sou · GZB328 · 2011-04-04 00:00:00 — Furthermore, we are of the view that the target group for these policy proposals is all migrants, irrespective of why they came to or on what grounds they obtained a permit, and independent of why a migrant leaves and perhaps chooses to return. In order to describe circular migration patterns that are measurable in official statistics, the Committee requested Statistics (SCB) to carry out a revision of existing statistics. In statistical terms, circular migrants are defined as all individuals who cross a national border at least twice. Statistics show that over 2 000 000 circular moves involving have been made since 850 000 people made circular moves to or from , and about 280 000 of them currently live here. A large proportion of the circular migrants are people born in , and among those born abroad most come from another Nordic country. Evidently, geographic proximity is of major importance for migration but, at the same time, globalisation is clearly having an effect on migration patterns. Inter-Nordic circular migration was largely predominant up to the 1990s but has subsequently decreased slightly while migration exchanges with the EU member states and countries such as and have increased. In the international debate on circular migration, the phe- nomenon is often described as having three winners. The circular migrant benefits from the move by improving his/her living conditions and broadening his/her competence and experience. The country the migrant moves to acquires additional experience and competence and the migrant fills an opening in the labour market that otherwise would have been difficult to fill. The country of origin benefits both from money that the migrants send to their families, which the families use as they see fit, and from the competence and experience acquired by the migrant when he/she returns for longer or shorter periods of time. has also found that knowledge, experience and values are conveyed back to countries of origin from diasporas even when not connected with a physical move (so-called virtual circulation). In all that is essential, the Committee supports this positive view of circular migration and development. In many countries, including within the EU, the concept of circular migration is often equated with programmes for labour migration exchanges between countries, often for certain limited parts of the labour market. Usually such programmes are based on bilateral agreements between countries. calls this managed circular migration and, instead, recommends the pro- motion of spontaneous circular migration, that is to say a system where the individual him/herself decides when he or she should migrate and where the individual employer decides whether to employ labour from a third country. With this approach as a point of departure, all migrants in can be regarded as potential circular migrants. Analogously, all people born in are potential circular migrants since it cannot be ruled out that some of them will move from and at a later stage come back here again. Research and experience show that in order to create the preconditions for integration and perhaps, down the road, circular migration, a form of permit where the migrant to the greatest extent possible can decide over his or her life, is most advantageous. Development is a very complex concept and there are many factors that affect a countrys development. However, the Committee is of the view that through his or her activities and behaviour, an individual migrant can affect development in the country of origin. For example, a migrant may send home money to his/her family, which perhaps makes schooling and hospital care possible. Some of the money sent home is also invested in various ways. Furthermore, the migrant brings competence and knowledge as well as new values with him or her in connection with longer or shorter stays in the country of origin. deems that diasporas play an important role in the development of countries of origin. Many in the diaspora are strongly committed to the development of their countries of origin, either on an individual basis or as part of expat associations or diaspora organisations. 14 percent of population is foreign-born. Correspondingly, also has a diaspora abroad. It is estimated that 250 000 Swedes live abroad. Furthermore, 170 000 migrants born abroad that lived for a period in moved abroad during the 2000s. This Swedish diaspora abroad is of importance for the development in . An essential point of departure for the Committee is that migration is something positive and beneficial to our society. Demographic developments in and labour market needs contribute to the need for migration. In order to be able to compete for international labour must be an attractive country for migrants. has considered the labour immigration reform from a basis for its proposals. During the two years the new rules have been in force, some 14 000 labour immigrants have come to annually, for a long or short period of work. a third of these are people with higher education, while about half have or no formal education. In its work, the Committee has examined in particular three groups of migrants and the ways in which they can contribute to development. At the same time, it is emphasized that all migrant independent of their reasons for coming to have a potential of influencing the development in their countries of origin. The special groups concerns labour migrants who enter the labour market in directly and fill a need here. Many of them intend to return to their countries of origin with their new experience. Through their stay in , international students can add to their competence and experience which may later be beneficial to the country of origin. Entrepreneurs with a foreign background who start businesses in their country of origin contribute to development and create employment. In the same way, entrepreneurs who start businesses in contribute to development and employment here. In order to make it easier for circular migrants to move between different countries the Committee examined the concept of permanent residency permits and residency requirements. proposes an exemption to the rule that a permanent permit is to be revoked when ceases. The proposal means that a permanent permit may be revoked at the earliest five years after in has ceased. A precondition for this is that the person who wishes to retain his/her permanent permit must notify the authorities before departure. This exemption provides additional security for the migrant insofar as the tie to can continue despite that residency ceases for a certain period. Increasing globalisation places new demands on policies and legislation regarding aliens. is of the view that in the long term it should be possible to consider changes to basic concepts such as the residency requirement in the legislation. has observed that a naturalised Swedish citizen may in some cases have to relinquish his or her Swedish citizenship in