Table of Contents

TOPIC PAGE

MIGRATION POLICIES : DEFINITION 2

AIMS OF MIGRATION POLICIES 2

OBJECTIVES OF MIGRATION POLICIES 2

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MIGRATION POLICIES 3

MIGRATION POLICIES IN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 4

GENDER AND POVERTY ISSUES IN MIGRATION 6

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Migration Policies

Definition
Migration policies are the laws, regulations, programs, and strategies adopted by governments
to regulate and manage population movement, both internally and across borders.

“Migration policy comprises all governmental actions that influence the volume, direction, and
composition of migration flows.”
— International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Aims of Migration Policies

• To manage migration flows efficiently and sustainably
• To protect national security and sovereignty
• To ensure economic development through labor migration
• To safeguard the rights and welfare of migrants
• To respond to humanitarian crises (e.g., war, disasters)
• To promote social cohesion and integration

Objectives of Migration Policies

1. Regulate Entry, Stay, and Exit o Visa systems,
work permits, citizenship laws
2. Promote Legal and Safe Migration o Prevent
human trafficking and smuggling
3. Address Labor Market Needs o
Skilled/unskilled labor migration management
4. Encourage Return and Reintegration o
Voluntary return programs and rehabilitation
5. Support Refugees and Displaced Persons o
Asylum policies, refugee resettlement, humanitarian
aid
6. Integrate Migrants into Host Society o Access
to education, healthcare, housing, and legal services

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 7. Coordinate International Cooperation o
Bilateral/multilateral agreements (e.g., SAARC,
UNHCR collaboration)

Historical Background of Migration Policies

🔸 Pre-Modern Era
• Migration was often unregulated, influenced by empires, wars, and religious conquests.
• No structured migration policies—movement was fluid and often uncontrolled.

🔸 Colonial Period (16th–20th Century)

• Forced migration through slavery and indentured labor (e.g., British Empire’s use of
Indian laborers).
• Migration was used as a tool of control and exploitation.

🔸 Early 20th Century

• Post-World War I and II saw mass displacement and the beginning of organized refugee
movements.
• Nations began to formulate laws to control borders and immigration.

🔸 Post-1945: Institutionalization
• UNHCR (1950) created to handle refugee crises
• 1951 Refugee Convention provided legal frameworks for refugee protection
• Countries started to develop national migration laws and visa systems

🔸 Cold War Period (1947–1991)

• Migration was politically charged: refugees vs. defectors
• Labor migration increased, especially to Western Europe and Gulf countries

🔸 Post-1990s: Globalization Era

• Migration became more diverse, faster, and more complex •
Emphasis on:
o Skilled labor migration (e.g., IT, health sector) o Migration
and development linkages
o Border securitization and anti-terrorism policies post-9/11

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🔸 21st Century Challenges
• Climate-induced migration, forced displacement, and irregular migration grew
rapidly
• Rise of regional migration policies (EU, ASEAN, GCC)
• Introduction of Global Compact for Migration (GCM, 2018)

Migration Policies in Bangladesh

• BMET (Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training): oversees overseas labor
migration
• Probashi Kallyan Bank: financial inclusion of migrants
• Rohingya Refugee Management: in partnership with UNHCR and IOM
• National Urban Policy 2011: addresses internal rural-urban migration

Migration Policies in Developed and

Developing Countries
Migration policies vary significantly between developed and developing countries due to
differences in economic goals, political stability, population pressures, and labor market
needs.

🔵 1. Developed Countries
🔹 Key Features:
• Highly regulated and structured migration systems
• Focus on skilled labor migration and point-based immigration systems
• Strong border control and visa regimes
• Robust integration policies (language, education, civic training) • Increasing attention to
national security and irregular migration

🔹 Main Objectives:
• Attract skilled professionals and high-income migrants

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 • Fill labor shortages in health, IT, construction, and aging-care sectors
• Maintain demographic balance due to aging population
• Protect national identity and social cohesion

🔹 Examples:
• USA: Green card system, H-1B visa (skilled labor), border enforcement
• Canada: Point-based skilled migration; refugee resettlement programs
• EU countries: Blue Card scheme, Schengen visa for intra-European mobility
• Australia: Skilled migration list, strict border policies for irregular migration

🟢 2. Developing Countries
🔹 Key Features:
• Migration policies often focus on emigration, particularly labor export
• Internal migration often unregulated or informally managed
• Weak infrastructure for refugee protection or integration
• Reliance on remittances from overseas workers • Policies tend to be reactive, not
proactive or rights-based 🔹 Main Objectives:

