18th December is International Migration Day
Migration may contribute to sustainable economic growth

Ranjan K Baruah *

Due to poverty people search for better livelihood opportunity and one word that comes to our mind in this regard is migration. Throughout human history, migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a better life. Though this may be in a legal way or illegal way migration has been there since ages.

People from poor country try to move out to other countries in search of better opportunity and there are always controversies related to illegal migration. Today, globalization, together with advances in communications and transportation, has greatly increased the number of people who have the desire and the capacity to move to other places.

The term migration may have different definitions in different countries. It might be confusing some time as the definition according to UN convention may not fit everywhere. The term migrant can be understood as “any person who lives temporarily or permanently in a country where he or she was not born, and has acquired some significant social ties to this country.”

However, this may be a too narrow definition when considering that, according to some states’ policies; a person can be considered as a migrant even when s/he is born in the country. The UN Convention on the Rights of Migrants defines a migrant worker as a “person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national.” But when it comes to India we often use the term migrant or migrant labour when a person from one state moves to another in search of livelihoods.

According to International Migration Report 2015 the number of international migrants worldwide has continued to grow rapidly over the past fifteen years reaching 244 million in 2015, up from 222 million in 2010 and 173 million in 2000.

Nearly two thirds of all international migrants live in Europe (76 million) or Asia (75 million). Northern America hosted the third largest number of international migrants (54 million), followed by Africa (21 million), Latin America and the Caribbean (9 million) and Oceania (8 million).

The largest number of international migrants (47 million) resided in the United States of America, equal to about a fifth (19 per cent) of the world’s total. Germany and the Russian Federation hosted the second and third largest numbers of migrants worldwide (12 million each), followed by Saudi Arabia (10 million). Women comprise slightly less than half of all international migrants. The share of female migrants fell from 49 per cent in 2000 to 48 per cent in 2015.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development not only includes several migration-related targets, but also encourages countries to disaggregate targets by, inter alia, migratory status. It recognises the positive contribution of migrants for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

It further recognises that international migration is a multi-dimensional reality of major relevance for the development of countries of origin, transit and destination, which requires coherent and comprehensive responses. International cooperation is critical to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants and refugees.

On Dec 4, 2000, the General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18 December International Migrants Day (A/RES/55/93). On that day, in 1990, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (A/RES/45/158).

This day is observed in many countries, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations through the dissemination of information on human rights and fundamental political freedoms of migrants, and through sharing of experiences and the design of actions to ensure the protection of migrants.

Many advanced and dynamic economies need migrant workers to fill jobs that cannot be outsourced and that do not find local workers willing to take them at going wages. On the other some countries have the challenge of employment in spite of having human resources. Young generation tend to go out and work for better employment opportunity. International migrants are usually drawn from middle-income households.

There might be action against illegal migrants but migration leads to many developments. Migration with choice and informed decision is always welcome but proper information might lead to problem as out migration without proper information might create problem. There is no doubt that migration may contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development.

(With inputs from UN publication )