Current Priorities in Intergovernmental Dialogues on Labour Migration New York, 3 October 2008 IOM The International Organization for Migration
Introduction: Labour Migration on the Global Scene Global Commission on International Migration High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development Global Forum on Migration and Development General Agreement on Trade and Services, Mode 4 Circular Migration
Global Commission on International Migration Secretary General (SG) encouraged the creation in 2003 of an independent Global Commission on International Migration (GCIM) GCIM consisted of 19 independent Commissioners from all world regions GCIM submitted its report Migration in an Interconnected World: New Directions for Action to the SG in October 2005
Global Commission on International Migration The GCIM report highlighted: International community has failed to recognize the full potential of migration (developmental impacts) Migration is driven by three differentials (development, demography and democracy) Need for greater coherence, capacity and cooperation to manage migration States will continue to be the key actors Regional cooperation is a building block for migration management Need for an Interagency Global Migration Facility?
High Level Dialogue (HLD) 14-15 September 2006, first-ever High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development in the General Assembly. (SG report on migration A/60/871). Major outcomes were: A unique opportunity for States to discuss migration issues in a spirit of constructive cooperation Explicit recognition of the link between migration and development Strong commitment to further examine and operationalize the migration/development Consensus on follow-up to the HLD in the United Nations Support for the creation of a separate States-driven Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) outside the United Nations
Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Nature and structures Outcome of the HLD in Sept. 2006, upon the proposal of the SG; Government of Belgium offered to host first meeting A States-driven, non-binding and informal intergovernmental consultative process Participation in the Global Forum is open to all UN member States on a voluntary basis Forum meets once a year for an interactive and practice-related dialogue Forum is held under Chatham House Rules A civil society event is held in parallel to the Forum itself
First Global Forum Brussels, 9-11 July 2007 Brussels Global Forum had 3 Roundtable themes: 1. Human capital development and labour mobility: Recommendations: Establish a matrix of good practices Develop codes of ethical recruitment Undertake a feasibility study on financial intermediation service Establish migrant resource centres Develop a seasonal workers model (e.g., Guatemala/Canada) Organize a workshop on circular migration 2. Remittances and other diaspora resources: Recommendations: Facilitate and economize remittance flows Promote public-private partnership Set up intermediary structure for investment in remittances Promote economic and social opportunities for diasporas in development of their home countries
First Global Forum Brussels, 9-11 July 2007 3. Enhancing policy and institutional coherence and promoting partnership: Recommendations: Include migration in national development plan Capacity-building to manage migration Greater sharing of information Strengthen representation 4. Cross-cutting issues: root causes of migration, human rights and gender. Recommendations: Ensure protection and non-discriminatory treatment Empower migrants Fight against human trafficking Gender sensitive programs in migration
Outcomes: First Global Forum Brussels, 9-11 July 2007 Laid the foundation for an ongoing States-led dialogue and partnership on migration and development Created a space for achieving longer-term understanding and shared visions on migration Fostered better understanding of existing good practice and areas where improvements need to be pursued Encouraged some participants to partner bilaterally on ideas (e.g., circular labour migration projects) first aired at the Forum
Second GFMD Manila, 27-30 Oct 2008 Overarching theme: Protecting and empowering migrants for development Civil Society Event (27-28 Oct) Government Event (29-30 Oct) Three Roundtable themes: 1. Migration, Development and Human Rights; a) Protecting the rights of the migrants a shared responsibility b) Empowering migrants and diasporas to contribute to development 2. Secure, legal migration can achieve stronger development impacts; a) Fostering more opportunities for legal migration b) Managing migration and minimizing the negative impacts of irregular migration 3. Policy and Institutional Coherence and Partnership. a) Strengthening data and research tools on migration and development b) Policy and institutional coherence on migration and development within Government c) Regional consultative processes at the interface of migration and development
GATS Mode 4 Defining Mode 4 the supply of a service ( ) by a service supplier of one member, through the presence of natural persons of a member in the territory of any other members (Art. I. 2-d). The Annex : does not apply to measures affecting access to the employment market of a member or to rules on citizenship, residence or employment on a permanent basis. Temporary Mode 4 Entry for specific purpose (not in labour market)
Circular Migration European Commission s Workshop on Creating Development Benefits through Circular Migration, Mauritius, 8-9 September 2008 CM benefiting the migrants CM as a tool for duals gains benefiting labour markets in both source and host countries CM as tool to alleviate brain drain Facilitating CM through diaspora engagement
Expert Meeting labour migration: protection, gender and development LABOUR MIGRATION, RIGHTS AND PROTECTION Migration management should be considered a co-responsibility of countries or origin, transit and destination Governments have the core responsibility of implementing/enforcing migrants rights even if other actors have a role to play in ensuring protection (e.g. recruitment agencies, NGOs, migrants) More oversight on the private sectors (i.e. recruitment agencies) is needed Recruitment agencies from countries of origin and destination should collaborate more, and ensure clarity on how recruitment process is handled Protection gaps exist both for irregular and legal migrants
Expert Meeting labour migration: protection, gender and development LABOUR MIGRATION, PROTECTION AND GENDER Migration is not gender neutral it has different implications for men and women Mainstreaming gender into migration policy allows to identify when gender specific programmes and policy are needed ( e.g. domestic workers mainly female, construction workers mainly men) Government should dedicate resources to exploring the gender dimension of migration Important to examine how migration can empower women, but also men
Expert Meeting LABOUR MIGRATION, PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT Since HLD, migration is seen as a potential driver to development, but need to look at concepts of development used and continue to carry on research to accumulate evidence (winners/losers) Development efforts should not be put on the sole shoulder of migrants or countries of origin Countries of destination can assist migrants in their reintegration process (upgrading of skills, etc) Migration option should not devert countries of origin from their effort of creating job opportunities locally, migration should be a choice Need more policy coherence in the field of migration in order to maximize the development benefits of migration At global institutional level At country level ( Ministry of finance, health, labour, trade,etc) Need more international cooperation/dialogue at all level
THANK YOU! snonnenmacher@iom.int