSED FUTURE ACTIVITIES 2007-2009 • Workshop on International Migration Statistics and Data Exchange among the GCC • UNSD Questionnaire on International Migration Statistics • Social Compendium on international migration statistics in the ESCWA region • Project proposal for the Development of International Migration Statistics in the Region

  15. Thank you..

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