Project

Assessing the economic contribution of labour migration in developing countries as countries of destination (ECLM)

The project assesses the economic importance of labour immigration in a significant number of developing countries where immigrants represent a large share of the workforce in key economic sectors.

Rationale

Outputs

Timeline

Events


In August 2014, the OECD Development Centre, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), initiated a three-and-a-half-year project aimed at assessing the economic contribution of labour migration in developing countries as countries of destination. The project, co-funded by the EU Thematic Programme on Migration and Asylum, seeks to arrive at a reliable and evidence-based understanding of how immigration affects the economies of a number of low-income and middle-income countries, considering in particular:
  • contribution to GDP and growth,
  • impact on the labour market,
  • impact on public finances and social services.

The project concentrates on low and middle-income countries where labour immigrants represent a substantial share of the population and where, preferably, the annual number of immigrant inflows exceeds the number of emigrant outflows. To allow a focused analysis, countries in which refugees represent a large share of the immigrant population are not considered. Furthermore, the participation of countries in the project is conditional on an expressed interest of national authorities and the availability of data relevant for the proposed analysis.

Rationale

The debate over the migration and development nexus gained momentum at global level since the UN High level dialogue on migration and development in 2006. It has already contributed to reducing the lack of knowledge and increase awareness, in particular by documenting how certain aspects of migration – such as remittances, the impact and potential of brain circulation and the role of diasporas – affect developing countries. 
While producing valuable knowledge on the impact of emigration in origin countries, the debate tends to overlook the effects of immigration in developing countries as destination countries. Despite its importance for economies and a significant number of low and middle-income countries where labour immigrants represent a large share of the workforce, the contribution of labour immigration in developing countries has rarely been studied or taken into account in economic and employment policy-making. 
There is therefore a need to better understand immigration’s contribution to support the design of evidencebased labour and migration policies, improve labour management to make it work for growth and development, and secure migrants’ equal treatment and the protection of their human and labour rights.

Outputs

The project will:
  • Develop a methodology for assessing the economic impact of immigration in developing countries as countries of destination, in close co-operation with national authorities and social partners;
  • Apply the methodology in co-operation with ten partner countries to measure the contribution of labour migration to their economies;
  • Gather primary and secondary data obtained in all partner countries and draw conclusions about the economic contribution of labour immigration in developing countries as countries of destination;
  • Provide recommendations for policy development and disseminate the results.
Reports

Timeline

  • Phase I: Inception August 2014 – November 2014
    Countries will be encouraged to express their interest and willingness to participate in the project as partners. Consultations with local authorities will then take place. Workers and employers’ organisations as well as national statistical offices will also be consulted.
     
  • Phase II: Conceptual and methodological framework December 2014 – July 2015
    The conceptual and methodological framework will be developed. An international expert workshop and national consultation meetings will be organised. A local research partner will be chosen in each country based on demonstrated experience in the field of migration.
     
  • Phase III: Work at country level August 2015 – July 2016
    The methodology will be applied in co-operation with local partners, taking national specificities into account. Specific analysis will be carried out in the sectors relying most heavily on migrant workers. Primary data will be collected through field work and surveys.
     
  • Phase IV: Comparative Analysis of Data August 2016 – April 2017 
    The project experts will centralise country data and analyse them, both quantitatively and qualitatively, using a comparative perspective in order to draw general conclusions on the economic contribution of labour immigration in developing countries.
     
  • Phase V: Dissemination and discussion of results May 2017 – January 2018
    The main findings and the policy implications will be presented at the country level and discussed with countries’ representatives and relevant authorities. The final report will be presented during a conference that will gather representatives from each partner country, as well as experts and policy makers from other countries.

Events

Launch and validation Events
Training workshops in preparation for Sector studies
  • 29 Aug - 2 Sep, 2016, Kathmandu, Nepal
    The International Labour Organization held a workshop in collaboration with the Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility, Social Science Baha, to discuss the implementation of a study of the manufacturing and trade sectors.
  • 15 - 19 August 2016, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
    The International Labour Organization held a workshop in collaboration with the Laboratoire de Sociologie Economique et d'Anthropologie des Appartenances Symboliques (LAASSE), Université FHB d'Abidjan, to discuss the implementation of a study of the agriculture and trade sectors.
  • 25 - 29 July 2016, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
    The International Labour Organization held a workshop in collaboration with OcOO DialectICON to discuss the implementation of a study of the manufacturing and trade sectors.
  • 3-7 May 2016, Accra, Ghana
    The International Labour Organization held a workshop in collaboration with the Centre for Migration studies (University of Ghana) to discuss the implementation of a study of the mining and trade sectors.
Meetings of Experts
  • 9 March 2016, Geneva, Switzerland
    The International Labour Organization held an internal research seminar to discuss some preliminary findings and methodological approaches.
  • 23-24 February 2015, Paris, France
    The OECD Development Centre held an expert meeting aimed at consolidating the methodological foundation of the project.
National Consultation Seminars
  • 1 December 2015, Kathmandu, Nepal
    The International Labour Organization and the OECD Development Centre held a national consultation seminar in Nepal.
  • 17 November 2015, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
    The OECD Development Centre and the International Labour Organization held a national consultation seminar in Kyrgyzstan.
  • 25 September 2015, Kigali, Rwanda
    The International Labour Organization and the OECD Development Centre held a national consultation seminar in Rwanda.
  • 15 September 2015, Bangkok, Thailand
    The International Labour Organization and the OECD Development Centre held a national consultation seminar in Thailand.
  • 30 June 2015, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    The OECD Development Centre and the International Labour Organization held a national consultation seminar in Argentina.
  • 23 June 2015, Pretoria, South Africa
    The International Labour Organization and the OECD Development Centre held a national consultation seminar in South Africa.
  • 26 May 2015, Accra, Ghana
    The International Labour Organization and the OECD Development Centre held a national consultation seminar in Ghana.
  • 19 May 2015, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    The OECD Development Centre and the International Labour Organization held a national consultation seminar in the Dominican Republic.
  • 7 May 2015, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
    The OECD Development Centre and the International Labour Organization held a national consultation seminar in Côte d'Ivoire.
  • 21 April 2015, San José, Costa Rica
    The OECD Development Centre and the International Labour Organization held a national consultation seminar in Costa Rica, the first-in country event for the project.