Social Integration of Social Integration of Migrant PopulationMigrant Population

FLACSO Costa RicaFLACSO Costa Rica

ContentContent

I. I. General ContextGeneral Context Economic referentsEconomic referents Political referentsPolitical referents Conceptual contextConceptual context

II. Social and cultural integrationII. Social and cultural integration III. Economic and labor integrationIII. Economic and labor integration

I. General context of the I. General context of the situationsituation Economic referentsEconomic referents

Bottom-up globalizationBottom-up globalization The effect of concentration The effect of concentration

(specialization of land use)(specialization of land use) Development of the means of Development of the means of

transportation: ease to traveltransportation: ease to travel Information Technologies: real-time Information Technologies: real-time

linkslinks

Nature of employment: it determines a Nature of employment: it determines a specific social and demographic profilespecific social and demographic profile

The other causes do not disappear (political, The other causes do not disappear (political, environmental, psychosocial, and cultural)environmental, psychosocial, and cultural)

Transnationalization of the labor force and Transnationalization of the labor force and the labor market: the national territory the labor market: the national territory becomes small to handle the labor offer and becomes small to handle the labor offer and demand. This market is integrated beyond demand. This market is integrated beyond political and territorial boundaries.political and territorial boundaries.

Labor mobility depends on the flexible Labor mobility depends on the flexible demands imposed by the economic growth demands imposed by the economic growth model.model.

Labor demand in segments in the receiving Labor demand in segments in the receiving societies not expected to be covered with societies not expected to be covered with the native labor force (seasonal agricultural the native labor force (seasonal agricultural workers, low-skilled jobs, informal paid jobs)workers, low-skilled jobs, informal paid jobs)

Political referentsPolitical referents Risk threshold for peopleRisk threshold for people: political, military, : political, military,

social, environmentalsocial, environmental Public actions increase or decrease the risk Public actions increase or decrease the risk

threshold for the citizensthreshold for the citizens Detriment in the distributive capacities of Detriment in the distributive capacities of

public policiespublic policies Weakness in the rootedness conditionsWeakness in the rootedness conditions

State absenceState absence in the least favored local in the least favored local communities: This is especially sensitive in communities: This is especially sensitive in contexts of widespread poverty and contexts of widespread poverty and deterioration of community social capital deterioration of community social capital deteriorationdeterioration

Political authoritarianism and violation of Political authoritarianism and violation of human rightshuman rights

Conceptual context:Conceptual context: CitizenshipCitizenship: Rights beyond the : Rights beyond the

country of origincountry of origin IdentityIdentity: Re-settlement of the : Re-settlement of the

collective mind in the receiving collective mind in the receiving countriescountries Communities rebuilt with active ties Communities rebuilt with active ties

with the communities of origin with the communities of origin (creation of the social transnational (creation of the social transnational space)space)

Acceptance of the otherness (ethnic, Acceptance of the otherness (ethnic, religious, socioeconomic) in the religious, socioeconomic) in the receiving societiesreceiving societies

Social exclusionSocial exclusion: Institutional dynamics in : Institutional dynamics in the communities of origin and destination the communities of origin and destination

Inclusion only comes from a precarious Inclusion only comes from a precarious economic integrationeconomic integration

Migration creates constraints in the exercise of Migration creates constraints in the exercise of political, social, and cultural rightspolitical, social, and cultural rights

Public institutionality still perceives the Public institutionality still perceives the phenomenon of migration as the formalization phenomenon of migration as the formalization and regulation of transit.and regulation of transit.

Migration governance, despite being a Migration governance, despite being a transnational phenomenon, is still rooted in the transnational phenomenon, is still rooted in the management of national statesmanagement of national states

DiasporaDiaspora: the heterogeneous nature of : the heterogeneous nature of migrants and their motives and the migrants and their motives and the persistence of the redefined territorialitypersistence of the redefined territoriality

Migration life cycleMigration life cycle: from adult males to the : from adult males to the other members of the family group other members of the family group (reunification)(reunification)

II. II. Socio-cultural integrationSocio-cultural integration

Substantive citizenshipSubstantive citizenship Accreditation of rightsAccreditation of rights

