There is a growing consensus on the value of providing immigrants with
integration support at the earliest possible moment in the migration
process. Integration services provided prior to departure, such as
language instruction, training, recognition of foreign credentials, and
job skill-matching, can all have positive impacts on the labor market
outcomes of immigrants once they reach their destination—and on their
capacity to actively
contribute to the development of their country of origin.
While European policymakers as well as their counterparts in
migrant-sending countries have contributed significant political capital
and resources to predeparture integration measures over the past
decade, these initiatives generally have yet to fully realize their
potential as a tool able to durably improve migrants' labor market
integration. This is largely due to the lack of cooperation between
origin and destination countries in the design and implementation of
such measures.
contribute to the development of their country of origin.
While European policymakers as well as their counterparts in
migrant-sending countries have contributed significant political capital
and resources to predeparture integration measures over the past
decade, these initiatives generally have yet to fully realize their
potential as a tool able to durably improve migrants' labor market
integration. This is largely due to the lack of cooperation between
origin and destination countries in the design and implementation of
such measures.
This policy brief reviews promising examples of predeparture measures
for labor market integration that are jointly designed and/or run by
origin- and destination-country actors, illustrating their potential to
help effectively address some of the most stubborn obstacles to
successful integration. A number of these examples involve
destination-country employers, and key elements in their success
include flexibility and responsiveness to employer demand. Equally
important is the buy-in from origin-country actors, which can be
supported through a development-sensitive approach in the design of the programs.
.
The brief also explores alternative project settings that could
facilitate a broader reach in terms of numbers of migrants (and
employers) enrolled in the programs,
including the bilateral labor migration agreements that have
traditionally been a preferred instrument for embedding predeparture
integration measures. Thus far, most of these agreements have been
largely ineffective in meeting job-matching and other labor market
integration objectives due to implementation challenges. A more
innovative long-term approach would consist of strengthening structural
cooperation between origin and destination countries in broader policy
areas, particularly in establishing skills partnerships in the areas of
education and vocational training and on the mutual recognition of
foreign qualifications. Such initiatives hold strong potential to
improve the labor market integration outcomes of third-country
nationals, both in their countries of origin and, for those who migrate,
at destination.
,
including the bilateral labor migration agreements that have
traditionally been a preferred instrument for embedding predeparture
integration measures. Thus far, most of these agreements have been
largely ineffective in meeting job-matching and other labor market
integration objectives due to implementation challenges. A more
innovative long-term approach would consist of strengthening structural
cooperation between origin and destination countries in broader policy
areas, particularly in establishing skills partnerships in the areas of
education and vocational training and on the mutual recognition of
foreign qualifications. Such initiatives hold strong potential to
improve the labor market integration outcomes of third-country
nationals, both in their countries of origin and, for those who migrate,
at destination.
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/improving-migrants-labour-market-integration-europe-outset-cooperative-approach
