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Richard Black, Director of the Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty, University of Sussex discusses the issue of temporary migration.

Making migration work

December 2005 saw the UK launch Kofi Annan's Global Commission on International Migration which aims to provide a 'framework for the formulation of a coherent, comprehensive and global response to the issue of international migration'. The report's 33 recommendations include promoting the integration of long-term immigrants, emphasising human rights, tackling human trafficking and better border control.

It also proposes more 'carefully designed temporary migration programmes' to address 'the economic needs of both countries of origin and destination'.

This deserves careful consideration says Richard Black, Director of the Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty at the University of Sussex. For one thing, estimates in Global Economic Prospects 2006 suggest that the benefits of such liberalisation could be huge - over US$350 billion a year (nearly seven times global development aid flows shared between rich and poor countries) as a result of a mere 3 percent increase in global mobility. For another, many international migrants want to return to their countries of origin - to build a home, invest in a business, or simply spend their money in a place where pounds, dollars or euros will go much further.

Focusing on poverty
One problem with the current debate on temporary migration is that it tends to be framed in the context of labour market needs in the UK or US - and, to a lesser extent, in terms of the impact on migrants themselves but rarely in the context of global poverty. Indeed, much talk about temporary schemes has focused on ensuring that temporary workers return home, rather than on whether their migration is successful in other ways. Another problem is the focus on designing schemes in order to control outcomes, rather than putting the emphasis on temporary mobility as liberalisation.

Is there a case for promoting temporary migration programmes, if reducing global poverty is our aim? Research has identified four points of policy leverage that might help to make schemes more 'development friendly'.

Recruitment
It matters how workers are recruited. There could be a bilateral agreement between governments, based on analysis of labour market needs. Or allow private recruitment agencies to operate, as envisaged in current British proposals which talk of 'accredited operators' recruiting from countries with 'effective returns arrangements' and making 'medical and good character checks'.

Yet history is littered with abusive private operators and corrupt 'official' schemes. What matters - whether private or public sector - is how transparent and open the system is. That means simplifying arrangements for entry rather than pursuing carefully designed schemes that are an administrative nightmare to operate.

Workers' rights
Just because a job is temporary does not mean the worker should lack rights. If temporary migration schemes are expanded, employers need to implement fair and safe employment practices. Yet this requires more than relying on the migrants to file complaints, as those on short-term contracts may already have left the country by the time cases reach employment tribunals. A re-think is needed of how workers' rights in general are implemented including those of temporary and transient populations.

Remittances
The success of a temporary migration scheme from the point of view of reducing global poverty depends on the ability of migrants to transfer money and other benefits to their countries of origin. A number of initiatives are needed - not just efforts to lower the cost of financial transfers which can be up to 20 percent - but also to allow migrants to transfer social security and pension benefits to their home country and to gain skills and knowledge that can also be used back home.

The issue of return
Although integral to the notion of 'temporary migration' it is important that we are not fixated on the issue of return. Return can be temporary: those with experience of migration may be more willing to migrate temporarily a second time. Many migrants do return - a process that still remains largely unrecorded, because it is uncontroversial.

The single most influential factor in whether return is successful is the macro-economic and political climate of countries of origin. In this context, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that for some, temporary mobility may still lead to permanent residence, whether that is the initial intention or not.

In this context, the Global Commission on International Migration has opened up a debate on expanding migration - even if temporary - that is long overdue. But promoting temporary mobility will be no use if we replace one set of draconian immigration rules with another focused on migration 'programmes'. We also need to ensure that this debate includes the voices of migrants and developing countries, if it is to achieve the impact it deserves.

Contributor
Richard Black

Further information
Richard Black
Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty
University of Sussex
Falmer
Brighton BN1 9SJ
UK
Tel +44 (0)1273 877090
Fax +44 (0)1273 873158

Email r.black@sussex.ac.uk
Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty

March 2006

Sources
Making Migration 'Development Friendly': Temporary Worker Schemes in the UK (pdf), Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty, Working Paper T10, by Catherine Barber, Richard Black and Paula Tenaglia, May 2005

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