National level—international levelNational level—international level ILO Convention 1990ILO Convention 1990

Addition of demandsAddition of demands: : Collective needs beyond the voluntary acts of Collective needs beyond the voluntary acts of

specific individualsspecific individuals Migration policies for the migrant Migration policies for the migrant

populationpopulation:: Example: Differentiation of epidemiologic risksExample: Differentiation of epidemiologic risks

Urban habitat segregation controlUrban habitat segregation control Access to housing and urban services is Access to housing and urban services is

controlled by informal networks separate from controlled by informal networks separate from regulationregulation

NetworksNetworks: : Ad hocAd hoc mechanisms to mechanisms to compensate for the absence or precarious compensate for the absence or precarious relationship with the state institutionsrelationship with the state institutions Social capital to face risks (including smuggling Social capital to face risks (including smuggling

and the migration police)and the migration police) Manages information, shelters, employment, Manages information, shelters, employment,

and socio-affective relationshipsand socio-affective relationships The States should incorporate the social assets The States should incorporate the social assets

provided by the networks in the definition of provided by the networks in the definition of their policies and should secure their their policies and should secure their maintenance and autonomymaintenance and autonomy

Safety and violenceSafety and violence Criminality associated to migration flows: Criminality associated to migration flows:

smuggling, human trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, commercial sexual trafficking, child commercial sexual trafficking, child trafficking; trafficking;

It is not the same as “criminalization of It is not the same as “criminalization of migration”migration”

Migration as traumatic rupture which, in Migration as traumatic rupture which, in the absence of support mechanisms, may the absence of support mechanisms, may lead to several forms of social anomie lead to several forms of social anomie (including violent behaviors, especially (including violent behaviors, especially notorious among the youth –notorious among the youth –marasmaras, , gangs)gangs)

Social mobility (education, health, cohesion)Social mobility (education, health, cohesion) From From relativerelative discrimination (racist, classicist) to discrimination (racist, classicist) to

absoluteabsolute discrimination (exclusion from the rights to discrimination (exclusion from the rights to education and health for the migrant illegal aliens)education and health for the migrant illegal aliens)

Exclusion arguments based on the Exclusion arguments based on the competition for competition for fiscal goods fiscal goods which are more scarce each day. “If there which are more scarce each day. “If there are few resources they should be given to migrants.”are few resources they should be given to migrants.”

Widespread distributive responsibilityWidespread distributive responsibility: the problem of : the problem of the “burden” of the migrant population on the social the “burden” of the migrant population on the social systems and the causes related to the formalization of systems and the causes related to the formalization of their labor relations and, as a result, on the “effective their labor relations and, as a result, on the “effective cost” of hiring them.cost” of hiring them.

Fear and sadnessFear and sadness: Psychosocial dimensions which have : Psychosocial dimensions which have not been studied enough. Fear arises from a lack of not been studied enough. Fear arises from a lack of knowledge about the destination and from their knowledge about the destination and from their irregular legal status. Sadness comes from the irregular legal status. Sadness comes from the disintegration of their primary ties and loneliness. disintegration of their primary ties and loneliness.

Negative social capitalNegative social capital: racism, xenophobia. Effect : racism, xenophobia. Effect derived from the migrants’ tendency to reproduce their derived from the migrants’ tendency to reproduce their culture of origin as a result of the reinstallation of their culture of origin as a result of the reinstallation of their values, practices, and representationsvalues, practices, and representations

III. Economic and labor III. Economic and labor inclusioninclusion

From labor insertion to inclusionFrom labor insertion to inclusion Formal employment and social Formal employment and social

protectionprotection Socio-labor dynamicsSocio-labor dynamics Socio-economic effects in the country Socio-economic effects in the country

of origin and destinationof origin and destination Remittances: immediate Remittances: immediate

consumption and productive assetconsumption and productive asset

3.1. 3.1. Labor inclusionLabor inclusion Labor migration has its origin in multiple factors that Labor migration has its origin in multiple factors that

imply the spatial reorganization of the labor market:imply the spatial reorganization of the labor market: Central America: Central America: a)a) aftermath of the armed conflict, aftermath of the armed conflict, b)b)

economic reforms, and economic reforms, and c)c) natural disasters natural disasters

