Migration of People from Latin America and the Caribbean: Labour Markets and Social Dialogue

Gloria Moreno-Fontes Chammartin Senior Specialist on Labour Migrations

International Labour Organization, Geneva e-mail: mfontes@ilo.org

The Tripartite Approach and Social Dialogue

Importance of Governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations d cooperation at the national and international levels to promote a better management of job-related migrations and in order to ensure that labour migration yields benefits for everyone.

A tripartite mechanism (similar to those adopted by the ILO to formulate labour market policies) is ideal for social dialogue on the formulation of national or regional migration policies based on the tripartite approach serving as the operating principle in structuring decision-making in this important sphere of government policy.

Thus, closer cooperation between sovereign states and social partners could help create better regulated labour migration processes and more effective information systems on supply and demand of migrant workers based on labour market assessments.

Labour Ministries

Key role in the formulation, preparation, implementation, and administration of labour migration policies in order to ensure that issues related to labour and employment policies are taken into account.

Establish a mechanism for guaranteeing the coordination and holding of consultations among all ministries, authorities, and agencies with responsibility on labour migration.

Ensure that the specific structures and mechanisms of the ministries have the capacity and skills necessary for designing, formulating, and implementing labour migration policies, including, when possible, a special office responsible for matters related to migrant workers.

Source: ILO Survey on Migrations, 2003.

Dirección General de Migración y ExtranjeríaMinisterio de Trabajo

Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería Nicaragua

Dirección General de Migración

Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social

Dirección General de MigraciónGuatemala

Department of State (Consular Affairs); Homeland Security (BCIS)

Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration ETA and Employment Standards Administration ESA)

Department of State (Office of Consular Affairs); Department of Homeland Security; Bureau of Immigration and Customs United States

Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería

Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería y Ministerio de Trabajo

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y de GobernaciónEl Salvador

Dirección General de Migración, Consejo Nacional de Migración y Extranjería

Ministerio de Trabajo y de Seguridad Social (estudio y análisis del mercado laboral y determinación del impacto de las migraciones laborales)

Dirección General de Migración, Consejo Nacional de Migración y ExtranjeríaCosta Rica

Departamento de Estrangeiros & Ministério da Justiça

Coordenação-Geral de Imigração, Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego

Ministério do Trabalho, Ministério da Justiça, Ministério das Relações InterioresBrazil

Ministerio de Trabajo y Ministerio de Gobierno Ministerio de Trabajo

Direccion de Migracion, Ministerio de Gobierno Bolivia

Residence Permits Work Permits Immigration Policy Country

Competent Authorities for Immigration Policy, Work Permits, and Residence Permits in Selected Countries

Trade Unions in Countries of OriginProvide information on rights, obligations, and potential abuses in destination countries Promote bilateral agreements with destination countries on labour migrationProvide departing migrants with the names and addresses of destination country trade unions, in case of need Ensure that workers receive due protection against discrimination and labour exploitationFacilitate the reincorporation of returning migrant workers by providing information on the job market and creating support cooperatives

Trade Unions in Destination Countries Lobby for equality of opportunities and treatment for migrant workers in terms of access to employment, social security, and nondiscriminationOrganize information campaigns on their rights and assist them with legal services Establish dialogues with employers’ organizations on the situation faced by migrant workers Ensure that workers’ contracts do not prohibit them from joining trade unions Ensure that female migrants receive maternity insurance, equal pay, and protection from sexual harassment and other abuses

Employers’ OrganizationsParticipate in a dialogue with the Government to identify the supply and demand for labour Monitor the implementation of bilateral agreementsProvide workers with information on working conditions Fund vocational training when needed by specific industriesEstablish committees or structures to ensure equal opportunities for national and migrant workers Work for the adoption of public policies and work plans at the enterprise levelDevelop good practice guides for employers Develop model employment contracts for use by employers

Dialogue between Countries of Origin and Destination in a Bilateral or Multilateral Context

Exchanging information about labour surpluses and shortages

Adopting of coordinated policies among countries that export labour

Harmonizing policies among countries that import labour

Regulating intermediation services

Establishing an effective system for preventing labour exploitation

Dealing with the situation of irregular immigrants

Establishing a common approach to migration policy matters, such as temporary migrations, the emigration of skilled workers, the relationship between migration and development, and harmonizing social security and labour market policies

Table 2. ILO Estimates of Migrant Worker Numbers, 2000-2005

Migrants Migrant Workers 2000 2005 2000 2005

Region*

Million % Million % Million % Million % Latin America& Carib.