connection with a move back to the country of origin. This is mainly in cases where the country of origin does not generally accept dual citizenship or does not accept dual citizenship for certain political or government posts. To increase opportunities for circular migration the Committee proposes that the requirements for reacquiring Swedish citizenship be somewhat simplified. proposes that the current provision requiring prior in for a total of ten years should no longer need to be fulfilled before the age of eighteen. A strong tie to based on ten years prior can be attained even though was during adulthood. is of the view that more labour immigrants should be able to come to . There is a shortage of skilled labour in parts of the labour market, which may be reinforced by the demo- graphic structure. Many labour immigrants intend from the beginning to become circular migrants and with their new experience of the labour market have good chances of contributing to development in their countries of origin. This makes them particularly interesting from a migration and development perspective. In order to make the rules for labour immigration more flexible, it is proposed that it should be possible to grant time-limited work permits even after the four year period at which a person is able to apply for permanent residency, if there are special reasons for doing so. The proposal will make it easier for people who do not intend to settle in but who want to work in periodically for short periods. The proposal will also make it easier for people who have been outside the labour market for periods, for example due to parental or sick leave. Another proposal which aims to make the rules more flexible and thereby make it easier for labour migrants is extension of the qualification period for a permanent permit in . The proposal means that the total qualification period of four years with a time-limited permit to work can be fulfilled within an eight year period, instead of a five year period as is the case today. As a result of current eligibility requirements with regard to failed asylum seekers who wish to change queues and apply for a temporary permit for work, only a limited group qualify, although the number of applications that have been approved increased slightly last year. Furthermore, many applications are In light of this, the Committee has found reason to propose a certain relaxation of the requirements for a queue change for failed asylum seekers who have found employment. The simplifications include changing the requirement of at least six months employment to qualify as a labour immigrant to three months employment. In addition, a possibility is introduced of meeting the requirement for a queue change through two employments. In the Committees view, the deadline for sub- mitting an application for a queue change, following a negative decision on asylum that is final and non-appealable, should be extended from two to four weeks. also proposes that family members who have not themselves sought asylum should be able to obtain a temporary permit on grounds of ties to a person who has changed queue from failed asylum seeker to labour immigrant. The Committee considers that in order to preserve the labour immigration reform, potential abuses must be addressed. The reform largely fulfils its purpose, however in some sectors employers have not lived up to the requirements under the system of rules. deems that problems with certain employers who do not fulfil promised working conditions call for a broad review in the near future. Self-employed persons are an important group of migrants both for development in and in countries of origin. establishes that the framework of rules for immigration of entre- preneurs from third countries enables migrants to move here with an existing business or to start a business here. The Committee considers it desirable that more self-employed persons come to and has therefore looked into the difficulties that may exist for this group. A fundamental question is what requirements should be placed on the business plan that is the basis for the application and which authority is best able to judge the business plan. proposes that the Government task an independent actor to investigate how the economic assessment of business plans should be performed and what basic material should be required of the applicant. The aim is to facilitate movement and make it possible for more entrepreneurs to come to and start businesses here. To promote the development potential of migration for countries of origin, support, mainly in the form of counselling, will be offered to entrepreneurs with their origin in developing countries who want to start businesses in their home countries. A project focusing on support for businessmen in post-conflict countries existed previously and the Committee is of the view that it is of major importance that this is continued. In addition, there is a need to extend the target group to include persons from other developing countries. International students are a large and important group of migrants. This is a migrant group that has steadily increased in number in recent years. However, compared with previous years the number of applications for the upcoming autumn term has strongly decreased as a result of the introduction of fees for international students from third countries. International students may be regarded as circular migrants right from the start, since it is usually their intention to stay in for a limited time. At the same time they get their education in and return to their counties of origin with newly acquired knowledge and experience that can contribute to the development of the country of origin. presents several proposals that may contribute to an increase in the number of international students that come to to study and in this way contribute to development in as well as in the country of origin. For those accepted for education at research level, the Committee proposes that a new type of permit be introduced, a permit for doctoral students. This form of permit should, for example, mean a possibility of qualifying for a permanent permit. proposes that members of the family of persons granted a permit for studies at university or college, and who have been granted a time-limited permit, should also be granted a work permit. This can on the one hand increase attractiveness for international students and, on the other, imply an addition of in many cases qualified If the accompanying family member extends his or her qualifications and experiences, this can contribute positively to developments in the country of origin on return. further proposes that international students be able to stay in for six months after completing their studies to find gainful employment here. If they find work in they can both contribute to the Swedish labour market and supplement their education with work experience which may be of importance in the case of a possible future return to their country of