Migrations exist because there is work, though not in Migrations exist because there is work, though not in agreement with the territorial settlement of the labor agreement with the territorial settlement of the labor forceforce

However, migration management (the combination of However, migration management (the combination of public policies and social practices) has not evolved to public policies and social practices) has not evolved to capture the social, cultural, and spatial variations that capture the social, cultural, and spatial variations that influence labor migrationsinfluence labor migrations

Paradoxically, progress is noticed in the ease of people Paradoxically, progress is noticed in the ease of people mobilization where the flows are not critical (CA4).mobilization where the flows are not critical (CA4).

Migration management has focused on applying control Migration management has focused on applying control policies which has justified the adoption of regressive policies which has justified the adoption of regressive migration policies. (Mármora, 1997)migration policies. (Mármora, 1997)

3.2. Socio-labor dynamics3.2. Socio-labor dynamics In the segmentation of the labor market, skilled workers In the segmentation of the labor market, skilled workers

migrate to migrate to increase their incomeincrease their income..

Unskilled migrants migrate to Unskilled migrants migrate to generate income.generate income.

The employment available for unskilled workers is precarious, The employment available for unskilled workers is precarious, ill paid, and seasonal.ill paid, and seasonal.

The formalization of the migrants’ labor relations diminishes The formalization of the migrants’ labor relations diminishes their competitive advantage (especially when compared with their competitive advantage (especially when compared with other migrants). Nevertheless, if the market is segmented and other migrants). Nevertheless, if the market is segmented and cultural stigmas have developed toward certain occupations, cultural stigmas have developed toward certain occupations, the pressures among the native population to take on the jobs the pressures among the native population to take on the jobs left for migrants may decreaseleft for migrants may decrease

All of this leads to the rejection of the local labor displacement All of this leads to the rejection of the local labor displacement hypothesis as a result of labor migrations. This happens hypothesis as a result of labor migrations. This happens because the labor segmentation is accompanied by a hierarchy because the labor segmentation is accompanied by a hierarchy of income and status (Sassen, 1988; Castles & Miller, 1998)of income and status (Sassen, 1988; Castles & Miller, 1998)

3.3. 3.3. Socioeconomic effectsSocioeconomic effects

The impacts are not equal because migrants are not homogenous (gender, age, ethnic The impacts are not equal because migrants are not homogenous (gender, age, ethnic group, activity sector).group, activity sector).

In origin:In origin: Erosion of family employability (the fittest migrate)Erosion of family employability (the fittest migrate) Emptying of local labor market and depression of productive activities that generate employment and Emptying of local labor market and depression of productive activities that generate employment and

income at the local levelincome at the local level Weakening of the social capitalWeakening of the social capital Dissolution of primary bondsDissolution of primary bonds Difficulty to create production-distribution circlesDifficulty to create production-distribution circles In the long run, it threatens the reproduction of the labor force-depopulation (Delgado Weiss, 2005)In the long run, it threatens the reproduction of the labor force-depopulation (Delgado Weiss, 2005)

El efecto del miedo y de la tristezaEl efecto del miedo y de la tristeza

In destinationIn destination:: Restructuring of structural dualism: Restructuring of structural dualism:

peripheries populated of economically peripheries populated of economically useful migrant workers, employed or useful migrant workers, employed or employable. Socio-spatial segregationemployable. Socio-spatial segregation

Increase in social dumping (low salaries Increase in social dumping (low salaries and informal employment)and informal employment)

Visible sectorial effects, but diffuse Visible sectorial effects, but diffuse added impacts added impacts

Perception of advantages for a few and Perception of advantages for a few and problems for manyproblems for many

Short- and long-term risks related to Short- and long-term risks related to extreme dependency on the migrant extreme dependency on the migrant labor force in specific economic labor force in specific economic activitiesactivities

3.4. 3.4. RemittancesRemittances

Need to weigh effectively Need to weigh effectively what remittances are.what remittances are. They are part of the family income coming from They are part of the family income coming from salary. Therefore, they are related to families’ salary. Therefore, they are related to families’ regular expenses and are not, unless they regular expenses and are not, unless they generate some surplus (which is hard), resources generate some surplus (which is hard), resources for specific funds (savings, development, or for specific funds (savings, development, or investment).investment).