5.9 3 6.6 3 2.5 3 2.8 3

North America

40.8 23 44.5 23 20.5 24 22.4 24

Total 46.7 2651.1 26 23 27 25.2 27

Source: ILO, Towards a fair deal for migrant workers in the global economy, Estimates based on United Nations (Population Division); specific rates of economic activity by country in ILO (Statistics Office), and available country data on foreigners and/or foreign-born economically active population. Updated by Piyasiri Wickramasekara, Specialist in International Migrations, ILO-Geneva.

Migrant Workers by Sex and Sector in Selected Latin American Countries (percentages of total migrant workers in each economic activity)

Argentina (2001) Venezuela (2001) Brazil (2000) Chile (2002)

Total

% de hombres del total

% de mujeres del total

% de hombres del total

% de mujeres del total

% de hombres del total

% de mujeres del total

% de hombres del total

% de mujeres del total

% de hombres del total

% de mujeres del total

Total 149,100 67.8 32.2 560,707 60.0 39.8 602,758 70.0 30.2 303,434 74.0 25.8 84,223 56.0 44.4

Agricultura, caza, bosques y pesca 31,275 19.2 1.7 44,653 7.0 1.4 67,966 11.0 0.5 15,077 4.0 0.8 3,180 3.0 0.7Mineria y excavaciones 147 0.1 0.0 2,532 0.4 0.0 4,330 1.0 0.1 686 0.0 0.0 2,889 3.0 0.7Manufactura 20,338 10.0 3.6 75,716 10.0 3.3 103,221 12.0 4.8 40,945 10.0 3.1 6,556 6.0 1.9Electricidad, gas & agua 489 0.3 0.1 3,092 0.0 0.1 2,503 0.0 0.1 1,117 0.0 0.1 426 0.0 0.1Construcción 15,448 10.2 0.2 63,467 11.0 0.1 47,805 8.0 0.3 9,761 3.0 0.2 4,439 5.0 0.3Comercio al mayoreo y menudeo, 30,856 12.5 8.2 120,983 14.0 7.8 152,285 18.0 7.4 100,335 25.0 8.0 20,152 16.0 8.3Transporte, almacenaje, comunicación 3,822 2.2 0.4 26,447 4.0 0.5 22,558 3.0 0.4 15,156 4.0 0.7 4,775 4.0 1.4Intermediación financiera 9,225 4.2 2.0 28,909 3.0 2.0 28,328 3.0 1.8 31,774 8.0 2.5 10,767 8.0 4.5Servicios 30,612 5.4 15.2 85,109 7.0 7.9 142,265 10.0 13.2 49,097 8.0 8.2 16,328 9.0 10.4

Servicio doméstico .. .. .. 87,525 1.0 14.9 .. .. .. 37,226 11.0 1.6 14,709 1.0 16.1No está especificado 6,888 3.8 0.8 22,274 2.0 1.8 31,497 4.0 1.5 2,260 0.0 0.5 2 0.0 0.0

fuente: Compilación y formateo hecho por OIT basado en UN, International Migration: Latin America and the Caribbean, Demographic Observatory (April 2006)- Datos basados en Censos de los años más recientes,

Trabajadores y Trabajadoras Migrantes por Sector o Actividad Económica en países seleccionados de América Latina (porcentajes del total de trabajadores migrantes en cada actividad económica)

Costa Rica (2000)

Economic Active Population in the U.S. born in Latin America by occupational group and older than 16

Población

nacimiento económicamente

activa Total % Total % Total % Total % Total % Total %

Argentina 72'415 31'490 43.5 10'470 14.5 16'445 22.7 165 0.2 6'140 8.5 7'705 10.6

Bolivia 30'160 8'525 28.3 7'280 24.1 6'855 22.7 40 0.1 3'765 12.5 3'695 12.3

Brasil 117'020 31'835 27.2 35'450 30.3 22'680 19.4 330 0.3 12'865 11.0 13'860 11.8

Chile 44'960 15'445 34.4 8'865 19.7 9'795 21.8 260 0.6 4'940 11.0 5'655 12.6

Colombia 266'410 64'000 24.0 64'520 24.2 61'815 23.2 640 0.2 22'650 8.5 52'785 19.8

Costa Rica 39'550 9'360 23.7 9'875 25.0 8'380 21.2 180 0.5 4'890 12.4 6'865 17.4

Cuba 408'140 118'140 29.0 61'150 15.0 112'630 27.6 1'830 0.5 44'375 10.9 70'015 17.2

