Labour Market Realism and the Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees. (6th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, Philip; Ruhs, Martin
• Is Part Of: International migration. Volume 57:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 80
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2019-08-06
• Subjects: Emigration and immigration -- Periodicals; 304.8
• DOI: 10.1111/imig.12626
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7985

Abstract

Abstract: The Global Compacts on Migration (GCM) and Refugees (GCR) include policy recommendations that aim to increase opportunities for legal labour migration, improve protections for migrant workers, and provide refugees with 'complementary pathways' to enhanced protection via labour mobility. This paper explains why there are large gaps between these policy recommendations and the labour market policies and realities in the countries that host most of the world's migrant workers. These gaps between ideals and realities are likely to limit the effective implementation of the GCM/GCR recommendations on labour migration. More 'labour market realism' is needed to incrementally but effectively improve protections for migrant workers.