There are also collective remittances with There are also collective remittances with community uses.community uses.

There are conceptual problems in quantifying There are conceptual problems in quantifying remittances.remittances.

Remittances do not only take the shape of monetary Remittances do not only take the shape of monetary remittances: food, clothing, medicines, electric supplies, … are remittances: food, clothing, medicines, electric supplies, … are also remitted and their value may exceed significantly monetary also remitted and their value may exceed significantly monetary transfers. Their value is usually limited to their use (Morales, transfers. Their value is usually limited to their use (Morales, 2002)2002)

There are also symbolic values: Cultural remittances have to do There are also symbolic values: Cultural remittances have to do with the transfer of knowledge, skills, and experiences.with the transfer of knowledge, skills, and experiences.

Against all economic logic, remittances may lead to costs for the Against all economic logic, remittances may lead to costs for the receiving families because sometimes they transfer intangible receiving families because sometimes they transfer intangible goods such as status or social recognition. goods such as status or social recognition.

The absence of the economic sense or logic at the micro level, in The absence of the economic sense or logic at the micro level, in fact refers to the creation of a community profile resulting from fact refers to the creation of a community profile resulting from the remittance and is not related to the immediate development the remittance and is not related to the immediate development context.context.

In receiving countries, monetary remittances are In receiving countries, monetary remittances are perceived, erroneously, as flight of capitalperceived, erroneously, as flight of capital

Effects of the remittances in origin: Effects of the remittances in origin: Increase of the average family income (reduction of Increase of the average family income (reduction of

relative poverty)relative poverty) Reactivation of local community economies, especially in Reactivation of local community economies, especially in

the business sectorthe business sector Pressure on real estate market, especially landPressure on real estate market, especially land Reconfiguration of local elites through the generation of Reconfiguration of local elites through the generation of

economic activities related to migration and its economic activities related to migration and its resources: banks, air and land transportation, telephone resources: banks, air and land transportation, telephone services (Orozco, 2004)services (Orozco, 2004)

Effects in destination:Effects in destination: Non-weighted effects in the decrease of the family Non-weighted effects in the decrease of the family

income and the resulting risk of impoverishment. This income and the resulting risk of impoverishment. This risk tends to decrease as the family reunites.risk tends to decrease as the family reunites.

Implication for policiesImplication for policies Integrated approach to the migration Integrated approach to the migration

issuesissues Intersectorial (state context)Intersectorial (state context) Multidimensional (economic, social, Multidimensional (economic, social,

cultural)cultural)

Inter-state managementInter-state management Bilateral and multilateral agreements on Bilateral and multilateral agreements on

issues related no only to the flow but also issues related no only to the flow but also to the social integration of migrants, family to the social integration of migrants, family reunification, and voluntary repatriationreunification, and voluntary repatriation

More specifically:More specifically: Demographic pressureDemographic pressure Attention to the local specificities of the migrants’ situationAttention to the local specificities of the migrants’ situation Housing situation (negative cycle of the segregation Housing situation (negative cycle of the segregation

tendencies)tendencies) Labor situation: high concentration on a few unskilled Labor situation: high concentration on a few unskilled

activitiesactivities Problems in education: low level, rural originProblems in education: low level, rural origin Need to expand the skills for flexible labor insertion (control Need to expand the skills for flexible labor insertion (control

of massive unemployment risk in situations of crisis)of massive unemployment risk in situations of crisis) Political priorities for migrants (external cooperation)Political priorities for migrants (external cooperation)

HousingHousing Flexible employmentFlexible employment Educational and cultural adaptabilityEducational and cultural adaptability

Interaction with the networks as sources of migrants’ social Interaction with the networks as sources of migrants’ social capitalcapital

Educational programs and eradication of xenophobic Educational programs and eradication of xenophobic conceptions and practices for the native population by conceptions and practices for the native population by means of multicultural educational strategies and new means of multicultural educational strategies and new ways of civic culture associated to diversityways of civic culture associated to diversity