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FREE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MOLDOVA ECONOMIC SCIENCE DEPARTMENT „BA, REI, TOURISM” ALFIOROVA IRINA INTERNATIONAL LABOR MIGRATION BETWEEN COSTS AND BENEFITS DIPLOMA PROJECT 365.1 – International Economic Relations Admis la susţinere Şef catedră „BA, REI, TURISM” N. Burlacu, dr. hab., prof. univ. (numele, prenumele, gradul științific) __________________________ (semnătura) ”____” _________ 2015 Autor: student gr. E31A, învățământ cu frecvență la zi ALFIOROVA Irina ________________ (semnătura) Conducător ştiinţific: ȚAU Nicolae, dr. hab., prof. univ. ________________

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Page 1: REI Labor Migration

FREE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MOLDOVA

ECONOMIC SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT „BA, REI, TOURISM”

ALFIOROVA IRINA

INTERNATIONAL LABOR MIGRATION BETWEEN COSTS AND BENEFITS

DIPLOMA PROJECT

365.1 – International Economic Relations

Admis la susţinereŞef catedră „BA, REI, TURISM”N. Burlacu, dr. hab., prof. univ. (numele, prenumele, gradul științific)__________________________ (semnătura)”____” _________ 2015

Autor: student gr. E31A,

învăţământ cu frecvenţă la zi ALFIOROVA Irina

________________ (semnătura)

Conducător ştiinţific: ȚAU Nicolae, dr. hab., prof. univ.

________________ (semnătura)

Chişinău, 2015

Page 2: REI Labor Migration

CONTENS

ANNOTATION..............................................................................................................................3

ADNOTARE..................................................................................................................................4

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.......................................................................................................5

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS........................................................................................................6

LIST OF TABLES.........................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................8

CHAPTER 1. THEORETICAL ASPECTS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL LABOUR MIGRATION...............................................................................................................................10

1.1. Immigration and Emigration concepts, migration policies......................................10

1.2. Classification of the types of international labor migration and migrants.................18

CHAPTER 2. ECONOMIC RESEARCH, COSTS AND BENEFITS ESTIMATION........20

2.1. Main centers of labor emigration and immigration......................................................20

2.2. Influence of the international labor migration on labor market..................................30

2.3. Costs and benefits of international labor migration......................................................34

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................................41

BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................43

PROJECT ORIGINALITY DECLARATION

GRAPH OF PROJECT EXECUTION

FISA DE EVALUARE

2

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ANNOTATION

The aim of the diploma project: Identifying costs and benefits of international labor

migration. Objectives: to describe the theoretical basis of labor migration as a form of

international relations, to discover the main reasons for international labor migration, to identify

immigration and emigration countries, to provide solutions to stop illegal migration.

Results: Revealed features of international labor migration, was developed a draft of

benefits and costs the country may have from labor migration, were identifyed the areas of

migration and modern centers of gravity of workforce.

Conclusions and recommendations: The main reason for this research was a need to

understand and distinguish the costs and benefits of international labor migration. Certain

analyses concerning the main reasons and consequences of migration as for the accepting and

sending countries were carried out.

So as it was shown above, the international labor migration arises because of a certain

contrast in levels of economic and social development of the states. At the same time, the world

practice shows that labor migration provides undoubted advantages to the countries both

importing workforce, and exporting it. But thus arise certain social and economic issues.

The import country faces the deterioration of demographic situation, deficiency of

professional labor and the growth of inflation because of workforce outflow. However, the

decrease of unemployment and investments into the donor country economy will promote the

improvement of economic indicators. The convergence of compensation levels in the donor

countries and the recipient countries can reconcile these ambiguous consequences of labor

migration. Similar levels of salaries smooth and harmonize the costs and benefits of labor

migration, gradually leveling economic development of the countries.

The author: Irina Alfiorova

The title of diploma project: International labor migration between costs and benefits

Speciality: 365.1 - REI

Place of defence: Chisinau, ULIM

Structure: Introduction, Two chapters, Conclusions and recommendations, 21

bibliography sources, 41 pages of text (up to the bibliography), 11 figures and 5 tables.

Tags: remittances, mobility, work, citizenship, ability, placement, migrant, wage, salary,

foreigner, laborforce.

ADNOTARE

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Scopul proiectului de diplomă: Identificarea costurilor și beneficiile migrației

internaționale de muncă. Obiective: Descrierea teoriei de bază a migraţiei forţei de muncă ca o

formă a relaţiilor internaţionale, a descoperi principalele motive a migraţiei internaţionale de

muncă, indentificarea ţarilor immigrate şi emigrate, pentru a oferi soluţii de a stopa imigrarea

ilegală.

Ca rezultat: Dezvăluind problemele migraţiei internaţionale de muncă, au fost elaborate

un şir de beneficii care ţările le pot avea de la migraţia internaţională, au fost identificate

domeniile migraţiei şi principalele centre a forţei de muncă.

Concluzii şi recomandări: Principalul scop al acestei cercetări este nevoia de a înţelege

şi a distinge costurile şi beneficiile migraţiei internaţionale a muncii. Anumite studii cu privire la

principalele motive şi consecinţe ale migraţiei au fost efectutate.

Cum a fost spus mai sus, migraţia internaţională a muncii apare din cauza diferitor nivele

de dezvoltare economică şi socială. În acelaşi timp, practica mondială arată că migraţia forţei de

muncă oferă avantaje incontestabile faţă de tările atît importatoare a forţei de muncă cît şi

eportatoare. Dar în acelaşi timp apar anumite aspect economice şi sociale.

Ţările importatoare de forţă de muncă se confruntă cu deteriorarea situaţiei demografice,

deficit de forţă de muncă profesională şi creşterea inflaţiei, cauză fiind emigrarea forţei de

muncă. Cu toate acestea, scăderea şomajlui şi a investiţiilor în ecoomia ţării donatoare va

promova îmbunătăţirea indicatorilor economici. Convergenţa nivelurilor de compensare în ţările

donatoare şi a ţărilor beneficiare pot aduce la sfîrşitul acestor consecinţe privind forţa de muncă.

Nivele similare de salarii aduc la armonizarea costurilor şi beneficiile migraţiei forţei de muncă

care treptat aduc la dezvoltarea economică a ţărilor.

Autor: Irina Alfiorova

Titlul proiectului de diplomă: Migraţia Internaţională a forţei de muncă între costuri şi

beneficii

Specialitatea: 365.1 - REI

Locul de apărare a practicii: Chişinau, ULIM

Structura: Introducere, Două Capitole, Concluzii şi Recomandări, 21 de surse

bibliografice, 41 pagini de text (pină la bibliografie), 11 figuri şi 5 tabele.

Tags: remitenţe, mobilitate, loc de muncă, cetăţenie, abilitate, plasament, imigrant,

salariu, străin, forţă de muncă.

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AIDS- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

CIS- Commonwealth of Independent States

ESR- Economic Self Reliance

GDP- Gross Domestic Product

GNP- Gross National Product

ILO- International Labour Organization

IMF- International Monetary Fund

MNC- Multinational Corporation

NIS- Newly Independent States

OPEC- Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

UAE- United Arabic Emirates

UN- United Nations

USA- United States of America

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Pic. 1.1. State institutions involved in solution of labor migration problems……………....……15

Pic. 2.1. Top 6 countries with the highest number of immigrants (2013)……………………….21

Pic. 2.2. Sources of Moldavians’ income, 2012…………………………………………………25

Pic. 2.3. Labor immigrants in Gulf States…………………………………………………….…28

Pic. 2.4. 12 recipient countries with the biggest amount of remittances in 2013………………..31

Pic. 2.5. 12 countries with the greatest relative volume of remittances in 2012, % of GDP of the

respective countries……………………………………………………………………………....32

Pic. 2.6. Remittances to the former federal republics of the USSR in 2012, % of GDP of the

respective countries………………………………………………………………………………33

Pic. 2.7. Positive consequences of labor migration for recipient countries……………………...35

Pic. 2.8. Negative consequences of labor migration for recipient countries………………….…36

Pic. 2.9. Positive consequences of labor migration for sending countries………………………38

Pic. 2.10. Negative consequences of labor migration for sending countries……………….........39

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1.1. Emigration and Immigration definitions…………………………………………...10

Table 2.1. Classification of Migrants, 5 main types…………………………………………...19

Table 2.2. Population of Gulf States (2013)…………………………………………………...27

Table 2.3. National and Non-National Employed Persons – Kingdom of Bahrain……………28

Table 2.4. Number of workers deployed by destination, 2012………………………………...30

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INTRODUCTION

Relevance of a subject of the project. The phenomenon of international migration is not

new. But even today, in order to determine the exact volume of the international movement of

such an important factor of production seems to be quite difficult. 

