2.a. Changes in National Immigration and Emigration Policies

Question 1

How are National Migration Policies Designed?

Answer 1

• National migration policies are designed to meet the needs of a country. These ‘needs’ include social, economic and political needs
• Economic needs: Countries may need to attract migrants to fill labour shortages in certain sectors of the economy
• Demographic needs: Countries may need to attract migrants to offset an ageing population or to increase the working-age population
• Social needs: Countries may need to attract migrants to provide essential services, such as healthcare and education
  For example, the UK, Australia and Canada have points-based systems to address labour shortages.
  Some countries encourage emigration to encourage remittances and to benefit from the skills,ideas and business contacts brought by returning migrants

Question 2

Why might a country embrace a policy based on high immigration?

Answer 2

Countries that promote free labour markets and embrace immigration are far richer than those which restrict immigration. According to the World Bank, the 25 richest countries in the world have an average foreign-born population of 22.5 percent, including the United States (12.8 percent), Hong Kong (42.6 percent), Australia (19.9 percent), and Switzerland (22.9 percent). Conversely, some of the world’s poorest countries are also the most hostile to immigration, like North Korea (0.2 percent foreign-born), Iran (2.9 percent), and Venezuela (3.7 percent). According to the OECD, Migration boosts the working-age population. Migrants arrive with skills and contribute to human capital development of receiving countries. Migrants also contribute to technological progress.

Question 3

Case Study: Immigration Policy - Canada (AC)

Answer 3

Goal of the Canadian immigration:
- The goal of the immigration system is to encourage youthful, bilingual, high-skill immigration in order to build human capital within Canada’s ageing labour force.
- Potential migrants are ranked on a 1,200 point system which fast tracks young and highly skilled migrants. Applicants in their 20s receive maximum points for age and graduates are also favoured.
- Changes were made in Canada’s immigration policy to address skills gaps in the labour market.
The new policy is aimed at attracting engineers, IT specialists and healthcare workers.
Every effort is made to employ Canadians first.
- Canada agreed to take 10,000 Syrian refugees over a three-year period from 2015.

HDI: 0.936 (2021)
GDP per capita: $52,051.4 (2021)
Population: 38,246,108 (2021)
Population Density: 4 per Km2 (2020)

Question 4

Why might a country embrace an emigration policy?

Answer 4

Emigration generates both opportunities and challenges for sending countries, especially in less developed regions. On the one hand, concerns have often been raised about the loss of human resources, including highly skilled workers, the so-called “brain drain”, which may hinder development in countries of origin. On the other hand, some countries in less developed regions view emigration as a strategy to boost development, not only from remittances or through alleviation of labour market pressures, but also by recognizing that their diaspora can contribute to development through financial investments in home countries, as well as through transfer of knowledge and skills. Policies addressing emigration of citizens can respond to a wide range of needs both from the perspective of individuals who have left their countries of origin and from the perspective of Governments in sending countries.

Question 5

Case Study: Immigration Policy - Pakistan (EDC)

Answer 5

Pakistan is pro-emigration which means they are actively encouraging people to leave
The Emigration Policy has the following aims:
- Protect rights of workers and protection of basic human rights.
- Promotion of the export of Pakistani manpower abroad
- Encourage female participation in overseas employment (0.12% currently).
- Support networks for Pakistani diaspora.
Training for Pakistani youth to enable them to work abroad.
- Enhance impact of economic remittances and skills of returning migrants for development.

What is the net migration of Pakistan:
- -0.92 per 1000. More people were leaving then coming in
- 8 million Pakistanis working abroad
- 96% working in GCC countries.

Remittances being sent back up Pakistan:
Saudi Arabia: $5,781,000,000
United Arab Emirates: $5,670,000,000
United Kingdom: $1,689,000,000
United States: $1,323,000,000
Kuwait: $1,062,000,000
Pakistan is the 6th largest receiver of remittances globally. $20 billion in 2017