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The impact of the global economic crisis on migration in
Europe

Resolution 1718 (2010)1

1.       The
current financial and economic downturn and the rapid rise in
unemployment have particularly severe consequences for
international migrants and remittance receivers.

2.       The
depth, the extent and the consequences of the crisis vary
across the regions of the world, with some regions better
insulated from the global downturn than others. The developed
countries, including most of the Council of Europe member
states, are among those hardest hit by the crisis, accounting
for more than two-thirds of the increase in the global number
of unemployed in 2009, despite accounting for only 30 per cent
of the global labour force.

3.       With
unemployment soaring in Europe, migrant workers are among the
first to lose their jobs because of their concentration in
worst affected sectors such as construction, manufacturing,
wholesale and hospitality and because many have contingent
work contracts, limited educational credentials and low local
language skills. In many Council of Europe member states,
unemployment among migrants is more than double that of the
local population. The situation of and protection of migrants
should therefore be at the heart of discussions on strategies
for alleviating the consequences of the current crisis.

4.       The
overall impact of the economic crisis in terms of migration
flows between source and destination countries is still
uncertain and very difficult to measure because of lack of
sound data and because of a time lag as the crisis shapes
migratory flows. What is observed today is that labour
migration inflows as well as inflows of irregular migrants to
Europe have generally diminished, that the rate of growth of
remittances has contracted and that international migrants do
not return en masse to their countries of origin unless they
have the security of being able to return once the economic
situation improves.

5.       The
Parliamentary Assembly is particularly concerned about
joblessness forcing an ever-increasing number of regular
migrants into an irregular situation, which in turn risks
leading to a “normalisation of irregularity” everywhere in
Europe. Migrants, especially irregular migrants and regular
migrants who lose their legal status, are forced to accept the
lowest of wages and most difficult working conditions out of
fear of unemployment and destitution. This makes them easy
prey for smuggling and trafficking networks.

6.       The
Assembly is equally concerned about the increasing tendency
among member states to tighten immigration regulations by
introducing admission restrictions or tougher visa and
admissions requirements, including minimum salary requirements
for entry or own-visas for spouses and dependents. There is
also a risk that states turn towards protectionism of native
workers. It recalls that migrants may be a positive force in
alleviating various aspects of the economic crisis; trying to
combat the crisis by simply cutting immigration may reduce the
ability to fill jobs in needed sectors and lead to a further
proliferation of irregular migration and prolongation of the
crisis.

7.
Moreover, the revision of immigration policies may result in
fewer rights and less social protection of migrants. The
Assembly recalls that human rights based regulations and
policies which promote access by migrants to decent work,
health care, education and adequate housing are important not
only for the protection of human rights, but also for the
social inclusion and integration of migrants.

8.       The
growing vulnerability of migrants to stigmatisation and to
increased xenophobic sentiments and discriminatory practices
against migrant workers are further human rights concerns
generated by growing unemployment, but they are also obstacles
to the inclusion, acceptance and integration of migrants in
host countries.

9.       The
Assembly recalls that migrant workers participate in promoting
economic growth and prosperity and the creation of wealth in
countries of destination, while contributing to poverty
reduction in their countries of origin. It is therefore
important to adopt appropriate policy measures to maximise
their contributions to both countries of origin and
destination.

10.       The
Assembly recognises that not all short-term needs for
international recruitment will vanish with the economic
slowdown and that that long-term challenges of ageing
population and growth in service employment remain important
beyond any temporary shocks. Policy responses with respect to
labour migration will therefore have to strike a balance
between adapting labour inflows to changing labour demand,
keeping longer-term objectives in mind during the crisis in
order to be ready to benefit from migrants’ skills when the
economy recovers, and avoiding a backlash against migration in
public opinion.

11.       In
the light of the above, the Assembly calls upon its member
states, the European Union and the world community at large to
address the multi-dimensional and interconnected elements of
the crisis and to take greater consideration of the impact of
the crisis on migration and development in Europe and abroad.
In particular, they are called upon to:

11.1.
keep open the channels of regular migration with a view to
meeting any continuing demand for migrant workers, thus
helping to prevent irregular migration and trafficking in
human beings. In particular, maintain intakes of foreign
workers in sectors where labour skills remain necessary and
will be required for recovery;

11.2.
enable migrant workers who have lost their jobs to retain
their immigration status and residence permit for at least a
certain period of time after their employment contract ends
in order to be able to seek new employment. They should
receive the same help in finding a new job as the local
population;

11.3.
work out functional, comprehensive and long-term migration
management policies with a view to maximising the benefits
of migration; it is essential that integration policies and
programmes continue to be developed and are not negatively
impacted by a decrease of funds;

11.4.
provide guarantees that the rights of migrants are
adequately and effectively protected in terms of their human
rights, working and living conditions and in the event of
loss of employment;

11.5.
strengthen co-operation in the fight against irregular
migration, human trafficking and the illegal employment of
foreigners, while strictly observing the human rights
provided for in instruments of international human rights
law. Avoid criminalising irregular migrants and ensure that
they are guaranteed at least minimum rights to protect their
human dignity and prevent them from falling prey to networks
of organised crime. On the other hand, avoid mass
regularisation as a solution to fight irregular
migration;

11.6.
promote measures to facilitate remittance flows through
initiatives of tax deductibility of both remittances and
money placed in special savings accounts to support
development projects in a migrant’s home country;

11.7.
offer adequate protection to migrants through appropriate
legal and administrative means to combat racist violence and
xenophobia, considering in particular their vulnerability to
stigmatisation, and prosecute perpetrators of violent acts
to the full extent of the law;

11.8.
raise awareness, in particular through public media, about
the important economic and social contributions made by
migrants and encourage media to portray migrants in
objective terms, recognising their positive contributions to
society;

11.9.
work with civil society groups, and notably with diaspora
associations, with a view to challenging the stigmatisation
of migrant workers and improving the effectiveness of
integration policies;

11.10.
in cases where migrant return programmes are initiated by
governments, ensure that migrants are treated with dignity
and given proper reintegration assistance upon return.
Ensure that re-entry restrictions are kept to a minimum as
these act as a disincentive to persons who might otherwise
wish to return to their home country. Work with the
countries of origin towards transforming the potential of
these returned migrants into “brain gain”;

11.11. encourage national human rights
commissions and ombudsmen to monitor the situation of
migrants during the economic crisis and react as
necessary.

12.       The
Assembly calls upon its partner organisations - the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the
International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and others - to
continue to co-operate in disaggregated data collection and
monitoring the various implications and consequences of the
economic downturn on migrants and their children.

1 Assembly debate on 27 April
2010 (13th Sitting) (see Doc.
12200, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and
Population, rapporteur: Mr Agramunt Font de Mora, and Doc.
12217, opinion of the Committee on Economic Affairs and
Development, rapporteur: Mr Lindblad). Text adopted by the
Assembly on 27 April 2010 (13th Sitting).

See also
Recommendation 1910 (2010).

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