It is important to study the phenomenon of migration while it can be regarded as a very

specific element - the reproduction of the population that, of course, does not exclude,

considering the migration from neighbouring fields of knowledge – geography, for example, that

studies patterns of human sеttlement. 

Generally, under the reproduction of population is understood only in the process of

generational turnover of their socio-economic conditionality. While the population, as well as its

composition, is considered as a subject to constant change. 

At the same time, duration of unemployment usually gives a more accurate assessment. It

may indicate the rapid spread of some technological innovations that may cause dynamic

changes in the labor demand structure and so its intensive migration, high mobility of labor

market, the existence of effective information systems about different vacancies, retraining of

workers and others.

Labor migration is also understood as an international division of labor which is the

highest stage of public territorial labor division development between the countries, that provides

a stable concentration of production of products in certain countries.

Simple interpretation of the international labor division as the separation of certain

human activity types does not necessarily imply its endorser cooperation - based on international

division of steady labor exchange between the countries and products which produced by them

with greater economic efficiency. 

This cooperation happens to be in two forms: the international exchange of goods

(i.e.international trade), that is produced on the basis of labor division or that is produced on the

basis of inter-state movement of labor which is International Labour Migration.

Also, migration is an important part of mankind history because it is connected with

settlement process, agricultural land development, education and racial mixing, products

capacity development, peoples and languages movement.

Gaining ethnosocial and ethnopolitical character in recent years, the phenomenon of

migration introduces some changes in local societies’ lives, it also changes personal

characteristics of those who have to move to other territories for better life and better future.

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Within the XX century the intensive expansion of migratory streams was observed, so to

the end of the century the phenomenon of migration became a factor of all global problems. Due

to this fact, it demanded new approaches to the migration policy that promote achievement and

maintenance of balance of interests of those participating in regulation of migratory processes.

Relevance of migration research at the universal level is caused following circumstances:

-expansion of legal framework and emphasis of attention of the international public on a

perspective of human rights to which, of course, belongs the right of free movement

-the ripened need of migration analysis, taking into account its purposes, tasks and the

contents in concrete regions and also extent of its impact on other spheres of public relations

-change of social and political parameters of political development, acceptance and

implementation of new laws striking the rights of the population

-need of scientific judgment and understanding of a socio-political orientation of the

relations between migrants, as well as between migrants and local population.

Consequences of migration are shown in various spheres: political, economic, social,

cultural, psychological and others. Moreover, these consequences have both positive and

negative aspects, thus becoming a source of conflicts. All this defines the relevance and

importance of studying the problems of political and legal regulation of labor migration.

The aim of the diploma project. Identifying costs and benefits of international labor

migration.

On the basis of the aim of diploma project the following objectives were set:

- to describe the theoretical basis of labor migration as a form of international relations

- to discover the main reasons for international labor migration

-to identify immigration and emigration countries

-to provide solutions to stop illegal migration.

Research methodologies. Here are the following scientific methods of research that formed

a methodological basis of writing the diploma project: standard method, logical analysis,

comparative, statistical, induction and deduction, graphic, quantitative and qualitative,

descriptive and analytical methods.

Review of special literature. The scientific and theoretical basis of the degree project

were formed by works of such national and foreign authors as: Oded Stark, J.Edward Taylor,

Gaugas P., Rybakovsky L., Gaston N. and Nelson D., Rahman M., Sykes A. and others, who

described the reasons, factors and problems of migration, as well as analysed costs and benefits

of such phenomenon as international labor migration.

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CHAPTER 1. THEORETICAL ASPECTS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL LABOUR MIGRATION

1.1. Immigration and Emigration concepts, migration policies

International labor migration is subdivided into immigration and emigration.

Table 1.1. Emigration and Immigration definitions [developed by the author]

• Immigration – entrance of able-bodied population in a

certain country from another one.

• Emigration –departure of able-bodied population from

one certain country to another one.

Emigration represents an independent decision on resettlement of a person or a family,

unlike the forced relocation like eviction from the country or deportation. The emigration

reasons are different, the examples are: war, hunger, poverty, ethnic conflicts, political

repressions, natural and environmental disasters, family reunition, national, religious or social

discrimination, the impossibility of getting education or a job, difficulties in the implementation

of professional, economic and other personal and family plans in the country of accommodation.

Immigration is a process when foreign citizens entry into the country for the purpose of

long stay in it, and, as a rule, obtaining its nationality. It has a considerable impact on dynamics,

age, sexual and ethnic structure of the population.

An immigrant is a person, who goes to another country on a permanent residence, for the

purpose of obtaining its nationality. The United Nations recommends to define the immigrant as

the person who left country of the last residence and arrived to the other country for more than

one year. However, such definition of the immigrant of the UN doesn't find universal recognition

yet in spite of the fact that they work on the unification of national definitions since 1970. In the

late eighties the Statistical committee of the European Union (Eurostat) joined this work too.

Many countries have their own features and criteria of immigrant definition. For

example, in Germany the immigrant is considered "the person who crosses the border with an

intention of settling in the country", while in Japan immigrants are "national citizens and

foreigners who come from abroad", there is another definition of immigrant in the USA: "the

person going to the country irrevocably for the purpose of subsequent obtaining the American

nationality", and in Israel and Canada immigrants are "people going to the country for the

purpose of continuous accommodation".

So, there are more various definitions of this phenomenon worldwide.

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Immigration is defined by social, economic, military-political, national, religious,

geographical, demographic and other reasons.

The process of international labor migration is regulated by the national legislation and

international legal acts of different countries. There are two tendencies that reflect in the

legislation: the first one is an open economy, and respectively free movement of laborforce; the

other one is protectionism, which implies restrictions in the field of international migration.

The majority of the developed countries have certain migration protectionist policy urged

to protect citizens interests. So, in the USA, since 1995, no more than 675 thousand people are

annually allowed to immigrate. The law also has a quota for people emigrating from the USA,

which is 140 thousand people a year [3, p.22].

Due to the political and demographic instability in the nineties, the complication of

adaptation process and employment of immigrants, many European countries also toughened the

immigration legislations. So, for example, in 1993, France has limited the entrance of new

immigrants. Similar changes of the immigration legislation were also made by Austria, Italy,

Spain and Portugal.

Thus, national migration policy is developed in every country. Migration policy is a

complex of legislative, organizational and other measures which are directed to regulate the

entry into the country and departure from the country, as well as granting and deprivation of

nationality or other status of residence. Migration policy is also supposed to regulate the flows of

refugees and to create a system of migrants social protection.

The International Labour Organization defined certain purposes of export countries

emigration policy:

-emigration of labor force has to promote unemployment reduction

-remmitances from emigrant workers are good for export-import transactions balance

-there should be provided a corresponding standard of living to emigrants abroad

-the requirement to the emigrants of coming home, combined with the acquisition of

professions and education.

As a rule, people, who left their country and emigrated to another ones, send home a

considerable part of their income gained abroad as remittances. According to the worldbank

website, the largest payments of labor income to private nonresident persons are from:

-Switzerland

- Germany

-Italy

-Japan

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-Belgium

-the USA [20].

Developing countries like the Republic of South Africa, Israel, Kuwait and Malaysia use

foreign labor most actively. But still, the largest private character transfers are mostly made by

developed countries like the USA, Japan, Germany and Great Britain. A lot of remittances come

from new industrial and oil-extracting developing countries too, the examples are: Korea, Saudi

Arabia, Venezuela.

In many developing countries, the transaction scales of private character make about 25%

or even 50% of commodity export income; here are such countries as: Bangladesh, Morocco,

Egypt, Jamaica, Malawi, Greece, Pakistan, Portugal, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Turkey. In Jordan and

Yemen, for example, the remittances reach to 10-50% of the GNP.

