IOM

Integration of foreigners

Key Findings and Observations

The process of migrant integration can sometimes generate some degree of public anxiety and at times fear, especially during periods of economic downturn. With unemployment persisting in many countries, migrants are sometimes perceived as competitors for jobs, exerting downward pressure on salaries, and as a burden on the welfare system. However, experiences thus far suggest that these perceptions are largely unfounded. Not only do migrants tend to concentrate in just a few sectors such as construction, domestic services, and health care, but also these sectors tend to be those in which there is a deficit in the local job market, so that migrants most often fill jobs unfilled by the local population. However, negative perceptions can be deeply entrenched and are best dispelled through planned and sustained efforts.

Based on its recent experiences in implementing migrant integration projects in many parts of the world, IOM has found the following interventions useful and effective:
•    Dissemination of information in home countries on the rights and obligations of migrants;
•    Pre-departure / cultural orientation to travel-ready migrants to facilitate their adjustment to life in a new country;
•    Provision of advice and counseling related to services available to migrants in the host country, for example, through migrant resource centres (MRCs); and
•    Provision of vocational and language training to reinforce their skills.

In addition, awareness-raising in host countries on the cultural profile of the newcomers and highlighting their potential contribution to the host society, improves the perception and acceptance of the migrants by receiving communities and reduces the risks of discrimination and xenophobia.

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Dimensions of Migrant Integration

Migrant integration involves a number of dimensions; these are, economic, social, cultural, political and legal. Ideally, migrants should be integrated in all these dimensions. However, not all host countries are willing and/or able to support migrants in all these. This also varies depending on the status of the migrants in the host country. While much discussion of integration focuses on ensuring migrants’ ability to be gainfully employed and contribute to the local economy, more than this is required if migrants are to be full participants in their host society. And while some aspects of integration may only be relevant to settled migrants, such as certain political rights associated with nationality, other aspects, especially as they relate to migrants present in the territory on a temporary basis, require attention.

Challenges

Some challenges policy makers and practitioners faced regarding migrant integration:
•    What type or level of integration measures need to be provided for temporary / circular migrants? Should there be integration measures for irregular migrants?
•    How to best manage migration and integration in a manner that ensures maximum benefits both for the individual and the society?
•    How to ensure a socio-economic and political environment supportive of the effective incorporation of migrants into the host society?
•    How can the risks of alienation and marginalization of migrants in receiving societies be reduced and how to avoid negative impacts on national security?

Migrant Integration Stakeholders

The responsibility for migrant integration rests with many actors: migrants themselves, origin and host countries, public and private institutions and communities. The experiences of individual migrants are a valuable source of information to aid understanding of the challenges of integration and for developing effective strategies to address these challenges.
Within governments, action is necessary at all levels – national, regional, municipal and local. Migrant integration requires an inclusive approach. Migration requires not only a "whole of government approach" but a “whole of society approach.” The private sector and civil society in general can offer valuable assistance and ideas to facilitate migrant integration. Institutions at the local community level where nationals and non-nationals most often interact, such as schools, marketplaces and banks, are often in the best position to assess and address the particular needs of the community and migrants. Non-state actors therefore complement the efforts of governments owing to their grass roots presence to engage and assist migrants in their daily lives.

Conclusion

Migration does not end with the arrival of a migrant in a foreign country. Migration brings change that impacts on the lives and well being of both migrants and host societies. How to manage such change to the mutual benefit of all is one of the biggest challenges for governments today. It is expected that the challenge will grow with the rising global movement of persons, particularly temporary migration and rapid changes in global labour markets as well as demographic pressures.

Models for Integration and Prevention of Exclusion: Empowering Migrant Youth (iYouth)

The iYouth project’s aim is to empower migrant youth organizations to better work towards integration and prevention of exclusion of fellow young migrants. Through peer reviews of policies and practices in iYouth partner countries, the project develops new integration models for migrant youth work. The new models will serve as basis for training materials which will be delivered through an online training platform and capacity building workshops for (migrant) youth organizations. The project also emphasizes raising awareness on migrant youth organizations’ work and aims to increase networking among various integration and youth work stakeholders on local, national and EU-levels.

This multi-stakeholder project is co-funded by the European Commission and implemented in cooperation with migrant youth organizations and institutional partners in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France and Poland. The project started on 1 September 2011 and last for 18 months.

In the Czech Republic, IOM Prague cooperates with NGO META.

European Local Cooperation for Integration - ELCI

ELCI PROJECT: cooperating with local authorities in order to promote a better understanding of the role of migrant organizations in the local processes of integration.

The ELCI Project is aimed at facilitating joint cooperation between local authorities and migrant organizations on the topic of migrant integration at local level.

Migrant organizations can play a crucial role in the integration process, notably thanks to their in-depth knowledge of customs and cultural norms of their respective communities, and their capacity to identify the specific needs of migrants.

Observing the fact that contacts between local authorities and migrant organizations are often very limited, the partners of the ELCI project decided to work together in seven countries in Europe in order to advance the knowledge and the practices in this field.The Project is thus implemented in the Czech Republic, France, Spain, Italy, Hungary and Poland.

In the Czech Republic, IOM Prague cooperates with NGO Slovo 21 and Centers for Integration of Foreigners of the Refugee Facilities Administration of the Ministry of Interior.

Website for foreigners At home in the Czech Republic

The website for foreigners is runned by IOM Prague from 2003. The core of the website is based in the section Advice for Living where a foreigner can find detailed information on his residence, family issues, employment, business, accommodation, health and healthcare, social issues, education, citizenship and associations. In the Czech version of the website, there can be found detailed address book with contacts at state administration institutions, non-governmental and international organizations assisting foreigners and migrants and other useful contacts.

Consulations and assistance for foreigners

IOM Prague provides under a project implemented jointly with the Ukrainian Initiative in the CR consultancy and assistance services for foreigners.

Integration of foreigners in the field of health care in the Czech Republic (2007)

Donor: Insurance Company of General Health Insurance Company (PVZP a.s.) The project in 2007 will contribute to information dissemination among foreigners in the field of health care and health insurance system in the Czech Republic.

Untold Stories of migrants living in the Czech Republic

Internal Restrictions on the Participation of the Vietnamese and Ukrainian Ethnic Groups on the Czech Labour Market

Funded by CERGE-EI through GDN fund in 2005 year.

INTI 2004: Integration through Information and Training of Public Officials and NGOs (2005-2006)

The project was implemented in 5 countries of the Central Europe: tle Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Poland. The most important activity of this project was direct cooperation with organizations of foreigners.

Firstly, the Needs Assessment of migrants and a basic description of the situation were conducted. The aim of this needs assessment was to identify the needs of foreigners, already provided services and the organizations focusing on the issue of integration. Each country prepared own specific recommendations.

Secondly, there were organized 2 training of trainer sessions allowing integration experts to share expertise with representatives of NGOs and government officials. For the training of trainers there were identified 5 following topics: integration of migrants workers, legal aspects of integration, vulnerable groups, political participation of foreigners, and education and cultural developments.

Pilot Project Integration of Foreigners and Support to Organizations and Associations of Foreign Communities in the Czech Republic (2003)

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