By Alison Walkley
27 June 2009 [MEDIAGLOBAL]: During a high-level discussion on migration and the economic crisis at United Nations Headquarters on 24 June 2009, Cheick Sidi Diarra, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) were adamant about the growing need to secure migrant protection.
Xenophobia, stigmatization, and discrimination against migrants were discussed at one of the many meetings taking place at the UN between 24 and 26 June 2009 during the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development. Protection for migrants is a growing need as migrant workers are being seen as competition to native job seekers the world over.
Speaking to conference participants, Diarra said, “During times like this, migrant workers are often the first to lose their jobs. They are the most vulnerable during recessions because they’re mostly young with little work experience.”
He pointed to remittances as “critical” at this time, specifically for developing countries. “Although the World Bank expects remittances to remain resilient, in 2009 they are expected to fall by 0.9 percent,” he said. “It is safe to say that there will indeed be a decline [in remittances] to developing countries as migrants lose their jobs.”
Diarra opined, “There is a false perception that migrants take jobs or compete for worker benefits when they in fact create economic opportunities. In many countries, local workers are reluctant to take up low and semi-skilled jobs. Migrants are important to stimulate a quick economic recovery.”
Sarah Rosengaertner, training associate for UNITAR, told MediaGlobal, that countering the “rising tide of xenophobia” will require that migrants be offered avenues for participation and eventual citizenship. “Migrant workers should be included in the social dialogue between governments, the private sector and trade unions, and they should have the right to form associations.” She also cited policies related to family reunification and access to social security as crucial to migrant rights. “The latter is particularly relevant in the context of the current crisis, as many migrants are losing their jobs, or experience worsening working conditions and a reduction of benefits,” Rosengaertner explained. “In this area, greater cooperation between States is needed to ensure the portability of pensions and benefits between countries.”
In addition, she added, “Pre-departure and reintegration assistance to migrant workers are policy measures that countries of origin should take.”
Rosengaertner recommended, “The international community needs to build and strengthen international cooperation and governance, especially in the area of labor migration, to facilitate more legal opportunities for migration, effectively regulate and oversee the work of recruitment agencies, and address power-asymmetries between countries of origin and destination that result in inadequate protection of migrants’ rights, for example, under contractual labor agreements.”
A rise in immigration policy restrictions is now being seen, according to Rosengaertner. “The impacts that will probably most durably affect migrants in all world regions are restrictions on admissions of new migrant workers… The risk is that such restrictive policies on admission and employment of foreign workers will outlast the crisis, and will stay in place even after recovery.”
Diarra was adamant about the need to “ensure the rights of migrants are protected in terms of working and living conditions, and in the event of loss of employment… Migration is a part of globalization and part of the global economy,” he assured. “This requires it to be taken into consideration for policy response and economic recovery.”