In addition to this, labor export is considered as an important source of foreign currency

to the country.

According to the IMF, the average rate of return when exporting goods makes 20%, it

makes 50% from exporting services, and the percentage from labor export is much higher. For

the last 15 years labor export has a strong impact on Pakistan economy. The remittances to this

country are 5 times higher than the money received from export of goods and services.

Anually receiving loads of money just from this source, many developing countries began

to consider migrants’ remittances as the most important source of the currency income.

From the theoretical point of view, the donor countries receive benefits from labor

migration not only because remittances sent by emigrants. There are also a lot of benefits which

address to another types of income. These ones increase the cumulative GNP and favorably

affect the balance of payments.

Here are meant the direct and portfolio investments in migrants’ home-country economy,

less training expenditures, also, health care and some other expenses of social character which

are covered for emigrants by the other countries. Moreover, having gained experience abroad

and having improved their skills, migrants bring this experience home, therefore the country

receives additional qualificated experts.

Emigration does a very notable positive impact on developing countries economy, as the

departure of workers reduces unemployment scales. So, in the 70th, the Egyptian government

accepted certain programs that stimulated workers to emigrate to Gulf States, thus fighting

against unemployment.

Though, so called “brain drain” became a serious problem for the most of the developing

countries, especially for those in Africa, like Malawi, Zaire, Sudan, Zambia. However, it usually

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happens that "brain drain" stops when the country economic situation improves. Here is an

example of the Indian scientists who returned home after they worked in American corporations

around the Silicon Valley for some years, and then became founders of a new Indian industry

development, like the creation of new computer programs.

There is a growth of donor countries influence in modern international labor migration,

while the governments understand the benefits of labor export and apply various methods of

emigration stimulation:

1. Countries emigratory policy respects the citizens’ rights for free movement. Some

countries have certain emigration control policy, especially in the relation of the qualified

experts, an adverse demographic situation, and also when there is a lack of laborforce in sending

country. Thus they protect donor countries interests, regulate emigration scales, as well as

qualitative structure of the emigrants.

2. In order to provide financial resources to national economy, the attraction

methods of remittances and migrant workers’ currency means are used. For this purpose national

banks open currency accounts under a higher interest rate for emigrants, some banks also create

certain favorable conditions for acquisition of goods and production equipment. A number of

countries directly obliges emigrant workers to transfer a considerable share of the salary received

abroad to the country of origin. The state also raises funds by introduction of obligatory deposits

and insurance to the private intermediary organizations which are responsible for citizens

employment abroad.

3. There are certain bilateral agreements which provide economic and social

guarantees and protect migrant workers’ rights (on salaries, housing, food supply, medical care,

etc.). Also certain funds and presentations are organized for the purpose of control over the

implementation of the international agreements conditions, as well as the solution of

controversial issues in foreign country and observance of migrants’ basic rights.

In the governments of some countries there are attaches who are urged to provide

protection of the migrant workers’ rights, including the solution of controversial issues and

negotiating with employers abroad.

So, the labor sending countries seek to develop such a mechanism that will regulate

migration as well as protect state interests. Thus, they obligate the enterprises which are engaged

in sending labor abroad to have a license, they also create special funds which support the

migrants who came back home, they control highly skilled workers migration as well.

The countries accepting laborforce receive thus defined “benefits”, as first of all

competitiveness of the goods on the market owing to reduction of the production costs while the

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price of foreign labor is lower. Also, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and

Development of ESR claims that immigrants improve a demographic picture of the developed

countries suffering from aging. In France, Germany and Sweden 10% of all newborns appear in

the families of immigrants. In Switzerland there is 24%, while in Luxembourg nearly 38% [12,

p.33].

At the same time, though the general rate of aging of the countries population is slowed

down, this statistics doesn't affect the ratio of birth rate and mortality of local population in no

way.

It is necessary to remember about some negative aspects connected with labor import,

while there may emerge elements of social tension in society (for example, when migrant

workers take all the jobs from local population), international hostility, etc.

For this reason the countries develop a certain Immigration policy. The majority of host

countries use selective approach for immigration regulation. It means that the state doesn't

interfere to entrance of those categories which are necessary for the country, limiting entrance to

those the country doesn’t need at the moment. The list of desirable immigrants varies from the

country to the country, but usually they treat one of the following categories:

- the workers, who are ready to do harmful and dirty jobs for the minimum

payment, which is construction, subsidiary, also seasonal and municipal workers are accepted;

- experts for perspective branches, like programmers, highly specialized engineers,

bank employees;

- representatives of rare professions - gem cutters of diamonds, pictures restorers,

doctors practicing nonconventional methods of treatment;

- experts with a world name – musicians, actors, scientists, athletes, doctors;

- businessmen investing their capital in the accepting the country and creating new

workplaces in it.

Host countries state institutes deal with problems of labor immigration, acting on the

basis of the national legislation, and on the basis of signed bilateral and multilateral agreements.

Usually at least three state institutions are involved in problems solution:

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Pic. 1.1. State institutions involved in solution of labor migration problems [developed by

the author]

In the majority of the countries the entry visa to the immigrant is issued on the basis of

the signed contract with the employer and the Ministry of Labour conclusion whether this kind

of work demands special skills, so it can't be carried out by local workers. In some countries

before issuing the entry visa to the potential immigrant, the employer is obliged to receive the

Internal Affairs Ministry approval.

Standard and legal base for the immigration in the majority of host countries is presented

by a huge number of laws and bylaws. Here are the main lines of the immigration legislation:

Professional qualification. All host countries legislations establish strict requirements to

education level and length of service in the specialty. The minimum requirement to education is

considered to be a full course of high school or technical training college that has to be

confirmed by the corresponding diploma. In most cases this diploma has to be approved or

estimated by regarding compliance of requirements in the host country.

The priority at the employment is usually given to the experts having at least 3-5 years of

length of service in the specialty. Letters of recommendation can be demanded as well.

15

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

the Ministry of Justice

the Ministry of Labour

Page 16: REI Labor Migration

Restrictions of personal character. Certainly, the legislation of host countries imposes

strict requirements to the state of health of the immigrants. The entry to the host country is not

allowed to the addicts, mentally sick people, people infected with virus AIDS.

Immigrants are obliged to submit the certificate of the health condition which is certified

by consular establishment of the host country, or they can also to pass a special medical

examination. The age qualification of the immigrants is established by the legislation and it

depends on the industry they intend to work in. Usually it fluctuates within 20-40 years.

At last, the legislative requirements are extremely strict to persons previously convicted

for criminal offenses, members of terrorist and profascist organizations.

Quantitative quoting. The majority of the countries establish the maximum quantity of

immigrants to accept. Quantitative quotas define the maximum percentage of foreign labor

among all laborforce in the country, also within separate branches, as well as there is also a

restriction on the total number of the immigrants coming to the country within a year.

Quantitative quoting is a very rigid method of immigration regulation and is usually

defined by the relevant laws and watched by law enforcement agencies.

Economic regulation. There are certain financial restrictions that provide the reduction

of immigrants number. For example, in some countries, the legal entities have the right to

employ foreign labour only when they reach a certain volume of sales or when they made certain

payments in state budget.

As well as individuals have the right to immigrate only if they are going to invest in host

country economy the sum of money that is determined by the law, also they have to prove the

legality origins of this money and to create a certain quantity of workplaces for people.

In some countries for registration of immigration and employment, the immigrants even

have to pay. But some privileges are provided for administrative board of corporations and to the

wealthy foreigners, who are going to use work of the locals in a household.

Temporary restrictions. Legislations of most countries establish the maximum terms of

stay to foreign workers on the territory of the country, on which expiration they have to leave the

host country, or they can also receive extension permission from the competent authorities. It is

commom knowledge that for the persons who have status of trainees, or status of students in the

host country, certain tough rules are eshtablished. These rules do not allow to prolong the stay

and demand an obligatory departure home, these rules also require that a student or a trainee

should stay in home-country at least for several years, and only then there is an opportunity to

get the right of arriving to the host country again.

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Geographical priorities. Practically, each country that is accepting immigrants,

legislatively establishes some geographical and national structure of the immigration. It is

usually regulated by means of quantitative quotas on entrance of immigrants from certain

countries. Sometimes, in order to avoid charges in bias and human rights violation, the

governments do lotteries with the right to immigrate for representatives of the different

countries from one geographical region.

