En esta sección se examinan brevemente los actores no gubernamentales, es decir, la sociedad civil y el sector privado, centrando la atención en la función que desempeñan en la gestión y la gobernanza de la migración a nivel internacional. Su inclusión en la elaboración, implementación y evaluación de las políticas es lo que se conoce como enfoque “pansocial”.

Sociedad civil

La definición de la expresión “sociedad civil” difiere según el contexto, pero por lo general se refiere a una amplia variedad de organizaciones no gubernamentales y sin fines de lucro, que tienen una presencia en la vida pública y se rigen por consideraciones éticas, culturales, políticas, científicas, religiosas o filantrópicas (Banco Mundial, 2007).

La expresión “sociedad civil” abarca una serie de organizaciones y actores formales e informales de la sociedad que promueven un interés colectivo y son distintos del sector público y del sector empresarial. Según la definición que se utilice, pueden en general considerarse parte de la sociedad civil las siguientes entidades:

  • Las organizaciones no gubernamentales, que son organizaciones sin fines de lucro con una estructura o actividad organizada. Por lo general son entidades registradas, e incluyen:
    • las ONG locales e internacionales;
    • las redes de ONG regionales o temáticas;
    • las comunidades o grupos de la diáspora.
  • Las organizaciones confesionales.
  • Los sindicatos y las asociaciones profesionales.
  • El Movimiento Internacional de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja (una entidad no gubernamental internacional con un estatuto especial en el derecho internacional, un híbrido entre una organización intergubernamental y una organización no gubernamental).
  • Los investigadores como los académicos, los centros de reflexión, los estudiosos independientes y las instituciones de investigación.
  • Las fundaciones y fondos filantrópicos.
  • Los nuevos actores de la sociedad civil (como los grupos en línea y las comunidades de los medios sociales).

Non-governmental organizations

The term non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is often used synonymously with civil society, but more correctly refers to a specific category of organizations within the broader definition of civil society organizations. The term is used to refer to many different types of organizations with a wide range of interests and activities. However, they are similar in that they usually hold structured policy dialogues. This includes self-help associations (at the local level), human rights groups, migrant associations, diaspora associations, research and policy groups as well as lobby/advocacy groups and umbrella groups or networks (read more on the role of non-governmental organizations at the national level in Who are stakeholders?).

NGOs are a vital source of information and are valuable partners in migration governance and migration management.They can play a pivotal role in service provision, advocacy and research (including on human rights), consultation, monitoring of policy implementation and other areas. International NGOs and their networks differ in their mission, size and institutional capacities. But they all can have an impact on policy dialogues on migration through informing regional and global processes on migration: for example, through targeted advocacy or by participating in global/regional consultations at intergovernmental level.

To Go Further
Policy Approaches
Working with international NGOs for more effective migration management
  • Draw on the knowledge and experience of international NGOs to inform policymaking processes.
  • Facilitate the participation of international NGOs in regional and international consultations.
  • Consult and cooperate with international NGOs in the development, implementation and evaluation of migration policies at the national level.

Trade unions

Beyond their domestic role, trade unions that are part of regional or global formations can contribute to ensuring consistencies in labour market policies, social protection systems and the protection of migrant workers in both countries of origin and countries of destination (read more on the role of Trade unions at the national level). This role can be particularly useful during the negotiations of bilateral labour migration agreements (BLMAs) and consideration should be given to consulting with trade union representatives in both the countries of origin and destination, where possible and appropriate. (Read more on such agreements and Policy development for labour migration and mobility).

Example
Bilateral labour migration agreement between Nepal and Jordan

Many Nepalese migrants move to Jordan for work. The bilateral labour agreement between Nepal and Jordan signed in 2017 includes language in the standard labour contract for Nepalese migrant workers that enables migrant workers to affiliate with trade unions of their sector in Jordan, in addition to other provisions that have been praised for the protection of migrant workers’ rights. This step can help address the vulnerable positions in which migrant workers often find themselves, for instance because they are not always fully aware of their rights.

Fuente

Wickramasekara, 2018.