Ecuador 158'560 25'560 16.1 37'480 23.6 33'255 21.0 465 0.3 19'220 12.1 42'580 26.9

El Salvador 454'290 43'140 9.5 146'875 32.3 74'230 16.3 5'555 1.2 72'985 16.1 111'505 24.5

Guatemala 257'115 25'250 9.8 75'465 29.4 37'860 14.7 6'195 2.4 40'145 15.6 72'200 28.1

Haití 228'190 46'480 20.4 82'190 36.0 42'150 18.5 1'975 0.9 14'975 6.6 40'420 17.7

Honduras 148'470 15'715 10.6 41'120 27.7 23'880 16.1 1'845 1.2 29'570 19.9 36'340 24.5

México 4'431'045 358'510 8.1 1'122'560 25.3 554'030 12.5 284'975 6.4 829'490 18.7 1'281'480 28.9

Nicaragua 112'960 19'495 17.3 25'500 22.6 31'940 28.3 565 0.5 13'400 11.9 22'060 19.5

Panamá 57'050 19'015 33.3 11'095 19.5 17'530 30.7 85 0.2 3'125 5.5 6'200 10.9

Perú 155'095 36'855 23.8 37'120 23.9 37'900 24.4 615 0.4 14'425 9.3 28'180 18.2

Rep. Dom. 304'225 46'450 15.3 80'415 26.4 74'170 24.4 845 0.3 23'815 7.8 78'530 25.8

Venezuela 53'080 21'675 40.8 7'790 14.7 14'560 27.4 180 0.3 3'675 6.9 5'200 9.8

T O T A L 7'338'735 936'940 415 1'865'220 434 1'180'105 393 306'745 17 1'164'450 205 1'885'275 336

Obreros

Población económicamente activa, de 16 años o más, censada en Estados Unidos y nacida enLatinoamérica, según grupos ocupacionales, Censo 2000

Fuente: Oficina del Censo de Estados Unidos, tabulaciones especiales del Censo 2000 (SPT-159)

CEPAL, América Latina y el Caribe, Observatorio Demográfico, Año 1, Abril 2006

Nota: incluye solamente los nacidos en el extranjero. Las personas nacidas en países extranjeros hijos de ciudadanos estadounidenses son considerados nativos y no se incluyen en estatabulación.

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Argentina 5'480 2'800 4'080 5'980 1200 5300 2'060 26'900 Brasil 1'280 600 720 2'100 560 2220 1'420 8'900 Chile 1'140 240 500 940 140 1060 640 4'660 Colombia 13'000 1'200 3'400 11'620 4120 7440 17'100 57'880 Cuba 2'220 1'340 1'140 2'840 280 1680 1'040 10'540 Ecuador 24'620 1'100 3'320 13'220 18760 12600 30'520 104'140 Perú 3'340 780 2'640 3'260 440 2220 6'560 19'240 Total de numero de trabajadores de America Latina y el Caribe 51'080 8'060 15'800 39'960 25'500 32'520 59'340 232'260 Total de numero de trabajadores en el sector (Extranjeros y Nacionales) 1'861'220 800'520 836'260 944'580 1012580 2670700 356'560 8'482'420 % de trabajador migrante del total 2.7 1.0 1.9 4.2 2.5 1.2 16.6 2.7Fuente: Compilación hecha por OIT basada en datos de OECD.Stat Extracts, principalmente extraídas del censo del 2000 y encuestas de

trabajo sumistradas por Eurostat (promedio de 1998-2002) usados cuando la imformación no fue encontrada. Extraído el 2009/02/18

Trabajadores Migrantes Latinoamericanos y Caribeños en España por Sector Económico

Latin American and Caribbean migrant workers in Spain per Economic Activity

Residents from Andean nations in Spain, 1995-2006

(000s)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

000s

Bolivia Colombia Ecuador Peru Venezuela All Andean

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

Agriculture Manufacturing Construction Education Health & SocialWork

Hotels &Restaurants

Privatehouseholds w/

employees

Canada

Italy

Portugal

Spain

Migrant Workers from Latin America and the Caribbean in Selected OECD Countries by Economic Activity

Source: Data compilation by ILO based on OECD database

Bilateral Labour Exchange Agreements

Bilateral Agreements…

ILO’s Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration and Labour Market Needs Assessments

Expanding avenues for regular labour migration should be considered, taking into account labour market needs and demographic trends.

