managing the temporary movement of foreign workers sophie nonnenmacher migration policy specialist...

Managing the Temporary Movement of Foreign Workers

Sophie NonnenmacherMigration Policy Specialist

Migration Policy, Research and Communication Department

Structure of the presentation

1. Introduction: Why promoting labour mobility matters?

2. What is GATS Mode 4?

3. How is labour mobility regulated today?

4. Conclusion: How to achieve policy coherence?

1. Why promoting labour mobility matters?

Est. USD 150 bl.-200 bl. per year

Remittances: USD 318 bl in 2007

Migration regulators’ concerns

- Sovereignity

Global economic gains

- Security

• certain job categoriesResponse to employment,

demographic, social, environmental challenges

- National identity

- Social services

- Impact on domestic labour markets:

• wages

Migrants worldwide -- all categories

Labour migrants

Temporary labour migrants

Mode 4: temporary movement of persons for the provision of services

2. What is GATS Mode 4 ?

200 million

90 million

?

?

Mode 4 within the overall migration picture

Defining Mode 4

2. What is GATS 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.

Mode 4Temporary

Entry for specific purpose

(not in labour market)

2. What is GATS Mode 4?

Defining issues

Who are GATS Mode 4 service providers ?

- Lack of uniform international definitions

- How long is temporary ??

Self-employed or independent service suppliers

Employees of a foreign company who are sent to fullfil a contract with a host country client

Employees of foreign companies established in the host country (Intra Corporate Transferees)

Business visitors

Developed along parallel tracks

Two sets of realities

; it’s about trade in servicesMode 4: not a migration agreement

Governmental policies & practices

for migration

managementMode 4

3. Mode 4 within overall migration picture

Framework governing migration

Relevant regulatory framework:

4. Tools/Mechanisms for Managing Temporary Labour Migration

a. Countries of destination

- Quotas

- Economic Needs Tests

- Admissions policy

- Objectives

- Tools

- Meet demand for labour

- Protect domestic jobs and wages

- Labour Market Assessments- Work Permits

- Promote business or investment more broadly (business visitors).

- Manage intra corporate transferees

- Provide domestic business access to services (contractual service suppliers).

Migration management: first and foremost at national level

- Acquire & transfer home skills & resources

Philippines Overseas Employment Agency (POEA)

4. Tools/Mechanisms for Managing Temporary Labour Migration

b. Countries of origin

- Objectives

- Place excess labour overseas

- Tools

- Recruits - Screens - Prepares

Filippino workers for overseas employment

- Facilitate flow of remittances

- Supports

Inter-state Cooperation

- Rise of migration on int. agendas

- Increasingly globalized labour market

- Recognition transnational phenomenon: transnational approaches

4. Tools/Mechanisms for Managing Temporary Labour Migration

- On the rise

- Multiple goals

Bilateral labour agreements

Regional trade and integration agreements

- All skill levels

Tools

- Increasing

Regional Consultative Processes

4. Tools/Mechanisms for Managing Temporary Labour Migration

4. Conclusion: How to achieve policy coherence?

Governmental policies & practices

for migration

management: Unilateral/Bilateral/

Regional/GATS Mode 4

Trade and trade in services policy

Economic, social and human Development

THANK YOU

www.iom.intsnonnenmacher@iom.int