To Go Further
Policy Approaches
Working with trade unions for a more effective migration management
  • Where appropriate, involve national/regional trade union formations in policymaking processes.
  •  Include trade union representatives in negotiations of bilateral labour migration agreements (BLMAs).
  • Consult trade unions on the inclusion of appropriate text in BLMAs to ensure the protection of migrant workers.

Note: Further approaches in Policy development for labour migration and mobility.

Academia and research institutions

The importance of informed policymaking for effective, sustainable and strategic migration management has been recognized in international agreements such as the New York Declaration and the subsequent Global Compact for Migration. Objective 1 of the Global Compact for Migration is “Collect and utilize accurate and disaggregated data as a basis for evidence-based policies.”

Research and analysis undertaken by academia, as well as by applied researchers, constitute a valuable source of information for governments to develop evidence-based migration policies and programmes. Researchers can be commissioned to provide analyses to help inform dialogues and approaches at the regional or international level. Other types of partnerships with academia include policy workshops, interactive expert meetings, high-level consultations, and conferences where experts present on specific topics, as is often the case in forums such as the IOM International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) or the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD).

Example
Cross-country research partnerships to inform policy – the case of the Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration Observatories

The Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM) Observatories was one of the initiatives the European Commission funded to improve the knowledge base on migration and to better inform European Union external policy. Established in 2004, the consortium worked through specific projects to improve the understanding of migration patterns to the European Union from origin and transit countries to its east (CARIM-East Observatory, 2011–2013) and south (CARIM-South Observatory, 2004–2013). These observatories brought together experts from the various countries involved and played a key role in filling knowledge gaps. They developed a successful model of cross-country and research-policy collaboration by prompting the production of data in areas where they did not exist, and the linguistic, conceptual and methodological translation of analysis that was otherwise hard to access and compare. Further, they fostered the co-production of research that served the interests of origin and transit countries as well as the European Union. CARIM researchers actively participated in research-policy dialogues by contributing with briefs on migration topics and taking part in working groups on migration. This collaborative experience enabled a more comprehensive understanding of migration patterns in the regions involved and, subsequently, of the European Union’s position in them. This better informed European Union policy while enriching the evidence base on migration for partner countries.

Fuente

Weinar, 2019.

It must also be noted, however, that policy and research sectors operate in different ways, which can pose challenges to such collaborations. For instance, academic review and publication timelines are rather long when policymakers often need evidence and answers quickly.

Policy Approaches
Working with research institutions for a more effective migration management
  • Draw on existing research and/or commission research on migration topics when formulating, implementing and evaluating policies at the national and regional level.
  • Invite research institutions to present their findings in appropriate forums and to advise on policy responses.
  • Facilitate and support multi-country/comparative research in collaboration with research institutions and academia, including supporting partnership models that acknowledge and effectively work with the relevant diversity aspects (for instance, linguistic, research cultures, institutional settings).
  • Draw on the experience and expertise of academic and research institutions to develop in-house research capacity.
Sector privado

Al igual que los sindicatos, muchas empresas del sector privado también tienen vínculos internacionales e intereses creados en la migración. Las empresas desean tener la garantía de que los trabajadores migrantes que contratan poseen las competencias y los conocimientos especializados adecuados. También necesitan reemplazar la fuerza de trabajo en los países en que la población está envejeciendo, y quieren tener acceso oportuno a una reserva de talentos más diversa, lo que puede ser difícil si la movilidad de los trabajadores está restringida (Reis y otros, 2017).

La colaboración con el sector privado, no solo a nivel nacional sino también a nivel internacional, puede ser provechosa (véase más información sobre el papel del sector privado en el plano nacional en el capítulo Etapa 4: Consultas). El intercambio de información sobre el mercado de trabajo entre las entidades de diferentes países permitiría a los distintos Estados obtener un panorama más completo de la dinámica de ese mercado. Esto los ayudaría a desarrollar sistemas de información sobre el mercado laboral que no solo sean compatibles entre los distintos países sino que también contengan información sobre varios países de una región particular. El sector privado puede hacer asimismo una contribución crucial a la creación de empleos y pasantías para integrar a los migrantes en la fuerza de trabajo (Koser, 2013), y prestar un útil apoyo a las alianzas para la adquisición de competencias a nivel mundial (véase más información sobre estas Alianzas en un recuadro anterior del presente capítulo).

