Speeches and Talk
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ECOSOC High-Level Segment

Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

While creating jobs where people live is the best option, the
mobility of persons across borders for reasons of employment is
here to stay in our globalizing world and likely to increase. Given
this, the efficient and equitable management of international
labour migration is needed to optimize its positive impact and
minimize any negative effects for both countries of origin and
destination as well as for migrant workers and their families.

Migrants are actors in development, in both countries of origin
and destination. Labour migration has become a key feature in
enabling industrialized countries to meet economic, labour market
and productivity challenges in a globalized economy. Migration
today serves as an instrument for meeting labour market and skills
shortages in host countries. In countries with ageing populations,
migration also offers a potential for at least partially
replenishing a declining workforce and narrowing the fiscal gap
between government revenues and social expenditure. For countries
of origin, migrant remittances to developing countries, estimated
at over USD 160 billion in 2005, constitute a vital source of
foreign exchange, and income for remittance receiving
households.

Indeed, a growing body of knowledge amply demonstrates that both
male and female migrants make a large contribution to economic and
social development in both their host and country of origin.
Despite this scenario, many migrant workers remain vulnerable to
abuse during recruitment, travel and employment abroad. A common
problem faced by migrant workers is high migration costs as a
result of excessive (and often illegal) intermediation fees. Other
problems include, in some countries, poor working conditions,
absence of adequate social protection and freedom of association,
and xenophobia. These problems erode the benefits of migration for
all parties and seriously undermine its development impact
including productive employment and decent work. Where necessary,
countries of origin and destination need to have in place policies,
legislation and mechanisms that afford migrant workers protection
and support from any abuses in the labour migration process. An
important part of IOM's work in labour migration is policy dialogue
and technical cooperation in putting such systems in place.

A second challenge in creating a conducive environment for
generating full and productive employment, where the role of
migration is concerned, is better management of migration that both
facilitates labour mobility and discourages irregular migration.
Less cumbersome procedures which permit migrant workers in sectors
where there is a labour shortage will be beneficial to all sides,
and will likewise under-cut irregular migration. Countries of
origin have an interest in discouraging irregular migration, too,
as irregular migrants are often more vulnerable to abuse and
exploitation. IOM has been working with governments, employers and
workers in countries of origin and destination in facilitating
legal labour migration while preventing irregular migration.

Migration can have adverse consequences and one of these is the
emigration of skilled human resources, particularly where small and
fragile economies are concerned. Without impinging on the principle
of freedom of movement, measures such as promoting ethical
recruitment practices and facilitating the voluntary return of
qualified nationals can be taken. At the same time the resources
and skills of the migrant diasporas can be utilized to generate
employment in countries of origin. IOM's Migration for Development
in Africa (MIDA) programme is an example of how this is being
achieved.

Finally, in closing, I would like to stress the importance of
international dialogue and cooperation in managing migration for
the benefit of all, including in generating productive employment
and decent work. Labour migration has moved to the top of the
policy agendas of many countries. Governments at both ends of the
migration spectrum are increasing their regulatory capacities to
manage labour mobility for the mutual benefit of society, migrants
and the state. At the same time, by its very nature, international
migration is a cross-border or transnational phenomena, and cannot
therefore be managed or addressed solely at the national level. The
development of effective, fair and durable labour migration
policies and practices requires cooperation among all states
involved in the process (i.e. countries of origin, transit and
destination). The IOM has been promoting such dialogue and
cooperation through regional consultative processes (at the
regional level) and the International Dialogue on Migration. We
look forward to continuing to work with all stake-holders to make
labour migration a true instrument of employment and development in
origin and host countries as well as for migrants themselves.

Thank you for your attention.