A properly functioning integration process is key to the development of harmonious relationships in a society with a migrant constituency. IOM describes that process as one of “mutual adaptation between the host society and the migrants themselves, both as individuals and as groups” (IOM, 2020a). It implies, on one hand, “a sense of obligation and respect for a core set of values that bind migrants and their host society in a common purpose” (ibid). It covers, at the same time, “the rights and obligations of migrants and host societies, including access to the labour market, health and social services, and education for children and adults” (ibid). It is, in brief, a whole-of-life approach grounded in the concept of the universality of human rights.
That social contract is subject to the normal interplay of interests that inevitably arise in course of human interactions. But in times of crisis, the notion of mutual trust on which successful integration is built can be shaken, while unwanted tensions build up and emotions arise. This may be particularly the case during a pandemic such as COVID-19, when the global community struggles to come to terms with what is happening and is gripped by a generalized sense of unease about what is yet to come. In these uncertain circumstances, it is all too easy for minority groups – migrants included – to become marginalized, to be the targets of discrimination and to experience, overall, a high degree of vulnerability.
There are some well-known structural reasons that account for much of this vulnerability. Even in the best of circumstances, migrants may have to contend with poverty, poor housing conditions, less than secure conditions of employment, difficult working environments and higher mortality rates than their native counterparts. In times of pandemic, these disadvantages are magnified. In addition, migrants tend to be overrepresented in labour market sectors most likely to be affected by confinements and lockdowns, such as the hospitality and home-care industries. Their children may also be at a disadvantage through the lack of language fluency required for remote learning or the lack of appropriate learn-at-home equipment (OECD, 2020a).
Another issue that can arise in times of pandemic is the unjustified designation of migrants as originators of the crisis. The precise origins of the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown as yet, but the very fact that the virus crosses international borders with relative ease has led to the stigmatization of migrants as transmitters of disease. Stigmatization is not only objectively unpleasant; it is also unreasonable and unfair. It opens the way to discrimination, to abuse and more generally to the emergence of inter-ethnic tensions. From a community health point of view, it can also have very negative impacts on migrant behaviour, causing people to hide their symptoms, discouraging them from seeking health care and dissuading them from adopting healthy behaviours. This is all the more regrettable in light of the significant contribution of migrants to the community response to the pandemic, especially as service providers in the health sector (OECD, 2020b).
Migrants may also have difficulty accessing essential services, especially health and educational services. This may be due simply to lack of information about the support available, or lack of familiarity with the criteria governing entitlements or with the mode of operation of government agencies.
Finally, in times of emergency, migrants may not have the language ability or may not be sufficiently connected to mainstream communication loops to keep abreast of rapidly evolving developments. They may not be linguistically able to understand what they may or may not be able to do, at any given point in time.
Policy responses to these challenges cannot be formulated in isolation. Integration issues are multifaceted. Reference has to be made to adjoining policy fields, covering matters such as equal opportunity, social cohesion, employment, public health or education. It is only by bridging these domains that a coherent plan to manage migrant integration can be put together to address the disruptions arising out of a pandemic, whether at the individual, family or community level.
Governments are conscious of this and have responded in multiple ways. The following points describe key interventions, with occasional overlaps between them.
- Developing and implementing a communication strategy to ensure delivery of accurate and up-to-date information about all aspects of the pandemic, measures undertaken to maintain community safety and well-being and reminders about the positive contribution migrants make to social and economic life, especially in the hospitality, transport, health and home-care service sectors;
- Putting in place appropriate measures to prevent or counter expressions of xenophobia and discrimination;
- Ensuring that migrants continue to have access to mainstream public services, with particular reference to health-related facilities;
- Making known and available to migrants any special COVID-19 initiatives extending ad hoc financial or employment support to affected families or individuals;
- Ensuring that migrant youth and children enjoy continuity of education, with special focus on resources and adaptations to enable migrant youth and children to benefit fully from distance-learning arrangements;
- Providing migrants with the opportunity to interact and engage with the receiving community and, in particular, bringing them into consultative and planning processes.
Some examples of specific initiatives that have been attempted are laid out here.