La colaboración con entidades del sector privado a nivel internacional puede comenzar con diálogos de políticas, intercambios de conocimientos, cooperación técnica, creación de capacidad, subvenciones y donaciones, y financiación (Reis y otros, 2017). A este nivel, la colaboración con consejos empresariales tales como la Organización Internacional de Empleadores, u otros de carácter nacional como la Federación de Cámaras Indias de Comercio e Industria (sitio web en inglés), puede facilitar el establecimiento de asociaciones con empresas que vayan más allá de las que conciertan normalmente el Foro Económico Mundial, la OIM o el Foro Mundial sobre Migración y Desarrollo (FMMD). Ese tipo de asociaciones se pueden crear, por ejemplo, con empresas que tengan intereses comerciales directos en la migración, como las que realizan transferencias de dinero, que a menudo son de propiedad nacional y, en su mayor parte, son compañías grandes

Policy Approaches
Working with the private sector for a more effective migration management
  • Privilege consultations that address issues of direct interest to the private sector such as:
    • Skills needs/shortages that could be addressed through migration;
    • Generating accurate information on migration;
    • Addressing drivers and root causes of migration;
    • Innovative financing solutions and risk financing;
    • Systemic innovation (reducing management costs, improving transparency, harmonizing reporting and so on);
    • Creating conditions for balanced, sustainable and inclusive economic growth and employment;
    • Strengthening the capacity of educational institutions;
    • Enhancing employment opportunities;
    • Reducing the costs of labour migration;
    • Promoting faster, cheaper and safer transfers of migrant remittances.
  • Involve private sector companies in the design and implementation of a regional labour market information system (LMIS).
  • Consider engaging a wider range of private sector actors than those typically consulted, including companies without a direct business interest in migration that may still benefit from it (for example, through a diverse workforce).
Fuente

Dos Reis, Koser and Levin, 2017.

Example
Private sector consultation: The Global Forum on Migration and Development and the private sector

The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) facilitates dialogue among governments in consultation with other relevant stakeholders in migration and development fields. The private sector has long been recognized as a crucial player in this field. At the Istanbul Summit Meeting in 2015 a “GFMD Business Mechanism” was endorsed with the following objectives, as put forth by the GFMD:

  • Mobilize business federations from around the world to engage on migration issues;
  • Raise awareness among business federations on the work of the GFMD;
  • Carry out surveys and studies on best practices on business and migration issues;
  • Organize a mid-year GFMD thematic business meeting;
  • Provide a space for the private sector to actively participate in and contribute to the GFMD summit meetings, common space and civil society days;
  • Advocate for businesses to promote sound migration policies that take into account economic perspectives.

The Mechanism provides a business perspective on migration policy to the GFMD and the GCM. This perspective is coordinated by the Business Advisory Group, which is housed by the International Organization of Employers (IOE). This group leads substantial work on a range of topics, particularly the need for international skills mobility, fair recruitment and decent work, skills matching and certification recognition, the role of entrepreneurship and circular migration for development.

To Go Further
Mensajes clave
  • La migración suele considerarse como una cuestión transversal, porque afecta e interesa a una amplia gama de organizaciones e instituciones de todos los niveles. Además de los Estados y las organizaciones intergubernamentales, intervienen en este ámbito una serie de actores no estatales, que incluyen a entidades de la sociedad civil como las organizaciones no gubernamentales, sindicatos, círculos académicos y el sector privado.
  • El diseño y la implementación de políticas, legislación, marcos administrativos, y proyectos y programas que entrañan la gobernanza y gestión de la migración son más eficaces cuando esos diversos actores, gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, colaboran entre sí a nivel internacional, regional, nacional y subnacional.