Arab Migration in a Globalized World
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Arab Migration in a Globalized World League of Arab States Opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IOM. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international commun- ity to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. Publisher: International Organization for Migration 17 route des Morillons 1211 Geneva 19 Switzerland Tel: +41.22.717 91 11 Fax: +41.22.798 61 50 Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.iom.int _______________ ISBN 92-9068-193-4 © 2004 International Organization for Migration (IOM) _______________ All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Cover illustration: from a Maghrebian carpet Cover design: Angela Pedersen 05_04 Arab Migration in a Globalized World May 2004 League of Arab States 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword 5 Acknowledgements 7 International Migration and the Challenges of Globalization in the Arab Region Globalization, Migration and the Arab World 11 Dr Abbas Mehdi Characteristics and Magnitude of Arab Migration Patterns in the Mashreq: South-South Context Arab Migration Patterns: The Mashreq 21 Riad al Khouri Characteristics and Magnitude of Arab Migration Patterns in the Maghreb: South-North Context Moroccan Migration to Europe: What Impact on the Economies of Countries of Origin 35 Mohamed Khachani A Comparative Analysis of Different Sources of Remittances 53 Khalid Soudi and Abdelkader Teto Exodus of Skilled Labour: Magnitude, Determinants and Impacts on Development 71 Mohamed Mghari Characteristics and Magnitude of Arab Migration Patters in the Gulf Arab Migration Patterns in the Gulf 91 Nasra M. Shah Arab Labour Migration to the GCC States 115 Andrzej Kapiszewski Management and Regulation of Human Resources in the Arab World Arab Migration to Europe: Trends and Policies 135 Philippe Fargues Expansion to the East and the Migratory Impact on Arab and Mediterranean Countries 155 Bichara Khader Does International Migration Matter? A Study of Egyptian Return Migrants 179 Jackline Wahba 3 Human Rights and Foreign Contract Labour: Some Implications for Management and Regulation in Arab Countries 201 Dr. Ray Jureidini Workshop on National Diasporas The Links of Arab “Diasporas” to their Countries of Origin 217 Abdelkader Latreche Flexible Transnational Survival Practices of Palestinian Transmigrants/Returnees, and Inflexible State Policies: Crafting the Palestinian Extraterritorialized Nation State 229 Sari Hanafi 4 FOREWORD The Regional Conference on Arab Migration in a Globalized World, jointly organized by the League of Arab States and the International Organization for Migration in Cairo on 2-4 Septem- ber 2003, was an important event in bringing together a group of key people – government representatives, international organizations, academics, researchers and practitioners – to look at migration and how it affects, and is affected by, the countries and people of the region. The migration patterns and dynamics of the region are very diverse, as are the experiences of the people migrating to and from the region, and their impact on host and home communities. A proper understanding of the importance and nature of migration flows is crucial to being able to manage migration for the benefit of migrants and societies and the capacity to comprehensively address all the other policy areas that are inextricably linked with population mobility. More- over, comprehensive approaches have become all the more important in today’s security- focused world. There is clearly a need for even more engagement and better dialogue among countries linked by migration flows and interests. Broad areas of policy and legislation on a range of migration- related issues remain to be filled. There is scope for better use of the various diaspora and their networks, and for more attention to be devoted to issues of integration. All partners involved need to cooperate, to share experiences and to help in building the capacity to address these issues more systematically and effectively. This book contains the background documents prepared for the Conference, and the statements made during the Conference deliberations. Together, they offer a wealth of information and advice, issues to consider and means to address them, based on the experiences and analysis of effective practice of those who came together in Cairo. I hope this collection will contribute to both a broader understanding of Arab migration and to practical measures to enable the coun- tries and the people to reap the benefits of migration, as they should. Brunson McKinley Director General International Organization for Migration 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “The Conference of Arab Migration in a Globalized World” was convened to address the chal- lenges of Arab development and the necessity for enhanced opportunities for cooperation with international bodies. The conference was held in September 2003 at the Headquarters of the League of Arab States, jointly organized by the League and the International Organization for Migration. As is suggested by the title, the conference addressed the interlocking themes of migration and globalization, and their impact on current and future development in the region and throughout the world. The information and technological revolution resulting from globalization has expanded work opportunities in fields such as communications and genetic engineering and has improved the quality of various products and services. However, these benefits are accompanied by certain dangers and challenges, particularly for countries of the South. While globalization has facili- tated the free flow of capital, commodities and services, restrictions and security regulations imposed upon labour migration have actually increased. This is particularly evident in industri- alized countries, despite the fact that these very same countries have been keen to attract skilled professionals. The socio-economic advantages of migration cannot be denied. Remittances sent home by migrants have lowered national deficit and contributed to development programs and projects in sending countries. Moreover, they have reduced poverty levels and have provided migrants with valuable skills and experience that enhance their productivity. Sending countries have strength- ened the economies of receiving countries, within and beyond the Arab world, as immigrants compensate for labour supply deficits in the production and services sectors. Migrant workers enhance the labour force and, therefore, increase the ratio of working-age population to those that are unemployable, particularly senior citizens. However, migration may produce negative consequences in the mid- and long-term range. The emigration of skilled professionals, also known as “brain drain”, represents a considerable loss of human capital. Countries of origin fail to benefit from the sizeable investment in education as they lose the opportunity to employ their experts nationally or even regionally once they emi- grate. Subsequently, sending countries must incur the costs of replacing these experts. This conference was convened to facilitate the development of recommendations and guidelines for the effective management of migration. Through such policies, migration may be organized in a way that maximizes benefits and limits drawbacks. The group of expert decision-makers, scientists and researchers, Arab and international, who participated in this conference reached the following conclusions: 7 • Migration policies should be placed within overall development strategies in individual Arab countries, and within the region. • Dialogue is needed between sending and receiving countries to ensure mutual benefits, and to limit the negative outcomes of migration, particularly in the cases of forced, illegal migration and transit migration. • International migration may function as a bridge between cultures to increase humanitarian awareness and secure a peaceful future for humanity. • The conference indicated that addressing migration issues exclusively in terms of security and administration fails to provide comprehensive solutions to migration problems. Policies must address the human rights of migrants, with emphasis on the provision of social integra- tion opportunities in receiving countries. It also declared the importance of taking into consid- eration the good of both sending and receiving countries when developing migration policies and issuing migration agreements. • Globalization creates opportunities and challenges as a result of increasing interaction and interdependency between countries and regions. The conference affirmed the role of Arab regional coordination and Euromed process in the expansion of competitive opportunities and progress in various fields of knowledge, productivity and services. With effective management, international migration may have a beneficial impact on social welfare and economic development. The positive outcomes of migration may be maximized through multilateral dialogue and cooperation. Policies should promote equal opportunity