5.1 Establishing systems and structures for periodic, objective labour market analyses that take into account gender issues and that include:

5.1.1. sectoral, occupational and regional dimensions of labour shortages and their causes,

5.1.2. shortages of skilled workers in both origin and destination countries, particularly in the public, health and education sectors,

5.1.3. long-term impact of demographic trends, especially ageing, on the demand for and supply of labour;

5.2. Establishing transparent policies for the admission, employment and residence of migrant workers based on clear criteria, including labour market needs.

Labour Market Needs Assessments and Labour Market Information Systems

Results of periodic and objectif Labour Market Needs Assessments and other types of collection of data provide key information on supply and demand of migrant workers to labour market information systems.

Information disseminated through public employment services, internet, etc.

Examples: Spain’s Catalogue of Difficult to Cover OccupationsRussia

All International Labour Standards cover nationals and migrant workers equally unless otherwise specified

ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and follow-up thereon: the eight fundamental principles apply universally: in other words, they apply to all workers without distinction of nationality, type of work or residence permit (permanent or temporary), and regardless of their migratory status (regular or irregular).

However, these instruments do not affect nations’ sovereignty in regulating access to their territories or labour markets.

Most relevant standards are those of employment, social security, working conditions, employment services, private recruitment agencies and gender equality

Migrant Workers Conventions and Recommendations

C 97 Migration for Employment Convention 1949 (42 ratifications)

C 143 Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention 1975 (18 ratifications)

R 86 Migration for Employment Recommendation 1949

R 100 Protection of Migrant Workers Recommendation 1955

R 151 Migrant Workers Recommendation 1975

C. 97 Equal treatment principleIncludes an invitation to enter into bilateral agreements and use model employment contracts (R. 86 annex 1)

Regulates the conditions under which migrations should take place (eg. exchange of information, cooperation among employment services)

Treatment no less favourable between nationals and documented immigrants in relation to:

– Remuneration;

– Affiliation to trade unions;

– Social security;

– Access to justice;

– Working conditions and lodging

C. 143 principle of equal treatment and opportunities

Article 1. State members that have ratified should respect fundamental human rights of all (documented and undocumented) migrant workers.

Article 9. Migrant workers in an irregular situation should enjoy equal treatment concerning rights derived of past employment in terms of remuneration, employment security and other benefits.

Prevention of Migration in Abusive Conditions

Equality of opportunity and treatment between regular migrants and national workers in respect of employment and occupation, of access to employment (subject to a 2 year restriction), social security, of trade union and cultural rights and of individual and collective freedom

Ratification of ILO Conventions on migrant workers by Latin American and Caribbean Countries

C. 97 Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela (total: 15)

C. 143 Venezuela (total: 1)

C. 29 Equal treatment between national and migrant workers in terms of indemnisation due to work accidents (1925);

C. 48 Conservation of pension rights (invalidity, old age and death of migrants (1935);

C 118 Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention 1962

C 157 Maintenance of Social Security Rights Convention 1982

C 128 Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors’ Benefits Convention 1967

C 102 Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention 1952

Social Security Conventions and migrant workers

Will the crisis mean a major delocalisation of jobs from industrialised countries to

less developed countries that could mean an increase in the number of jobs in developing countries, thus less need for workers to look for a job abroad?

Will labour markets in destination countries be able to function without migrant workers by an easy displacement of national workers to those jobs where migrant workers are concentrated?

Which measures should be taken to avoid taking steps behind in important advancements made in recent years in terms of national good practices and of bilateral and multilateral cooperation?

How best to take advantage of the crisis, new cooperation opportunities and social dialogue in terms of harmonization of policies and special support measures provided by Governments and social partners not only within countries, but among representatives of countries of origin and destination?

How can labour market information systems quickly identify labour market needs in terms of supply and demand of migrant workers?

Which economic activities and occupations (gender differences) where migrant workers are concentrated are being and will be more affected by the crisis?

Will the crisis be representing an increase in the flows of undocumented and in the insertion of migrant workers in informal economies of countries of destination (gender differences)?

Will the crisis be representing an important reduction in migrant workers’ salaries and negative changes, in general, in their working conditions?

What will be the impact of the crisis on rights and protection of migrant workers and their families?

Who will be more affected: highly-skilled, skilled or low skilled workers / undocumented more than documented / those who arrived recently compared to those who arrived long time ago?

Will a mass return of migrant workers be taking place or will they decide to stay in countries of destination?

Questions