• Promote overseas employment to ease unemployment

• Maximize foreign remittances for economic stability
• Reduce urban congestion caused by rural-urban migration
• Manage refugee influxes and displacement from conflict or climate change 🔹

Examples:
• Bangladesh: Oversees labor migration via BMET; remittance-based economy
• India: Emigration policy framework for Gulf-bound workers; internal migration remains
largely unregulated
• Philippines: Highly organized labor export policies; welfare of OFWs (Overseas Filipino
Workers)
• Nigeria: Focus on irregular migration control and diaspora engagement

Comparison Table
Aspect Developed Countries Developing Countries
Policy Focus Immigration & integration Emigration & remittance flow

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Labor Preference Skilled migration Unskilled/semi-skilled migration
Border Control Strong and highly enforced Weaker or underdeveloped
Refugee Policies Structured under UN norms Often reactive and resource-limited
Internal Migration Managed through urban planning Poorly regulated, informal
Return Migration Reintegration programs available Lacks structured reintegration
Aspect Developed Countries Developing Countries
Social Integration Focused (education, rights) Weak or absent

Key Observations
• Developed nations see migration as a selective tool for economic and demographic
needs
• Developing nations view migration as an economic survival strategy through
remittances
• There’s a growing need for cooperation between sending (developing) and receiving
(developed) countries for fair and safe migration governance

Gender and Poverty Issues in Migration

Migration is not a gender-neutral or class-neutral process. Both gender and poverty deeply
influence who migrates, how they migrate, and the consequences they face during and after
migration. These factors intersect to create unequal experiences and vulnerabilities.

🔸 1. Gender Issues in Migration

🔹 Differentiated Migration Patterns
• Men are more likely to migrate for formal employment (construction, manufacturing,
etc.)
• Women are more likely to migrate for domestic, caregiving, and informal sector jobs
• In some regions, feminization of migration is increasing (e.g., nurses, caregivers,
housemaids)

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🔹 Key Gender Challenges

Challenge Female Migrants Male Migrants

Domestic work, caregiving Construction, manufacturing
Employment Type
(informal) (formal/informal)
Wages and Lower pay, sexual harassment, Often exploited in harsh labor
Exploitation abuse conditions
Challenge Female Migrants Male Migrants
Often excluded from labor
Legal Protection May lack protection, but more visible
laws
Trafficking & Violence High vulnerability to
Risk of exploitation, but less targeted
Risk trafficking, abuse
Limited reproductive health
Health Access Occupational injuries more common
services

🔹 Social and Emotional Impacts

• Female migrants face double burdens: work + caregiving (even remotely)
• Separation from children and families causes psychological stress

🔸 2. Poverty and Migration

🔹 How Poverty Influences Migration
• Poor households often migrate out of economic necessity
• Migration is a survival strategy in rural areas with no jobs or land
• Lack of resources leads to irregular or unsafe migration routes

🔹 Barriers Faced by the Poor

• Cannot afford safe/legal migration channels
• Prone to trafficking, debt bondage, or informal recruitment
• End up in low-paying, insecure jobs with no legal protections
• Poor education = less chance for upward mobility through migration

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🔹 Remittance Dependency
• Families often depend on migrant remittances for basic needs
• But migration can also lead to indebtedness due to broker fees or visa costs

🔸 3. Intersectionality: Gender + Poverty = Double

Vulnerability
• Poor women migrants face multiple layers of discrimination:
➤ As women
➤ As poor workers
➤ As migrants
➤ Often as ethnic or racial minorities
• Example: Female domestic workers from South Asia or Africa in Gulf countries often
face abuse, lack of rights, and no legal recourse

🔸 4. Policy Implications
• Need for gender-sensitive migration policies
• Ensure safe migration pathways for women and the poor
• Include domestic workers in labor laws and provide legal aid
• Pre-departure training and awareness to avoid exploitation
• Promote economic opportunities at origin to reduce distress migration

🔸 5. Bangladesh Example
• Many female migrants from Bangladesh work as domestic helpers in the Middle East
• Reports of abuse, unpaid wages, and lack of legal protection are common
• Poor rural women are most affected, with limited literacy and bargaining power
• Government and NGOs (like BRAC) have started safe migration programs, but
implementation is uneven

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