Prohibition. There are obvious and hidden prohibitions to employ foreign labor in some

professions. Obvious prohibitions directly show the lists of certain branches and specialties in

which foreigners are prohibited to be engaged. The hidden ones, on the contrary, establish the

lists of branches and specialties, where only citizens can work, thereby blocking the access to

them for foreigners.

Usually, an additional permission is required from the immigrants if there is any

movement, change of specialty or a place of work. It is common knowledge, that the

immigration authorities can refuse to its delivery.

Illegal immigration is certainly crossed by police methods, which, however, are not

always effective. That is why the legislatively sanctions are established. They can be imposed

both on immigrants, and on those who helps them to illegally come to the country and also on

those who employ them. Illegal penetration to the country is considered to be a crime. For those

who break the rules, deportation, fines and imprisonment is provided. The similar crime that is

committed repeatedly is punished by repeated deportation, bigger fine and longer imprisonment

terms.

The employment of an illegal immigrant is also considered to be a crime, so the penalties

provided can be so large, that they sometimes ruin even big firms and enterprises.

The economic effects of immigration are often described as negative ones, while foreign workers

reduce the quantity of workplaces and increase unemployment rates. However, it should be taken

into consideration that immigrants introduce new experience, knowledge and skills. The USA,

Canada and Australia are those countries which were resulted from immigration.

In other countries, migrants develop the whole branches of the economy as well. The

examples are: the Chinese industrial workers in Indonesia and Malaysia, Hong Kong

businessmen in Canada, the Indian and Lebanese businessmen in Africa, the Jordanian and

Palestinian employees in oil-producing countries of the Persian Gulf.

Moreover, in many countries the immigrants usually do jobs, where local population is

not willing to work. Unskilled workers from Turkey and North Africa make 60 to 80% of

immigration to such countries like Germany anf France [20]. Palestinians work hard in Israel,

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Indonesians do in Malaysia, and Bolivians are willingly employed in Argentina. Moreover, some

branches of production wouldn't survive without immigrants. Certainly, it is impossible to deny

that there are some negative consequences of immigration too, and, first of all, the decrease of

real salaries due to the inflow of unskilled labor is among them.

1.2. Classification of the types of international labor migration and migrantsInternational labor migration is labor force movement from a developing country to a

developed one for a temporary employment with a following return to home-country.

The classification of the types of international labor migration can be carried out

according to different types:

1.Irrevocable - at which migrants are on the permanent residence in the host country. This

is a long-term migration and in some countries the foreigner starts being considered as the

immigrant (emigrant) if it is present (or is absent) at the country during the certain period of

time.

2.Temporary - when migration is limited to the term of stay in certain country from 1

year to 6 years. Temporary is a short-term migration and it represents the entrance or departure

connected with the current requirements without changing of nationality and permanent

residence. However in many countries temporary migrants are eliminated by number of seasonal

workers (sometimes quite considerable).

3.Seasonal - a type of migration which is a short-term (usually within a year) for work in

such branches of economy that has seasonal nature and seasonal jobs (agricultural, tourism,

services sector).

4.Pendular - the type of migration connected with daily moving from one country to

another and then back.  

5.Illegal - illegal migration means entry into the country and looking for a job while not

having a permit to work, also arrival on legal grounds and then with the following illegal

employment.

6."Brain drain" - is the unilateral migration of scientific and technical professionals to

mainly industrialized countries conducting to loss of qualified specialists of the donor countries

(scientists, sport "stars"). This is the process of mass emigration at which different experts,

scientists and skilled workers leave the country because of political, economic, religious or any

other reasons.

So, from the neutral point of view it is quite possible to consider that countries from

which there is a leakage of proffesionals have a very considerable economic, cultural, and

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sometimes even political damage, while on the contrary, the countries that accepting specialists

emigrants acquire the huge and cheap intellectual capital. There is a similar process of exporting

financial capital abroad which is called drain of capital.

There are various reasons of labor migration. It can be some features of society and life,

ecological factors, a difficult political situation and others. In most cases the migrant can not

simply support himself and his family so all that compels them to travel in search of worthy

earnings worldwide. In certain cases these skilled experts seek to reach the maximum career

development and then go abroad.

Nevertheless, the economic reasons of labor migration are on the first place. It is a fact

that only some dominating countries own the most of world resources, while „third countries”

are doomed to poverty. Such situation makes migrants go abroad and look for earnings. Not

every government takes measures of regulation of labor migration at the state level, so probably

the solution of this problem won’t appear soon.

Migrants are classified in accordance with International Labour Organization:

Table 2.1. Classification of Migrants, 5 main types [developed by the author]

Types of Migrants Their characteristics

1.Unskilled and low-skilled workers 1. Labour activity on contract which clearly

stipulates allowed period of staying in the country,

usually applied to part time workers

2. Teaching staff and students 2. Businesses with a high level of

theoretical and practical training with an

appropriate education

3. Illegal migrants 3. Foreigners with an expired tourist visa

engaged in labor activities

4. Immigrants 4. People who moved to permanent

residence

5. Refugees 5. People who are forced to emigrate from

their countries due to any threat to their lives and

activities

International statistics show that while the bunch of migrant workers are low-skilled ones,

they are employed in industry and agriculture. However, there is a constantly increasing flow of

migrant experts - higly skilled workforce employed in prestigious and well-paid positions.

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CHAPTER 2. ECONOMIC RESEARCH, COSTS AND BENEFITS ESTIMATION

2.1. Main centers of labor emigration and immigration

Labor migration has a rich history, which ascends by the time of Great Geographical

Discoveries when Europeans started developing new lands and first of all the American and

Australian continent. However the movement of labor had a resettlement character. Originally

Great Britain, Spain and Holland wanted to move socially dangerous people like robbers and

tyrants to new lands.

Then later there was an organized settling of the American and Australian continents,

which proceeded till 30th of the 20th century.

After the World War II the labor market was created. Formation and development of

labor market is connected with migration of workforce from one country to another for

temporary jobs.

The main centers of labor immigration are countries of the American continent, first of all

the USA, Canada, and also Australia.

In modern world there are some new centers of labor immigration. These are the

countries of the European Union where depopulation exists (i.e. mortality exceeds birth rate) and

where the extinction of the nations is observed (Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Austria).

Also, the important centers of labor migration are OPEC member countries, where the

highest percent of foreign labor in the oil-extracting industry is located. There is about 50% of

foreign workers in oil production in Saudi Arabia, about 80% in Kuwait and the United Arab

Emirates and also it is about 90% in Oman.

One more center of labor immigration is formed in a number of the countries of Latin

America, where the workforce is needed for new industrial states, so the countries of Latin

America attract people with technical education.

The immigration authorities dispatch a certain allotment to the consulates abroad. This

allotment includes the indication of professions which should be selected among the applicants

for labor migration.

The USA is looking for programmers, chemical engineers, physicists-mathematicians.

The most tough immigration rules are established by Australia. Besides the psychological and

professional testing, applicants are exposed to additional medical examination.

The main centers of a labor migration are multioccupied countries: China, Pakistan,

India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, African countries.

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According to the International Labour Organization there are over 130 million of labor

migrants all over the world though about 40% of foreign workers don't pass official registration

in countries of residence so these statistics aren't considered.

According to the report of UN Department on economic and social problems from

September 11, 2013, the number of migrants worldwide made 232 million people or 3,2% of the

Earth population. The world largest migratory corridors became Mexico - the USA from 13

million migrating ( the dates are for January - August, 2013), Russia - Ukraine from 3,5 million,

Ukraine - Russia from 2,9 million, and also Kazakhstan - Russia from 2,5 million [20].

USA

Russia

Germany

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Great Britain

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Pic. 2.1. Top 6 countries with the highest number of immigrants (2013)

[developed by the author with use of data 20]

Though official data on population shift does not always show a full picture of the events.

So, officially the trainees and students who arrived to other country for training aren't considered

as migrants, as well as tourists, which came to the country on a tourist visa and try to illegally

find a job. Also, usually nobody considers those migrants who aren't registered, despite the fact

that the purpose of their entrance is often employment in the country.

