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A blog about migration, remittances, and development

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This blog is hosted by Dilip Ratha, lead economist at the World Bank. Its goal is to leverage migration and remittances for development.  
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Europe and Central Asia

Labor Mobility and Circular Migration: What are the challenges of the Stockholm Program?

Submitted by Sonia Plaza on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 19:35

I recently gave a presentation and participated in a conference organized by the Swedish Presidency of the European Union(EU) on “Labor Migration and its Development Potential in the Age of Mobility"on October 15-16. The conference focused on two main themes: a) Labor immigration, and b) Circular migration and its development potential.

Speakers and participants discussed the importance of improving labor mobility in Europe given demographic changes. New players such as China and India are competing for global talent. The EU should become an attractive market for immigrants if it wants to remain competitive in the coming decades.  Within this context mutual recognition of skills and accreditation becomes key for developing countries. (See my previous post)

Remittances to Central Asia are falling, but less so in ruble terms

Submitted by Sanket Mohapatra on Thu, 10/08/2009 - 13:25

Remittance flows to several Central Asian countries appear to be declining precipitously in the first half of this year, raising concerns that these flows are less resilient in the Europe and Central Asia region than in other developing regions. Remittance flows in US dollar terms to Kyrgyz Republic, Armenia, and Tajikistan declined by 15 percent, 33 percent and 34 percent respectively in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year.
 
Most of remittances to these three Central Asian countries come from Russia. From a survey of central banks that we conducted last year, Russia reportedly accounts for more than four-fifth of remittance inflows in Kyrgyz Republic and Armenia, and it was the top source country for remittances to Tajikistan. Driven by increasing emigration, primarily to Russia, remittance flows more than doubled in Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan US dollar terms between 2006 and 2008, while personal transfers through banks in Armenia increased by some 70 percent.  

España aprueba plan de retorno de inmigrantes

Submitted by Sonia Plaza on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 15:45

Un plan de retorno voluntario de los inmigrantes legales que no tienen empleo ha sido aprobado el 19 de Setiembre del 2008  por el gobierno de España.  Se podrán acoger a esta nueva iniciativa los inmigrantes que no pertenezcan a la Unión Europea y que sus países hayan firmado convenios bilaterales con España en materia de portabilidad de seguridad social.  El programa esta dirigido para los inmigrantes de Marruecos, Ecuador, Perú, Colombia, Ucrania, Argentina, Republica Dominicana, Rusia, Uruguay, Brasil, Venezuela, Chile, Filipinas, Paraguay, Estados Unidos, México, Túnez, Canadá y Australia.  

Los inmigrantes legales que se han quedado sin trabajo tendrán que renunciar a su permiso de residencia y a su permiso de trabajo si deciden regresar voluntariamente a su país de origen. El incentivo que ofrece el gobierno español es de otorgarles un adelanto del 40% de los beneficios de desempleo que gozarían antes de salir de España y el resto, un mes después de llegar a su país. La única condición es que no podrán retornar a España antes de los tres anos. Después de tres años recién podrán volver a solicitar la residencia y el permiso de trabajo para volver a España.  

De acuerdo con el ministro de Trabajo e Inmigración, Celestino Corbacho, el plan aprobado en el Consejo de Ministros será efectivo en los primeros días de noviembre y tendrá un carácter de permanente. (Ver http://newsok.com/xml/rss/3299975/) ¿Se acogerán los inmigrantes a este plan? ¿Dónde prefieren esperar los trabajadores hasta que pase la crisis económica: en sus países de origen o en España?