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A recent report by the New York Times observes that, as global migration has increased, so has the importance and influence of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an intergovernmental organization focusing on migration-related issues. IOM, founded in 1951 and comprised of 132 member countries (89 of which joined in the past 20 years), assists governments and individuals. For example, IOM has helped recruit meatpackers for Canada, assisted the U.K. government screen would-be migrants for tuberculosis, and installed microscopes in Bangladesh’s airports to detect passport fraud. Assistance for individuals has included aiding migrants’ repatriation during armed conflicts, and staging folk dramas to warn against sex trafficking.

The Times observes that IOM’s influence varies by location, noting that “[t]he United States and other rich donors largely dictate [IOM’s] agenda and ensure that it does not erode their power to decide which migrants they admit and how many.” In nations whose labor needs are satisfied via migrant workforces, and in nations that supply migrant workers, IOM plays a heightened role in guiding policy and educating and assisting workers. Although some of IOM’s actions have been criticized by policy groups and government officials, with a $1.4 billion budget, it appears that the group, originally established to resettle Europeans displaced by World War II, will remain an active participant in global migration affairs.

Photo credit: Vasare

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Price gouging by illegal manpower brokers, mainly based in Malaysia, has increased immigration costs for Bangladeshi workers seeking employment in Libya. Brokers will purchase large quantities of Libyan work visas then sell them at inflated rates to workers and employment recruiters. Normally, workers’ migration costs average 100,000 to 120,000 Bangladeshi Taka (1,455 -1,746 USD). However, some workers complain of being charged twice that amount.

Recruiting agencies believe that if they could go directly to the government, visa costs would decline. Libya’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Oversees Employment Minister said workers’ failure to protest costs was an issue, but claimed no knowledge of increased costs. He stated he would monitor the situation for the next two months.

The Daily Star reports that these unregulated broker practices coupled with the economy’s decline has resulted in many foreign governments limiting Bangladeshi workers’ ability to obtain work. The first five months of 2008 saw 378,994 Bangladeshis seek employment overseas, while only 212,332 have done so this year.

Each day about 300 Bangladeshi workers leave for Libya, which recently began building infrastructure projects worth over $100 billion. Libya estimates the projects will employ around 200,000 workers in two years. Libya’s government has begun hiring Bangladeshi workers, and last December recruited 20,000 Bangladeshi workers.

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A review conducted by Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship regarding the student visa program found that Indian students breached their visa conditions at a rate three times higher than the average breach rate. As reported by The Australian, the review ranked Indian students alongside Bangladeshis and Cambodians as a level-four risk, which is the second highest risk category (no country currently ranks at the highest risk category).

As a result of these findings, rules for Indian students have been tightened: Indian students now must prove they have enough money to support themselves for the duration of their studies and must pass stricter English language tests. Critics of the tightened standards argue that they fail to distinguish between university students and vocational training students (who account for almost 80% of all Indian students in Australia).
 

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Under new United Arab Emirates visa regulations effective at the end of July, jobseekers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Philippines and Bangladesh, who currently are not subject to visa fees, will have to pay a refundable deposit of Dh1,000 ($272) and secure health insurance while they look for work. One likely result of the new regulations, as reported at portstrategy.com, is a rush of would-be workers in the port of Dubai in the spring and early summer. Another probable consequence is that potential employers and recruitment agencies will need to search abroad to find workers in order to avoid a labor shortage. Anyone found working while on a visit visa can be fined more than Dh50,000 ($13,617) and banned from re-entering the UAE. Employers also will be subject to strict penalties for violations.

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