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As a rule, the international immigrants are young and healthy people. Most of migrants

(about 74% of total number) are in working-age (which is from 20 to 64 years), in comparison

with less than 57% of the total number of a world's population [5, p.71].

Thus, host countries usually receive essential benefits from the inflow of able-bodied and

qualified migrants, especially when their qualification is considered and involved. Therefore, the

involvement of young and talented migrants becomes an important political task in many parts of

the world. Though migration of the qualified labor and experts with the higher education brings

benefits to host countries, it can also have negative consequences for development in countries of

origin.

These negative consequences can be especially bad for those countries which face a

serious shortage of qualified personnel, and also for those ones with rather small amount of

population. At the same time, remittances continue to be an important help for families and a

steady source of foreign currency in many developing countries.

The InterNations.org portal conducted a research among 14000 emigrants of different

nationalities to find out what countries of the world are the best immigrate in. Respondents of

165 nationalities from 169 countries of the world took part in this poll.

So, these are top-10 countries for immigration:

1. Ecuador

2. Luxembourg

3. Mexico

4. Switzerland

5. USA

6. Singapore

7. Spain

8. Philippine Islands

9. Australia

10. Hong Kong [18].

In this rating Germany took the 12th place, Canada the 14th, Great Britain is on the 21st,

while Russia is on the 54th place. Quite high position is also taken by the Czech Republic, which

has the 17th place. By drawing up a rating, the respondents estimated a complex of criteria:

simplicity of arrangement in the country, the level of income, possibilities of employment,

quality of life and education.

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Ecuador is one the first place of this rating thanks to the "level of the income" position.

Most of the emigrants, who live in this South American country, are quite happy with the

financial position at the expense of a favorable ratio of level of salaries and life expenses.

The other important factor is the level of satisfaction with the life in general. Moving in

Ecuador does happy 44% of people, and almost all of them have a plan to remain there for the

rest of the life. One more good criteria is that week work on the average lasts only 34 hours.

If Ecuador is the country of happy immigrants, Luxembourg is a dream country for

careerists. 64% migrants in Luxembourg, according to InterNations, moved there because of the

career opportunities. People find jobs independently in Luxembourg, without the aid of agencies

or the translation in the company.

However, immigration to Luxembourg is not a long-term one: only 28% of migrants

want to remain there for a long time. The others just plan to work the contract and then leave.

The striking contrast with Ecuador is evident, while Luxembourg took only the 50th place from

61 on the level of personal happiness. Besides, many immigrants complain that it is hard to make

friends in Luxembourg and the situation for visitors is not the most hospitable one. And still,

almost all of them consider that housing in Luxembourg is too expensive.

91% of immigrants in Mexico are happy with their life, 44% of them intend to remain

there for the rest of the life. The reason of moving to Mexico most often is employment or

romantic relations with the inhabitants of this warm country [18].

To sum it up, according to InterNations, the best countries for labor immigration are

Norway, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. The first ten countries with good opportunities

of employment are also Austria, Denmark and Sweden.

Moldova as an example of labor export country

The Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence in 1991. Being independent, the

country of Moldova initiated some economic and social reforms in order to transit to the market

economy. Some relevant changes were achieved, but in spite of the initial estimates, the expected

results weren’t attained. Moreover, it led to deepening economic crisis, a catastrophic living

standards decline, and insecurity. Emigration of a large part of able-bodied workforce has

diminished country human resources considerably. Every year more and more experts, doctors,

scientific researchers, school teachers and academics leave the country in search for a better

place to live.

The reason for this “brain drain” is poverty first of all. For example, in 2002, the rural

poor counted for 72.6 of the very poor inhabitants of the country [7, p.348].

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In 2002, over 40% of the country population lived below the poverty threshold. This

generated some serious social and economic problems, from fall in the natural birth to growth

rates of massive migration, which was about 35-40% of total economically active population [7,

p.349].

Among European NIS countries, Moldova has one of the highest levels of emigration.

According to the data from the Department of Migration, between 1990 and 2003 years,

the total number of people who left Moldova and went to foreign countries for the purpose of

work was about 600,000, or 37% of economically active population [19].

Moreover, some experts consider these numbers to be much higher than figures that are

given in national statistics, because a lot of citizens have left their country with soviet passports

of the former USSR, so a tourist visa, illegally remaining abroad when their visas expired. The

destinations Moldavian citizens were going to are listed below:

-Italy

-Turkey

-Estonia

-Greece

-Portugal

-Israel

-Romania.

Nowadays, the national bureau of statistics informs that the living wage for a person in

2014 averaged 1627 lei a month, which is 0,9% more than in 2013.

The population expenses in 2014 averaged 1816 lei a month for a person, having

increased by 2,3% in comparison with 2013 [19].

Yet, pensioners and other socio-vulnerable segments of the population do not have at

least these 1627 lei which is a living wage for a person. Some of these people can’t work and

don’t have any help from relatives or friends, so they have to put up with their miserable

lifestyle, while many of them choose to ask for money in the streets. While they do not have any

opportunity to earn money to sustain themselves, they have to hold out. Yet, there is also able-

bodied population, willing to work and looking for the best opportunities. Unfortunately, most of

them find these opportunities somewhere far away from home-country, because whether there

are no suitable jobs in Moldova, whether the employers pay so little, that the workers can not

afford to have a comfortable life and they can’t provide their families with things.

This is the reason Moldova is on the 6 place among the countries of the CIS by number of

the migrants who went to the territory of the Russian Federation for the purpose of work. This

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information is announced by officials of Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation.

By data for April 2015, there are 553,2 thousand of Moldovan citizens in Russia. This is 5,1%

from the total quantity of migrants there [19].

Usually, a Schengen visa or a tourist visa, or also an invitation is needed to emigrate.

There are more than about 300 private agencies in Moldova, providing people with such

services, but actually, they are only contributing to “brain drain” and labor emigration.

A lot of people, who have left the country for tourism purposes, often remain abroad

illegally, looking for work. While working abroad, people get used to high salaries and better

life, so coming home and getting 2000 – 3000 MDL salary doesn’t suit them. At the same time,

many people leave their families in Moldova, but send them currency means from abroad, which

are remittances.

social privileges 20,2%other income 21,9% (including remittances 17,6%)income from property 0,1%activity for payment 41,6%individual economic activity 9,5%individual non-economic activity 6,6%

Pic. 2.2. Sources of Moldavians’ income, 2012 [developed by the author with the data 19]

Remittances are an important source for people's budget. On the average, it represents

17,6% from the total income, so it's 0,3% more in comparison with 2013 [19].

The emigration of Moldavian skilled workers and professionals destabilizes the internal

labour market, as well as creates some serious difficulties for Moldova’s accession to the

European Union. At the same time while working in another countries, the citizens of Moldova

gain the necessary skills for working in a market economy.

Emigration is also considered to be a financial resource for the national economy, and a

mean for maintaining the stability of national currency.

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Although, the labor export has some positive effects for the country’s problems, the

officials become more and more aware that labor migration, especially illegal one, impedes the

stabilization of Moldova’s labor market and leads to decreasing revenue in terms of social funds.

High unemployment rates in Moldova are not only because of a large number of young

people who can not find a job, but also because of those people, who have been made redundant

due to the company restructuring or insolvencies.

So, the intellectual exodus from Moldova has the following causes:

- the economic crisis and unfavourable business environment

- political instability

- poverty and unemployment

- the lack of jobs, that correspond to young people’s qualifications

- limited opportunities to the young

- limited social protection

- low salaries, as well as and payment delays

- low living standards

- limited access to education and health care services.

Lack of jobs still remains the most important factor that determines “brain drain”, even in

those periods when some economic growth is registered.

The analysis of brain drain, that has been increasing in the country of Moldova, leads to

the conclusion, that a huge number of institutional measures are needed in order to reduce the

emigration of intellectual labor force.

Here are some recommendations at the institutional level:

1. To optimize working conditions of scientific researches, teachers and recent graduates

from higher institutions;

2. To stimultae employees by providing them with supplementary income and bonuses

in accordance with their results.

And at the national level:

1. To improve the normative framework in Moldova that regards to its intellectual labor

force;

2. European integration, which will benefit to economic reforms and social protection;

3. To implement certain state programs that ensure economy growth and poverty

reduction;

4. To strengthen the infrastructure that is connected with social services in order to help

people with low income;

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5. To fight against corruption at all levels;

6. To introduce an effective mechanism that will locate employment for graduate

students.

