“Migration can be an enormous force for good: one of the great drivers of economic growth, individual liberty and personal prosperity. The goal is to maximise the benefits of migration and minimise potentially negative impacts.”
Peter Sutherland -UN Special Representative For Migration - Chairman BP and Goldman Sachs
Migration of labour is a complex global phenomenon characterised by both opportunity and risk for governments, business and the individuals involved.
Well-managed migration offers the potential for substantial economic benefits and other opportunities to sending and recipient countries, employers and employees alike. It allows business to overcome labour shortages and skills deficits, while countries can benefit from remittances or new entrepreneurial zeal.
Abuses of migrant workers and their families, however, remain widespread and legal protection is often inadequate.
The current financial crisis has accentuated the many economic, social and political challenges associated with migration - from the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment, to the wide-scale loss of jobs, lack of a safety net for migrants and significant decreases in remittances in low-income home communities.
The role of the private sector within migration policy has been little examined. There is a lack of policy debate and analysis regarding the rights of migrants within the field of corporate social responsibility and the relative obligations of governments and companies. While examples of good practice do exist, evidence is largely anecdotal and cross-sector dialogue to improve migration policy is only just emerging. There is currently no business-focused international migration institution or mechanism responsible for the rights of people who move between countries.
The Business And Migration Initiative - a partnership project between
The International Business Leaders Forum and The Institute for Human Rights and Business - seeks to foster greater business involvement, facilitate dialogue, strengthen the debate and support private-sector led initiatives to raise standards in this business-critical field.