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 There is increasing evidence that the benefits of international migration, not only for migrants themselves but also for origin and host societies, are contingent on the protection of migrants’ rights. It is reasonable to assume that migrants are best able to contribute to development in both the countries of origin and host countries, when they are protected and empowered socially, economically and in terms of their basic human rights, regardless of their migration status. International and national law provide the framework for states to protect the rights of all persons living and sojourning on their territory, including migrants. Countries along the migration continuum -- origin, transit, and destination- thus share a common obligation and responsibility to ensure that the rights of migrants are respected.
Respecting the rights of migrants is especially relevant for lower skilled labour migrants and also for female migrants who predominate in some of the most critical service areas for development and growth in both high and lower income countries, such as nursing, domestic work and care-giving. Where this kind of work is inadequately protected by labour laws, and forms part of the informal labour market, abuse and exploitation can occur, particularly gender-specific violations against women and children.
Migration can also be an empowering experience, in particular for female migrants, lower skilled migrants and those in the vulnerable sectors, enabling them to contribute more freely to development in host and origin countries. Current studies suggest that migration of low-skilled workers is the most likely to reduce poverty in developing countries; but can also have beneficial social and economic effects in the host country. The migrant worker contributes directly in the production, manufacturing, and services industries of the host country. Aside from that, low-skilled migrant workers take on the dirty, dangerous, and difficult jobs that nationals of the host country would normally shy away from, thus allowing the latter to take on more skilled and higher-paying jobs.
The positive impacts of migration are multi-dimensional: for the migrants and their families, economic and social empowerment through greater purchasing power, access to education, and capacity to make choices for themselves; and for communities, increased incomes and sharing of skills learned abroad among constituent migrant families. On a national level, migration can bring much needed foreign exchange reserves and improve the country’s income through direct consumption and investment spending. Other social, cultural, and political benefits from migration, can be experienced on personal, community, and national levels. To optimize these potential benefits, protective and empowering policy environments are necessary in both host and origin countries. Such enabling environments can only be fostered if governments approach migration in a holistic manner, by engaging multi-sectors and non-traditional stakeholders, including the private sector and diaspora communities, in harnessing the positive impact of migration on development.
This Roundtable will focus primarily on migrant workers and governments’ efforts in protecting their rights. It will examine the evidence for whether and how improved rights for migrants can strengthen their contribution to development. It will consider best practices by governments, including cooperation between origin and host countries, in protecting and empowering migrants and diaspora to contribute to development. It will build on the work begun in RT 1 in Brussels on best practices in this area, including gender-sensitive policies and the role of the private sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships in supporting and protecting migrants and their families. It will also build on the debates in Brussels RT 2 on diasporas and promoting public-private partnerships to mobilize diaspora resources for development.
Sessions
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Roundtable Themes 