To sum it up, Moldova’s progress towards a better future is possible only through a huge

socio-economic transformation, which is going to lead to a market economy, free initiative and

competition. Social problems of the last decade have considerably worsened the population

living standards. If as much as possible activities are centered on living standarts improvement,

“brain drain” will be directly reduced.

Also, the political stability and efficient government should also help to reverse the

phenomenon of “brain drain” from the Republic of Moldova.

Persian Gulf countries as an example of labor import countries

By the end of the XX century, some new world labor markets were added to the

traditional immigration centers like the USA, Canada and Australia.

These are oil-producing countries of the Middle East, Argentina and Venezuela in Latin

America, as well as the richest African states.

According to the UN, 12,8 million foreigners live today in six coastal Gulf States -

Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman. In general, their number

makes 34-40% of all population of this subregion of the Middle East and nearly 70% of its

laborforce [20].

Country Nationals Non-nationals

Bahrain 527,433 511,864

Kuwait 1,023,316 2,159,644

Oman 1,781,558 559,357

Qatar 122,779 543,730

Saudi Arabia 16,527,340 6,150,922

United Arab Emirates 825,495 3,280,932

Table 2.2. Population of Gulf States (2013) [21]

However, for monarchy of the Persian Gulf this high percent of immigrants among

economically active population is very beneficial. Meanwhile, oil-extracting monarchy of the

Middle East has considerable problems connected with inflow of foreign workers.

So the governments of these countries are taking measures in order to decrease

unemployment rates among citizens.

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This is done by the programs of labor nationalization, replacement of foreign workers

with locals (so-called programs "omanization, "saudization", "emiratization", etc.).

Oman Saudi Arabia

Bahrain

Kuwait

Qatar

UAE

Pic. 2.3. Labor immigrants in Gulf States [21]

Today, by different estimates, foreigners make about 18% of the population of Oman,

30% of the population of Saudi Arabia, about 33% of the population of Bahrain, more than 50%

of the population of Kuwait, about 80% of the population of Qatar, 90% of the population of the

United Arab Emirates (the statistics in general doesn't reflect illegal immigration as a result of

which the number of migrants considerably exceeds official data).

Table 2.2. National and Non-National Employed Persons – Kingdom of Bahrain [21]

Year No. of

National

Employed Persons

No. of

Non-National

Employed persons

Total Percentage

of National

Employed Persons

2011 122,333 244,192 366,625 33

2010 129,210 273,107 402,317 32

2012 130,129 309,045 439,174 30

2013 140,096 365,670 505,766 28

The visitors in Gulf States are, first of all, labor immigrants. In total, they make more

than 35% of labor in Saudi Arabia, 44% of labor in Bahrain (informally 50-60%), 80% of labor

in Kuwait, about 90% in Qatar, more than 90% in the United Arab Emirates. Indicator in Oman

is 24% (due to successful omanization programs).

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Labor demand in these countries is caused by such factors as shortage of qualified

specialists and the restrictions on women employment (among all the citizens participating in

economic activity, women make 2-10%) [21].

Inflow of immigrants is also stimulated due to development of infrastructure in the

Persian Gulf, as well as increase in demand for durable goods, education services and health

care. Foreign workers are mainly occupied in private sector, while citizens generally work in

public sector of the economy (sphere of finance, oil production, telecommunication

technologies), so it is possible for locals to receive high income and privileges. Work in the

private sector is less prestigious.

Asians make more than a half (about 65%) of immigrants in the Persian Gulf, the others

are generally Arabs. India is on the first place considering the number of immigrants from the

Asian countries, while there are 4,5-5,0 milliom labor immigrants there, including 1,8 million in

the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan is on the second place - about 2 million people, then there are

Egyptians - about 1,5 million, citizens of Philippines - 1,1 million, Yemen - more than 1 million,

Bangladesh - 1,0-1,8 million, including about 700 thousand in the United Arab Emirates, Sri

Lanka - about 600 thousand, Indonesia [21].

In Saudi Arabia the share of Arabs in the foreign population makes about 38%, in Kuwait

– 34%. In Qatar this indicator makes from 20 to 25% (Jordanians, Palestinians, Egyptians), in the

United Arab Emirates – 10-11% (generally Egyptians, Jordanians, Palestinians), there are less

than 10% of Arab immigrants in Oman and Bahrain [21].

Besides, despite the high level of control of labor immigration, the large number of illegal

immigrants get to the Gulf States. Annually there are from 350 thousand to 400 thousand illegal

immigrants, that come to UAE.

Proceeding from the data stated above, it is possible to conclude that the United Arab

Emirates is one of the most important center of labor immigration today. More than 50% of the

country population are citizens of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar. Recently, the

problem of illegal immigration appeared in the United Arab Emirates. Violation of foreign

workers’ rights is also one of the most widespread problems of the Arabian monarchy. It often

happens that employers take the immigrants’ passports away, as well as a third to a half of

earnings. Therefore, an active policy of toughening migration measures is conducted in United

Arabic Emirates.

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2.2. Influence of the international labor migration on labor market

Emigration as well as immigration render contradictory consequences both for the donor

countries, and for the recipient countries, because the international migration of labor has

contradictory impact on these countries. It must be kept in mind that international labor

migration is a not only economic, but it is also a difficult political, social and economic

phenomenon. It considerably influences the structure of workforce for both donor and recipient

countries, it aslo creates a new situation in labor markets, introduces many changes (and not only

positive ones) in social and political life of many host countries.

Table 2.4. Number of workers deployed by destination, 2012 [5, p.30]

Destination Males Females Both sides

Middle East

Qatar 5.945 136 6.081

UAE 7.409 899 8.308

Israel 7.655 481 8.136

Libyan Arab 8.087 3 8.090

Other 8.035 1.450 9.485

Asia

Hong Kong,

China

82 2.929 3.011

India 2.787 396 3.183

Malaysia 2.476 1.163 3.630

Singapore 12.264 455 12.719

Other

Finland

Sweden

Other

4.744

Europe

1.599

2.913

2.291

682

353

416

2.156

5.426

1.952

3.329

4.447

Total 66.290 11.519 77.797

Immigration, in particular, can cause a number of the problems connected with ethnic,

racial, religious and cultural differences of immigrants from indigenous people. As we can see in

table 2.4. there is totally different workforce structure in different countries, primary because of

religion, beliefs and cultural particular qualities.

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This identifies that in some countries women have to work less and do not need to work

at all, and all jobs are taken by men. The examples of such and other features are practically in

all host countries.

The international migration has economic consequences for both recipient country and

for the sending country. In the USA and Australia it is generally considered that the host

country wins, eventually the other countries have a different view on this situation. The opinions

about the benefits of migration differ depending on the type of migrants (whether it’s qualified or

unskilled labor), it also depends on the condition of labor market in the sending and recipient

countries.

About 70% of their universal volume of remittances are the share of 20 largest countries

recipients (in 2012 - 69%, in 2013 - 68%). In recent years about a third of global volume of

remittances are from India, China, Philippines and Mexico. In 2012-2013 more than 60 billion

US dollars came to India and China [8, p.151].

In year of 2013 the list of the countries with the highest rate of remittances are: India (71

billion US dollars), China (60 billion US dollars), as well as other developing countries -

Philippines (26 billion US dollars), Mexico (22 billion US dollars), Nigeria (21 billion US

dollars) and Egypt (21 billion US dollars) [pic.2.4.]. These countries have more than a half

(53%) of all the money transfers sent to developing countries worldwide.

India

China

Philippines

Mexico

Nigeria

France

Egypt

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Germany

Belgium

Spain

Vietnam

South Corea

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Pic. 2.4. 12 recipient countries with the biggest amount of remittances in 2013 [6, p.58]

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Along with it, the largest recipient countries of money transfers among developed ones

are: France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and South Korea, - to which these financial streams come

generally from the other developed countries. However, being powerful on the absolute value,

these means are insignificant for these countries in relation to the volume of the gross domestic

product (GDP), making from 0,4 to 0,8% of the GDP and only in Belgium more significant size

– 2,1% of GDP [6, p.93].

