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| Thursday, 15 July 2004 |
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Manage migration for growth and development by Lloyd Fernando It is not the going
International labour migration is likely to increase in the future, and with proper regulation this will bring benefits to countries of origin and destination, as well as to migrants themselves. This was highlighted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in their observations focused on migrant workers in the global economy. Between 10 and 15 per cent of migrants are in irregular status, a phenomenon which is not confined to developed countries. The demand for regular migrant workers is not being matched by the supply. This has been indicated by the extent of the flows of irregular workers. Migrants provide huge flows of remittances to their countries amounting to an estimated US Dollars 80 billion annually as in 2002, which is the second largest source of external funding for developing countries, according to statistics from the World Bank. Fair deal for migrant workers Over the past decade, migrant number has increased by about six million a year to a massive total of 175 million. An ILO conference report headlined "towards a fair deal for migrant workers in the global economy" states that if international migrants were considered together they would account for the world's fifth most populous "country". Nearly half of all migrants and refugees worldwide - or some 86 million adults - are economically active, employed or otherwise engaged in remunerative activity. The number of migrants crossing borders in search of employment and human security is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades, the ILO reports adds, due to the failure of globalization to provide jobs and economic opportunities. The challenge The challenge confronting the global community is managing migration that it can serve as a force of growth and development, and not lead to clandestine movements and the dangers these pose to established institutions and the dignity of labour standards. Various initiatives to develop a global consensus on the rules and principles to govern migration began some time ago but success has been elusive. Today's migrant workforce includes workers with a variety of skills, but flows are still dominated by workers moving to fill unskilled jobs in those segments of the labour market vacated by native workers who seem to move on to better jobs. Labour and immigration policies influence the absorption of migrant workers in different economic sectors, so that migrant farm workers are more important in the United States than in Western Europe. The ILO study sends out a clear message that the economic effects of immigration on receiving countries are mainly beneficial; migrants rejuvenate populations and stimulate growth without inflation. (The writer is Former Secretary to Governor, N.W.P.) |
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