International Policy on Migration

Policy Issue

Migration, defined as the settlement for different reasons, of homogenous groups of people in geographical areas different from those of their origin, is a phenomenon of great importance. The definition excludes refugees, stateless persons, pilgrims and nomads; the main characteristic of migrants is that they go to a foreign country for work. Migration, however, does not simply involve a question of work but is rather a complex social, cultural and political process.

Change of settlement involves problems ranging from the causes which gave rise to departure, to the difficulties in settling down and becoming integrated in the receiving country. Among these problems, the most important are those which touch on communication (different languages, cultural beliefs and behaviours); on psychological adjustment (family and personal conflicts); and on material issues (food, the rhythm of work, accommodation, the structuring of the day, and emphasis on saving money).

Migrants have a double link; with their country of origin, and their country of settlement. The former has surplus labour, a relatively low level of development, and exports elements of its working population in order to safeguard its economy. The latter enjoys a higher level of development, but apparently lacks unskilled labour, and imports migrants for reasons of expediency.

Social workers assist and guide migrants with their integration in the receiving country, though also helping them maintain their cultural identity. Social workers' experience suggests that social programmes of receiving countries do not generally give due priority to migrants' needs, because they are frequently considered as second class citizens: and the migrants are also often the victims of racism, an issue underlying but going beyond the present policy paper and its subject.

Background

Societies have evolved and developed unevenly during their history, giving rise to great social, economic, and cultural differences between countries. These differences have encouraged population movements, with the search for better living conditions as their aim. From the start of capitalism, these movements took place in search of work or better wages. Although some people move for adventure or cultural reasons, at present migrants are generally people moving in order to improve their social and economic position. Migration changes over time as it does in place; it is an important factor in some countries' economic progress, but also the cause of numerous problems.

National authorities and international organisations recognise the importance of these problems, and of the means to solve them. One such means is establishing and/or increasing special services to migrants and their families, in which the role of the social worker is of great importance. The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, by its Resolutions 1979/12 and 1981/21, confirmed the need to consider the situation of migrant workers in an inter-related manner taking into account that the principles of equal treatment should be extended to the living conditions of migrant workers and their families. Despite national and international declarations, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the European Social Charter (1961), giving rights to migrants, many social workers believe that the phenomenon of migration has still not been addressed adequately overall, either by countries of origin or receiving countries.

Within the country of origin, the repercussions on families of the departure of their primary breadwinner can be severely destabilising. Children are particularly vulnerable in this situation. Migration also involves a series of problems in the receiving countries. These relate to reception, settling down, participation, family creation or reuniting, nationality, equal opportunities, education and so on. They can begin to be addressed by means of policies through which migrants are enabled to take part in the institutions and the way of life of receiving countries. Access to acceptable accommodation, unemployment benefits, the right to vote, and social assistance are among many rights denied to migrants, who also find it difficult to obtain scholarships. Today many frontiers are closed to migrants, for fear that they will take away jobs from natives. Their return to their country of origin is often encouraged by modest financial incentives, even when the extreme of expulsion is not reached. This represents the tokenism and transience of their stay in a "host" country, where they are a permanent underclass.

The socialisation of migrants' children and young migrants is ambiguous; they belong neither to the country of origin nor to the receiving country. There are two socialisations: that of the family; and that of the receiving country, which is acquired at school, in the street, and through other means. Such double socialisation can lead to failure at school, insecurity at home, and a permanent loss of sense of identity.

Policy Statement

IFSW believes that social workers can help sensitise authorities and public opinion, so that the same resources and opportunities available to nationals are also provided for migrants.

IFSW believes that it is vital for prospective migrants to obtain comprehensive, easy-to-understand information regarding the consequences of emigration. This information should include all aspects which facilitate better adaptation to the new living conditions, use of the social services and assistance in the receiving country. The history and customs of the receiving country, the language, rights and obligations, education, cultural activities etc., should all be the subject of pre-departure information. Information regarding likely employment and accommodation is a key element.

IFSW proposes that this information be provided jointly between the countries of emigration and of immigration. This should be supplemented by efforts of social services organisations and consular authorities in the receiving countries to overcome the obstacles experienced on arrival.

IFSW supports achieving an acceptable level of integration in immigration countries between foreign workers and the national majority, which allows the former to conserve their cultural identity, while permitting the naturalisation of those who desire it. At all times migrants should be free to return to their country of origin if they so wish.

IFSW considers that the integration of migrants in the receiving country is complete only when obstacles barring their participation in the decision-making process are removed. This concerns particularly the exercise of voting rights and trade union rights.

IFSW endorses the concept of integration, in which the majority does not absorb and assimilate the minority. In this way, multiculturalism may emerge, whereby migrants will contribute their culture to the receiving country and absorb aspects of its culture in return.

IFSW believes that agreements and legislation on migration have generally favoured the receiving countries, in many cases to the detriment of migrants. Such agreements and laws are congruent with and representative of existing power relationships, and often show little sensitivity towards their social consequences.

IFSW considers it important that receiving countries offer migrants various specialised services, such as those provided by psychologists, doctors, and lawyers, among others. Social workers should have responsibility in two basic areas: linkage between migrants and the authorities, both of the country of origin and the receiving country; and advising, consulting and mediating in conflicts which affect migrants.

IFSW supports the strengthening of specialised social services for migrants, within general social services provision.

IFSW sees the role of the social worker as:

Trying to ensure that the decisions to allocate resources take into consideration the needs of migrants, rather than being governed by political rhetoric or expediency Seeking to prevent migrants occupying exclusively lower status jobs, which are systematically rejected by others and are labelled as "socially undesirable jobs" by the International Labour Organisation Participating with migrants in a reciprocal education and training process, to improve knowledge of the elements of truly multi-cultural society Ensuring that the curricula of schools of social work contains material on migration and multiculturalism, and that migrants themselves and/or their mutual aid societies are, wherever possible, involved in the planning and implementation of training

IFSW recommends that governments should be induced to ensure employment security for migrant workers, through agreements and bilateral conventions between countries, including social security conventions.

IFSW believes that social workers should support the abolition of legal measures which restrict migrants' rights or establish reduced standards of rights, freedoms, and responsibilities, compared with those enjoyed by citizens of the host nation.

IFSW supports the maintenance and encouragement of the culture of migrants and minority communities.

IFSW welcomes positive measures, taken on a local, national, and international level, to prevent or mitigate conflicts between migrants, or between migrants and receiving countries' populations, which may otherwise tend to isolate them.