In developing countries, remittances sent by emigrants, on the contrary, are very essential

in comparison with the total amount of GDP [pic.2.5.]. The money transfers which are sent by

migrants to Tajikistan are equivalent to nearly a half of GDP, in Kyrgyzstan it is almost a third,

in Nepal and Moldova it is nearly a quarter.

Tajikistan 48,1%

Kyzgyzstan 31,4%

Nepal 24,7%

Moldova 24,5%

Armenia 21,4%

Liberia 20,4%

Livan 17%

Cosovo 17%

Salvador 16,5%

Gonduras 15,7%

Gambia 15,4%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Pic. 2.5. 12 countries with the greatest relative volume of remittances in 2012, % of GDP

of the respective countries [6, p.62]

Besides already listed countries - the former federal republics of the USSR, this group

aslo includes Armenia and Georgia [2.6.]. The volume of remittances to Armenia exceeds 20%

of GDP and to Georgia - 10% of GDP. The volume of money transfers to other former federal

republics of the USSR doesn't reach 5% of GDP.

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Tajikistan 48,1%Kyrgyzstan 31,4%

Moldova 24,5%Armenia 21,4%Georgia 11,1%

Ukraine 4,8%Lithuania 3,6%

Azeyrbadzhan 2,9%Latvia 2,8%

Estonia 1,7%Belorussia 1,6%

Russia 0,3%Kazahstan 0,1%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Pic. 2.6. Remittances to the former federal republics of the USSR in 2012, % of GDP of

the respective countries [6, p. 64]

* Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan - no data.

To put it in a nutshell, India, China and Mexico become undisputed leaders. Money

transfers to China and to India continued to accrue quickly. Growth remittances to Philippines

proceeded, but it was more moderate.

2.3. Costs and benefits of international labor migration

The immigration plays a key role in the development of the states, it also has an essential

impact on the population. Here are distinguished the key parameters of the population of the

country:

1. Ethnic structure.

2. Age and sexual structure.

3. Number.

4. Dynamics.

Each immigrant who arrived to the country (both legal and illegal) has a considerable

impact on all these parameters. Such countries as the USA and Canada were founded almost

completely thanks to the immigration. However, the history remembers some cruel oppositions

between early and late waves of the immigration. It’s enough to remember about the USA in the

end of the 19th century. At that time so-called "indigenous" Americans who arrived to the

continent slightly earlier, clashed with the immigrants arriving to the USA from Ireland.

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Practice showed that if the immigration is taken under control, each immigrant will be

able to bring benefit to the state. For example, as it was made in Germany and Israel, where there

are some effective programs of repatriation, and every migrant returns home regardless of

capacity and age.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of immigration in such countries as Australia

and New Zealand. The governments of these countries constantly invite foreigners to immigrate

for the purpose of receiving residence permit and nationality, with the subsequent legal

employment. By itself, the government invites to immigrate so the called "white" immigrants,

who are going to work officially and constantly pay taxes.

It goes without saying that immigration has a lot of positive influence on host countries.

It is written much about the process of "brain drain", which for example, benefits for economy of

the USA. It is enough to tell that 40% of immigrants who came to the USA in the 80th are

doctors of science in the engineering field and computer disciplines. Also, 25% of technical

disciplines teachers in institutes are immigrants too. In the nineties more than 11 million

immigrants lived in the USA. By estimates, they earned $240 billion a year. Thus they paid

taxes of $90 billion a year.

It’s clear that the return from immigrants is very high, even if we think only in the terms

of money. Let alone the contribution which is made by highly skilled immigrants in

development of science, medicine and arts, which is immeasurably higher.

As well as any social phenomenon, migration has the its costs and benefits. Emigration

reduces pressure upon sending country labor market, while reducing unemployment. Labor

migrants, as a rule, send a considerable part of the earned money home, providing remittances.

Migration gives the chance of using the educational potential of the qualified foreign workers

without any costs of preparation to the recipient country. Lower all the costs and benefits will

considered in more details.

Positive consequences for recipient countries:

One of the positive consequences of foreign labor inflow for recipient countries is that the

foreign labor is qualified and this recipient country didn't spend neither financial means, nor

school hours for workforce preparation and education. Moreover, there is an economy on salaries

too, while foreign workers are usually paid less than native workers.

Also, foreign workers participate in the creation of economic product in the country of

residence. At the same time there is another positive factor too, while the capacity of domestic

market of consumer goods extends at the expense of the immigrants.

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In a number of economically developed states and, first of all, in the European Union

countries, the migrants are quite often engaged in unskilled types of work on low-wages. To earn

the money these people do some not really prestigious jobs, they work like builders and general

workers, are engaged in service industry, public catering, public transport. So this helps to fill the

vacancies in some branches of the economy, that are not very prestigious.

Attraction of poorly educated, unskilled labor creates the opportunity for local population

to be engaged in a more intellectual work.

Here are more positive consequences for recipient countries:

Pic. 2.7. Positive consequences of labor migration for recipient countries [developed by the

author]

There are some negative consequences for recipient countries too:

It happens that mass inflow of foreign workers complicates unemployment rates, housing

problems and makes the general level of salaries lower. Due to that there is a discontent of

indigenous people and emergence of the social tension elements. Here comes the emergence of

discrimination in relation to foreigners and international hostility.

Recently, the illegal labor migration increases. The illegal immigrants are trying to

remain in the host country as much as it is possible, especially after their employment contracts

end. The worst part of is that sometimes they are involved in shadow economy, including traffic

in arms and drugs.

Illegal immigration is the worst factor in consideration about the costs and benefits the

country may have. Illegal migration doesn’t have a good influence on the budget of any state.

35

while there are more people working in certain branches of the economy and the production costs are reduced

In c r e a s in g t h e c o m p e ti ti v e n e s s

o f p r o d u c ti o n

while migrants work and benefit the economic situation, they also pay taxes to the government. Foreign workers aren't provided with pensions and not considered at implementation of social programs.

In c r e a s in g in t a x r e v e n u e s

immigration also provides some rejuvenation of the population, as the average age of migrants most often is less, than the age of indigenous people. To that, immigrants usually have more children.

Im p r o v e m e n t o f a d e m o g r a p h ic

s i t u a ti o n

Page 36: REI Labor Migration

This is why the public regularly demands to reconsider and toughen the immigration laws. The

foreigners who illegally crossed the border and who are informally employed, don't bear any

advantage to the country but on the contrary, bring notable losses.

From year to year the migrants are taking home loads of cash which they earned illegaly

in the host country. And these indicators are only growing, while the foreigners continue to

immigrate.

It’s self-evident that phenomenon of illegal immigration needs to be considered more

carefully, while it’s important to know the reasons of it and the consequences it may bring to

host countries.

Pic. 2.8. Negative consequences of labor migration for recipient countries [developed by

the author]

Illegal migration is a type migration that violates the migratory legislation of a country.

There are the following categories of illegal migrants:

- the foreigners going to the country or being in its territory already without any

identification papers or in some cases with counterfeit documents.

- the migrants who illegally crossed the border of the state

- the foreign citizens who are at the territory of the state with an expired visa

- the foreign students who didn't leave the country on the expiration of their study

- the workers with expired employment contracts.

36

the mass inflow of foreign labor complicates the moral and cultural environment. It happens because migrants have absolutely another culture, religion, beliefs, customs, traditions and mentality.

M o ra l a n d cu ltu ra l

e n v iro n m e n t

migration is usually followed by strengthening of unemployment and lowering of the general level of salaries, while the immigrants are ready to work for a low wage.

U n e m p lo ym e n t, lo w e rin g le ve l o f

sa la rie s

they don't pay taxesthey use medical care which is paid by the citizens of the countrythey send their children to school which is also at the citizens’ expensethey also reduce wage standards, thus taking local citizens workplaces

Ille ga l im m igra ti o n

Page 37: REI Labor Migration

Children which were born by foreign illegal citizens in the territory of the state. This

point depends on the legislation of the state, for example in Russia the child becomes a citizen if

at least one parent is Russian. If both parents are foreigners, their child can become Russian

citizen, but it will be refused in nationality of its parents home-country.

It is well known that the main factor of illegal immigration is the intention to live a better

life, to maintain one’s family and to get away from the poverty. At the same time, there are some

migrants who attempt to avoid criminal liability (especially when using false identification

papers).

