Official Statements

Acknowledge the Benefits of Migration and Share That Vision, Says IOM on International Migrants Day

Governments need to open their eyes to the benefits of migration
and share that vision with the public at large, says the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) as it marks
International Migrants Day.

All too often now, the positive contributions migrants make to
society are being called into question as many governments adopt
short-sighted attitudes, presenting them as a burden to
convalescing economies or a drain on the welfare state.

Yet, evidence of migrants' contributions abound. A study
published earlier this year by University College London showed
that newcomers from Eastern Europe paid 37 per cent more in taxes
than they received in benefits and from public services in 2008-09.
Many more migrants helped to provide critical public services as
doctors, nurses or cleaners in the National Health Service. Another
recent piece of research highlighted the positive entrepreneurial
impact immigrant communities have on the British economy.

In the United States, native-born Americans gain an estimated
USD 37 billion a year from immigrants' participation in the US
economy, according to the President's Council of Economic
Advisers.  More than one in 10 self-employed business people
in the US is an immigrant.

"Despite the evidence, few issues still elicit stronger reaction
than that of migration. From the floors of parliaments to city
streets to discussions around dinner tables, there are heated
debates about migrants' impact on national identity, security,
employment, health and social welfare systems – all those
things that make up the fabric of a society," says IOM Director
General William Lacy Swing. "Unfortunately, many of these
discussions are based on emotions and myths and not on social and
economic reality. Migration now and in the future will be driven by
global economic, social and demographic trends that can no longer
be ignored."

According to IOM's recently launched World Migration Report,
international migrants could number 405 million by 2050 if
migration continues to grow at the same pace as during the last 20
years.

One of the reasons for this steep rise will be the population
decline in the world's industrialized countries, an expected drop
of nearly 25 per cent by 2050. This will significantly increase the
demand for migrant workers at a time when the labour force in
developing countries will increase from 2.4 billion in 2005 to 3.6
billion in 2040.

In many countries, migrant workers at all skills levels will be
needed for knowledge and innovation as well as for jobs that
nationals cannot or do not want to fill. These include health care,
looking after children and the elderly, public services, the
service industry as well as agriculture and construction.

The World Bank estimates that if countries with declining
populations allowed their workforce to grow by only 3 per cent by
letting in an extra 14 million migrant workers between 2001-2025,
the world would be USD 356 billion a year better off – with
the majority of these funds flowing to developing countries.

"These numbers aren't just about economics. They need to be
placed in a human context too. Economic growth equals human and
social development and security," explains Swing. "In many parts of
the world, migrants' remittances have already done much to lift
communities from extreme poverty, put food on the table, given
families a home and children an education. All these things mean a
better future for them and as a result, for the rest of the world
too."

 

Migration is here to stay and governments have to choose between
adopting a "high road" or a "low road" scenario to manage
migration.

The "low road scenario" is one of status quo based on
stereotypes, fear, and short-term political expediency.  
It is characterized by restrictive migration policies and the
paucity of dialogue on migration, at national, regional and
international levels.

At the opposite end of the policy spectrum, a "high road"
scenario would heighten recognition of migration as an integral
part of the global economy and of migrants as vital constituents to
any full recovery from the current economic crisis. It would
implement policies that better meet increasing demands for labour
migration, protect the rights of migrants, promote regular dialogue
between countries of origin and destination and highlight the
economic and social contribution of migrants both in home and host
countries.

 

"The challenge is to find humane and equitable solutions that
reconcile people's desire to migrate with the national sovereignty
of States on population movements. Cooperation is not only
essential to ensure the rights of migrants are respected but also
to migrants respecting the culture and laws of host countries,"
Swing concludes.

For additional information:

Jean-Philippe Chauzy

Tel: 41 22 717 9361

Mobile: 41 79 285 4366

E-mail: "mailto:pchauzy@iom.int">pchauzy@iom.int

Jemini Pandya

Tel. 41 22 717 9486

Mobile: 41 79 217 3374

E-mail: "mailto:jpandya@iom.int" target="" title=
"">jpandya@iom.int 

Jared Bloch

Tel: 41 22 717 9405

Mobile: 41 79 812 77 34

E-mail: "mailto:jbloch@iom.int">jbloch@iom.int