Methodological aspects of measuring labour migration Regional Workshop on International Migration Statistics Cairo, 30 June – 03 July 2009

2 Migration Typologies 1.Settlers: People who enter a country to live there permanently 2.Labor Migration (Contract Workers): People who are admitted on the understanding that they will work in a country other than their country of origin to work for a limited period 3.Professionals: Highly skilled people who circulate between countries.They usually work in international organizations and multinational companies. They also include academics and graduate students circulating through systems of higher education worldwide 4.Irregular (undocumented) Migrants: people who have entered another country irregularly or those who overstay their visas 5.Asylum Seekers and Refugees: People who have left their country to escape political instability or civil wars.

3 Labor Migration: Contract Workers Labor Migration (Contract Workers) comprises a major bulk of today’s international migration. Oil producing countries in the Gulf host more than 15 million of contractual foreign workers Jordan is a sending and receiving country; sending highly skilled workers to the Gulf and receiving semi-skilled workers from Egypt who work in the services sector. Jordan also receive a small number of South East Asians who work in the textile industry Lebanon and Egypt host a small, yet growing number of foreign workers working mainly in the textile industries in Egypt and domestic services in Lebanon

Labor Migration: Basic Facts Labor is one of the three factors of production (along with land and capital) and labor migration redistributes labor force within the global economy Hence, labor migration is a mechanism through which economies can fulfill their need for labor Despite the political debate on migration, economists – not politician – set labor migration policies 4

Labor Migration Statistics Labor migration statistics are produced by both sending and receiving countries. Receiving countries manage the process of importing labor force (inflow) to satisfy their economies’ needs. They developed administrative systems to manage the recruitment process through work visas, work permits, and residence permits. The systems of receiving countries aim at controlling the movement and activities of migrant workers after they arrive. 5

Labor Migration Statistics Some countries have a declared policy regarding promoting labor emigration as a source of remittances and to decrease national unemployment rate. Sending countries manage the process of labor emigration (outflow) to protect their citizens whilst abroad and to ensure their rights. Cost of exporting labor: national dependency, lack of skills in the local market, and brain drain. 6

Labor Migration Statistics: Data Sources Work Permits and Work Permit Statistics Reports by Employers Statistics of Sending Countries Regularization Statistics 7

Challenges Irregular migration Irregular work 8

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