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Children in migrant
families
Statement by the ILO Liaison Office with the
United Nations
Thursday 12 February 2004
Migration increases children’s
vulnerability. Natural disaster, armed conflict or simply limited
economic opportunities in rural areas may push families to migrate
to seek their livelihood elsewhere, either in their own country
or across borders. Younger children may migrate along with their
parents while adolescents may set out on their own.
Migrant workers face various
forms of discrimination, for example, being paid substantially
less than nationals; having less chance of advancement or promotion;
and being less certain of retaining their jobs. This situation
certainly affects the family and specifically children. An ILO
study of workers of Turkish origin in several European countries
showed that they had much higher rates of unemployment than
the population average in each country. The same study concluded
that pupils of Turkish origin had lower- than-average levels
of educational achievement.
There are a number of factors
that increase children’s vulnerability. For example, migration
separates children from their usual support networks; they may
not speak the local language, which can cause problems for schooling;
they may be from a different ethnic group or nationality, exposing
them to discrimination; they may not have a birth certificate,
which, once away from their birthplace, can effectively deny
them official identity and access to services.
Migration can lead to child labour
in places of destination or origin where children may be called
upon to fill gaps in the labour market or to undertake household
tasks that were previously the responsibility of adults.
The ILO focuses on the nexus
between migration and national economic, labour and development
concerns. This makes it possible to consider migration as a
vital aspect of labour markets and an essential feature of the
economic and social development of host and home countries of
migrants. Equally important, the ILO offers the necessary normative
framework, mechanisms and experience to ensure implementation,
follow-up support and the monitoring of decisions, recommendations
or plans related to migrant workers.
Three complementary international
instruments provide the core standards on the subject of migration:
The objective of the four main
ILO instruments (Conventions Nos. 97,
143 and Recommendations
Nos. 86, 151)
is to eliminate discrimination in the employment and living
conditions of migrants. The instruments differ in their approach.
Convention No. 97 and Recommendation No. 86 proscribe inequality
of treatment principally arising out of action by public authorities.
Convention No. 143 and Recommendation 151 aim to promote equality
of opportunity and eliminate discrimination in practice. The
International Labour Conference had two aims when it adopted
instruments on migrant workers: first, to regulate the conditions
in which the migration process takes place, and second, to provide
specific protection for a category of vulnerable workers. ILO
standards are intended to bring about equality of treatment
between nationals and non-nationals.
Convention
No. 143 calls on member States to formulate social policy
that enables migrant workers and their families to share in
advantages enjoyed by nationals, while taking into account their
special needs, and duly respecting the principle of equal opportunity.
Recommendation
No. 86 addresses the issue of family reunification for permanent
migrants. It defines the family to include spouse and dependent
children, as well as mother and father. It provides for favourable
consideration to be given to other family members.
Education has a major role to
play in the integration of migrant children and youth.
As regards the preservation of
cultural identity, states that member States should take steps
to assist and encourage efforts by migrant workers and their
families to preserve their national and ethnic identity.
Recommendation
No. 151 states that migrant workers and members of their
families, lawfully within the territory of a Member, should
enjoy effective equality of opportunity and treatment with nationals
of the country, including with respect to social security measures,
welfare facilities and employment-related benefits.
Convention
No. 143 calls for consultation and the exchange of information
among representatives of governments, employers and workers
on issues of common interest, and also for the purpose of promoting
acceptance of and respect for the principle and of equality
of opportunity and treatment of migrant workers.
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