It is obvious that illegal immigration has negative consequences for host countries. First

of all, the migrants create an extremely low standard of labor relations with the employers who

are hiring them. Moreover, they violate some house rules because of the overpopulation of

occupied living spaces, as illegal immigrants are trying to save their money on rent. Because of

the fact that migrant workers are all the time far away from their families, trying to earn some

money, they destruct their families too.

Illegal migrants do not pay taxes, however they use medical services in public medical

institutions, their children attend public schools, thus the expenses of municipalities on law

enforcement increase.

The consequences of illegal immigration for host countries:

USA. It is a huge problem of illegal immigration in the USA. By official estimates there

are more than 13 million (informal it is about 40 million) illegal migrants in the country. There

are two categories of illegal immigrants there: first of all there are those migrants who arrived

legally, and then remained in the USA with expired visas, also there are those who crossed

country borders illegally. Most of the illegal migrants got to the USA through the southern

border with Mexico, so generally from the country of Mexico and other countries of Latin

America.

Australia. The number of legal migrants grows annually on 300 thousand people, while

the quantity of illegal migrants decreasеs by 9% annually.

Japan. Japan has a low level of legal immigration and there is almost no illegal

immigration there.

China. 8 million of people legally work in China, illegal migrants are generally from

Pakistan and India.

South Korea. 2 million migrants are working in the country, they are generally from

China and India.The amount of illegal migrants is about 3 000 000 people, and they are generally

from the Arab countries, China and Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

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Europe. Migrants from Africa are the special problem for European continent. The

migrants from Africa are looking for a better life on the European continent, they pay a lot of

money for the transportation through the Mediterranean Sea, but however they don’t always

reach the continent because it often happens that they sink or perish from exhaustion.

Switzerland. On September 24, 2006 at the referendum in Switzerland, two thirds of

inhabitants (which is about 70%) supported the decision of immigration restriction. So the laws

became a barrier to those who want to get a higher standart of living under the pretext of a

political asylum. At the same time, the accession to the Schengen agreement, which came into

force on January 1, 2007 can prevent the decision of Switzerland inhabitants and will create

certain opportunities for people interested to remain in the country [9, p.46].

It differs from when states are welcoming the experts from other countries. For example,

Australia and Canada have developed systems which facilitate the entrance of experts from

developing countries as immigrants. In order to entry into the USA, it is allowed to receive

temporary visas rather easily if they are requested by the local employer. As we can see illegal

immigrants don't bring any benefits to the host country, only losses. While legal imigrants are

welcomed and appreciated in the host country.

The international labor migration has positive and negative consequences for sending

countries too. The positive ones are:

Pic. 2.9. Positive consequences of labor migration for sending countries [developed by the

author]

38

Emigration reduces socio-political intensity in society, thus partially decreasing unemployment and social tension in the country

R e l a ti v e b a l a n c e o f d o m e s ti c l a b o r

m a r k e t

Migrants send foreign currency transfers to maintain their families. This became an important source of foreign currency in the country

R e m i tt a n c e s

When migrants come back home,the yuse the production culture from abroad, they also gain new abilities and knowledge which after they apply in their home country.

K n o w l e g e a n d a b i l i ti e s

a c q u i s i ti o n

Page 39: REI Labor Migration

Remittances became an important factor of foreign currency inflow to the donor country.

For example, in Pakistan the remittances from labor migrants exceeded by $5 billion a year.

People's Republic of China carries out an organized labor emigration, earning on it more than $2

billion a year [15, p.83].

Negative consequences:

Pic. 2.10. Negative consequences of labor migration for sending countries [developed by

the author]

Despite the Convention on protection of migrant workers adopted by the ILO, the social

protection of the foreign workers leaves to wish a lot of the best. Small wonder that the amount

of money that migrants are paid is less than native people get, even if they do the same job as

quickly and qualitatively. Also, foreign workers are often considered as of little worth and so

they are the first ones that can be dismissed in case of crises and unemployment.

Another negative consequences that are possible for donor countries can be decrease

of qualification of hired migrant workers, while they are working like handymen abroad.

39

Outflow of workforce

There is an outflow of workforce at most working-age, thus a large part workforce distracts from national production and doesn't participate in the creation of GDP

"Brain Drain"

The greater part of workers who positively proved themselves in foreign firms, decide to stay in foreign country more or remain there on permanent residence.Thus the donor country loses a certain part of the qualified labor.

Moral upset for donor country population

Successfully settled migrants act like a moral upset for a certain part of the population, which representatives work on the homeland with the same return of forces and professional knowledge, but receive a lower salary and less opportunities to grow and to build upon the success.

Page 40: REI Labor Migration

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Labor migration represents the resettlement of able-bodied population from one state into

the other mainly caused by economic reasons and is divided into emigration (departure) and

immigration (entrance). Labor migration conducts to alignment of wage levels in various

countries.

As a result of migration the total volume of world production increases due to more

effective use of workforce and its intercountry redistribution. Another positive economic effect

which is caused by migration is the growth of migrants’ income, money transfers home

(remittances), which resulting the decrease in costs of production in these countries getting

money transfers.

The developed countries are considered as the main direction for immigration, and

developing ones are the emigration source.

State regulation of international labor market is carried out on the basis of the national

legislation of the host countries and the countries exporting workforce, also on the basis of

interstate agreements between them. This regulation is carried out through adoption of certain

programs which are directed on restriction of foreign labor inflow (immigration) or on

stimulation of immigrants to homecoming (reemigration). The majority of host countries usually

use selective approach for immigration regulation.

Elimination of undesirable immigrants is carried out on the basis of requirements

imposed to migrants’ qualification, education, state of health, age, on the basis of quantitative

and geographical quoting, temporary and other restrictions. Stimulation of reemigration is

carried out through payment of compensations to the leaving migrants, the creation of

workplaces, rendering an economic help to the countries of mass emigration.

International Organizations for migration, donor countries and host countries improve the

legislation, the regulation mechanism of migratory processes, being guided by the principles of

freedom and democracy, also taking into account certain national interests.

International Labour Organization is an unigue one with the respect that, representatives

of workers and businessmen possess equal number of votes with representatives of the

governments. One of its most important functions consists in the adoption of conventions and

recommendations establishing the international labor standards in such areas as freedom of

associations, salaries, duration of the working day, social insurance, paid holidays, labor

protection, hiring services and working inspection.

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The main reason for this research was a need to understand and distinguish the costs and

benefits of international labor migration. Certain analyses concerning the main reasons and

consequences of migration as for the accepting and sending countries were carried out.

So as it was shown above, the international labor migration arises because of a certain

contrast in levels of economic and social development of the states. At the same time, the world

practice shows that labor migration provides undoubted advantages to the countries both

importing workforce, and exporting it. But thus arise certain social and economic issues.

Nowadays there are a lot of positive consequences of labor migration like reduction of

unemployment , remittances from emigrants which is a huge benefit for donor countries, while it

is an additional source of the currency income, and also migrants get knowledge and experience

after working in a foreign country. As a rule, when migrants are coming home, they invest

earned money into own business, thus creating additional workplaces.

Among the negative consequences of labor migration it is necessary to remember about

the desire to hide the gained income, the phenomenon of "brain drain", and sometimes even th

edecrease of working migrants’ qualification.

Also, one of the features characterizing a modern stage of migratory processes consists in

significant increase of illegal migration. Many countries regulate the inflow of foreign labor in a

legislative way, so far the illegal penetration through the borders strongly increased. Thus,

illegality of labor migration became a world problem. The other aspect of this problem consists

in the fact that the illegal workers represent the cheapest workforce.

So, labor migration is an integral attribute of modern labor market. Also, labor migration

positively affects many aspects of the economy like softening the problems of employment and

creating additional workplaces, increasing productivity and efficiency of work.

In turn, the import country faces the deterioration of demographic situation, deficiency of

professional labor and the growth of inflation because of workforce outflow. However, the

decrease of unemployment and investments into the donor country economy will promote the

improvement of economic indicators. The convergence of compensation levels in the donor

countries and the recipient countries can reconcile these ambiguous consequences of labor

migration. Similar levels of salaries smooth and harmonize the costs and benefits of labor

migration, gradually leveling economic development of the countries.

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