On the picture Mr. Martin Wyss, Chief of Mission, IOM International Organization for Migration.
By Carlotta Duken.
Global migration flows have become the norm. Everyday we encounter images of migrants and refugees – fearing for their lives on boats, suffering disastrous circumstances in refugee camps, or desperately waiting in front of a border fence. According to the EU, over 65 million people are forcibly displaced across the globe.
Although migration is not a new phenomenon, recent years have shown a rapid politicization of the issue which increasingly preoccupies policymakers worldwide looking for solutions and strategies in dealing with migratory challenges. How looks the global migration management? What can states do to facilitate the integration of asylum-seekers and refugees? Moreover, who assures that migrants’ rights and well-being is protected?
An increasingly significant role is held by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which is the “world’s leading intergovernmental organization dedicated to the well-being, safety and engagement of migrant”, counting 166 member states and being present at over 400 field locations worldwide (http://www.iom.int/). Since its foundation in 1951, the IOM has been significant in alleviating the humanitarian suffering caused by war, conflict or environmental catastrophe through its on-site efforts and its cooperation with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. Amongst its most important functions is the provision of humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, as well as facilitating solutions and international cooperation on human migration management.
The annual New Year’s Reception hosted by the IOM on February 2nd 2017 at Carlton Ambassador Hotel in The Hague gave occasion to reflect an eventful past year for the organization. Besides celebrating its 65th anniversary, IOM has reached a great milestone in its history when it became a Related Organization of the UN in September 2016.
This year’s reception addressed two very different themes: Labor market integration of refugees on the one hand, and return of migrants on the other hand. The event was opened by Martin Wyss, IOM’S Chief of Mission in the Netherlands. He has been part of the organization since 1993 and has served in seven missions – five of them as Chief of Mission – in Mozambique, Switzerland, Croatia, Macedonia, Armenia, Moldova and the Netherlands. Mr. Wyss warmly welcome the guests and introduced the two guest speakers.
This year’s reception addressed two different themes: Labor market integration of refugees on the one hand, return of migrants on the other hand.
Attaining a job is crucial for the integration into society and culture of the host country.
In 2016, IOM Netherlands has launched two pilot projects aimed at facilitating the access to the Dutch labor market for asylum seekers and refugees. Skills2Work improves the access of beneficiaries of international protection, service providers and employers to specific information and services relating to skills recognition. Therefore, the initiative created a regional review of good practices on the themes of skills recognition, skills validation and employment of asylum seekers and refugees. VOORwerk supports permit holders in finding a job by offering information, training and individual guidance. In November, 2016, four hundred status holders benefited from training, counselling and work placements to prepare them for the Dutch labor market.
In the context of the Skills2Work program, but also in the IOM’s everyday need for interpreters on-site, IOM has worked together with the Tolk- en Vertaalcentrum Nederland (TVCN) for many years now. Robert Blauw, the director of the TVCN, presented an exemplary initiative of labor market integration of refugees in his speech. In cooperation with Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland, TVCN was able to assist refugees in entering the Dutch labor market by providing them a 6-months training as interpreters.
The selection process works competitively, whereby 20 out of 150 applicants were chosen for the first class of interpreters. The high level of motivation amongst the participating refugees is reflected in their above-average success rates. Those that successfully finished the training had no problem in finding a job right away. Through its initiative, TVCN showed a great example of building bridges – using the potential and talent of people that relied on social benefits and turning it into a job. Meanwhile, the fourth class of interpreters will begin their training shortly.
While the integration of refugees and migrants into the Dutch society depicts a key challenge for the future, it is self-evident that not all arrivals will be able to stay in the Netherlands. The IOM supports migrants that voluntarily return to their country of origin or to a third country where permanent residence is guaranteed. Thereby, it supports the migrants before, during and after their journeys both in practical and financial matters.
Similarly to the IOM, the Dutch government facilitates the return of foreign nationals to their home countries. The second speaker of the reception was Hans Faber, director of the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V) which operates on behalf of the Ministry of Security and Justice in the Netherlands. Most returnees decide on their own to return and do so voluntarily with IOM. Those who do not are returned with DT&V. In his speech, Mr. Faber emphasized that the subject of return is particularly difficult, as it is emotional for individuals that need to return while at the same time constituting a political subject which can cause tensions between countries.
The primary goal of the DT&V is always the protection of people, not their return. However, in order to guarantee that those people in need of protection can be safeguarded, return mechanism need to be in place. This simply means that if countries of origin are safe again, return policy can be implemented to foreign nationals in order to enable the Netherlands to provide protection for people from current conflict or persecution.
In sum, even though there might be opposite facets on this matter, both the labor market integration and the return of migrants represent the complexity of challenges where countries, governmental and non-governmental agencies are dealing with on a daily basis with regards to migration.
Both integration and repatriation have to be functional in order to create an asylum system which protects and safeguards the individual.
