Suriname Migration Profile A study on emigration from, and immigration into Suriname SURINAME MIGRATION PROFILE A study on emigration from, and immigration into Suriname into and immigration from, on emigration A study PROFILE SURINAME MIGRATION This project is implemented by: Financed by the European Union International Organization for Migration Regional Coordination Office 87 Carmichael Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana Phone: (592) 2253745 | Fax: (592) 2273675 E-mail: [email protected] Financed by the European Union The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of this authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. Omissions and errors remain the responsibility of the authors. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migrants’ issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. Publisher: International Organization for Migration Regional Coordination Office 87 Carmichael Street South Cummingsburg Georgetown, Guyana Phone: (592) 2253745 Fax: (592) 2273675 E-mail: [email protected] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname Henck Arronstraat #8 Paramaribo, Suriname Phone: (597) 471756/471209 Fax: (597) 410411 E-mail: [email protected] Prepared for IOM by: Social Solutions Siriusstraat 14, Elizabethshof Paramaribo, Suriname Tel: (597) 457885 www.social-solutions.net _____________________________________________________ © 2015 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. 07_15 Suriname Migration Profile A study on emigration from, and immigration into Suriname October 2014 Authors: Marieke Heemskerk and Celine Duijves E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS Acknowledgements ............................................................................ix Abbreviations and acronyms............................................................. xiii Country map and key statistics .......................................................... xv Executive summary ..............................................................................1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 Historic trends in migration to and from Suriname .......................................... 1 Institutional and regulatory framework ........................................................... 2 Migration trends and characteristics in the past decade ................................. 3 Socioeconomic conditions and impacts ........................................................... 4 Conclusions and recommendations ................................................................. 5 Nederlandse samenvatting ..................................................................6 Introductie ........................................................................................................ 6 Historische trends in migratie .......................................................................... 6 Institutioneel kader en regelgeving .................................................................. 7 Migratie trends en karakteristieken in het afgelopen decennium, deel I Migratie naar Suriname ................................................ 8 Sociaaleconomische situatie en effecten ......................................................... 9 Conclusies en aanbevelingen ......................................................................... 10 1. Introduction ...................................................................................11 1.1 Background .............................................................................................. 11 1.2 Objectives of the Suriname migration profile .......................................... 12 1.3 Key definitions .......................................................................................... 13 1.4 Methods ................................................................................................... 15 1.5 Report outline .......................................................................................... 16 2. Historic trends in migration to and from Suriname .........................17 2.1 History of migration to Suriname ............................................................. 17 2.1.1 From 1630 to 1863 ..........................................................................17 2.1.2 From 1863 to World War II ............................................................. 19 2.1.3 From 1945 to 1992 ..........................................................................20 2.1.4 After 1992 ....................................................................................... 20 2.2 History of migration out of Suriname ....................................................... 22 2.2.1 Early migration: From seventeenth century to World War II .......... 22 2.2.2 Migration between World War I and World War II ......................... 23 2.2.3 Labour and study migration: 1945 to 1960s ................................... 24 2.2.4 Migration explosion: 1970s to 1992................................................ 26 2.2.5 Present-day migration trends: Period after 1992 ............................28 2.3 Migration balance from a historical perspective ...................................... 30 SURINAME MIGRATION PROFILE iii A study on emigration from, and immigration into Suriname 3. Institutional and regulatory framework .........................................33 3.1 Suriname and migration policy ................................................................. 33 3.2 Key domestic legislation and recent migration policy developments ...... 37 3.2.1 Regional law .................................................................................... 37 3.2.2 Bilateral treaty law .......................................................................... 39 3.2.3 National law .................................................................................... 39 3.3 Immigration .............................................................................................. 43 3.3.1 Foreigners who need a visa ............................................................43 3.3.2 Foreigners who do not need a visa ................................................. 45 3.3.3 Return migrants and persons of Surinamese origin ........................ 46 4. Migration trends and characteristics in the past decade: Migration to Suriname ...................................................................49 4.1 The migrant stock ..................................................................................... 49 4.2 Recent arrivals in Suriname ...................................................................... 50 4.3 Return migrants and persons of Surinamese descent .............................. 57 4.4 Labour migration ...................................................................................... 61 4.4.1 General facts and figures on labour migration ................................61 4.4.2 Migrants with independent trades or businesses ........................... 62 4.4.3 Labour migrants with work permits ................................................ 63 4.4.4 Migrants in the informal sector ...................................................... 68 4.4.5 Suriname and the need for foreign labour ......................................70 4.5 Family migration ....................................................................................... 73 4.6 Study migration ........................................................................................ 74 4.7 Irregular migration to Suriname ............................................................... 74 4.7.1 Irregular migrants: Facts and figures ...............................................74 4.7.2 Illegal entry into Suriname .............................................................. 76 4.7.3 Overstayers ..................................................................................... 77 4.7.4 General pardons in 2010 and 2014 ................................................. 79 4.8 Deportation .............................................................................................. 82 4.9 Trafficking in persons ................................................................................ 84 5. Migration trends and characteristics in the past decade: Migration from Suriname ...............................................................87 5.1 Where do Surinamese migrate to? ........................................................... 87 5.1.1 General trends ...............................................................................