origin. has established that the introduction of fees for international students from third countries in connection with studies at Swedish universities and colleges has resulted in a decline in the number of students coming here. This may be negative for people from poor countries, that is to say those countries that have most to gain from education of their young people. The Government has introduced a grants system for students from third countries. However, the Committee considers the grants system should be extended so that more international students from third countries may be awarded grants to study in . therefore proposes that the grants programme addressed to all students from third countries be increased by a further million. It is further proposed that the grants programme administered by , which is addressed to students from countries with which on long-term development cooperation, be increased by an additional million. judges this grants programme to be of particular importance for promoting circular migration and development. Portability of social security benefits Within the EU there is coordination of social security, which is a precondition for free movement and which also acts as an incentive to inhabitants to move between the Member States. Social security is also of major importance for movement in relation to third countries. The possibility to take earned rights from one country to another can be of decisive importance for a decision to move between countries. Swedish social security benefits are either residence-based or employment-based. benefits are largely portable. For example, income-based retirement pension may be taken to any country in the world. has carried out a survey of which social security benefits can be taken to third countries and, at the same time, considered the possibility of increasing the portability of residence- based benefits in relation to third countries. stresses that it is crucial that work on developing the portability of social security between and third countries and between the EU and third countries, continues and developes further. In addition, in cooperation with third countries, should support them in their efforts to develop their social insurance. In the light of the fact that residence-based benefits are tax funded, that there is a danger of double insurance, a lack of reciprocity and also that such a proposal would mean a major modification of the basic design of social insurance, the Committee establishes that a change towards increased portability regarding the residence-based benefits should not be considered at this stage. The Committee considered changes regarding the sickness benefit based income (SGI) for a person working abroad. proposes that a person who has worked abroad and returns within five years, within three months prolonged protection as from the day after his/her arrival in should recover at least the SGI that applied immediately before departure. Further deliberations with reference to a proposal of this nature or the formulation of alternative solutions we leave to . In order to simplify and promote circular migration, the Committee considers it should be possible, given certain conditions, and to the same extent as in the EU, for job seekers with unemployment benefit to seek employment in third countries for three months while retaining their Swedish unemployment benefit. However, the final formulation of such a proposal needs to be further elaborated. Increasing the positive development effects of circular migration A central task of the Committee is to look into how the positive development effects of migration can be promoted. The development to which migrants contribute takes place both through the circular migration that is already going on and through the ties to and relations with the home country that migrants have even when they are in . is of the view that the role of the state is to support and facilitate these ongoing processes in different ways and thereby strengthen the existing development potential. Development effects resulting from efforts of the diaspora Increasing attention at the international level, and nowadays also in , is given to the large flows of money, remittances, that migrants send home to their families in countries of origin. The sum of this private money is estimated to be several times larger than the total development assistance that developed countries send to developing countries. establishes that in many cases the fees charged today by banks and different financial institutions to transfer money home to families are disproportionately high. therefore proposes that the Government instruct, for example, the in its consumer guidance in accordance with international models and models, to construct an Internet service where the consumer can find the cheapest service for transferring a given amount of money to a given country. A service of this nature will mean that a larger share of the money will reach recipients and contribute to the development. Collective remittances, money collected by the diaspora used to give support to the country of origin, have greatly increased in scale. This refers partly to money collected in campaigns and partly to larger philanthropic contributions. Some of the collective remittances are used for more long-term development projects, a large share is used for more short-term relief work in connection with various kinds of disasters. Analysts are of the view that these collective remittances are as large as, or larger than, total international development assistance. proposes that in a three-year pilot scheme the Government contribute to development projects initiated by a diaspora organisation or other association of members of a diaspora, an amount equivalent to the amount they themselves can mobilise. A committee specially appointed for the purpose at the proposed should evaluate and assess applications to avoid funds being paid to activities that do not have the desired development potential. should also give support in different ways to diaspora organisations and other associations of members of diaporas to take part in development in their countries of origin. This can be effected by giving diasporas professional support on the one hand to plan their development activities and, on the other, in the implementation of the projects. This support can be given through counselling and customised courses. Another function may be to build and maintain networks for diaspora organisations and other association in diasporas. should have a long-term mandate since this is a process that can be expected to take several years before it reaches full impact. Development effects resulting from circular movement has established that there is a and pre- paredness among members of the diaspora in to return to their country of origin for a limited time in order to engange in development-relevant activities. Experience has shown that the expertise needed for the further development of a country has often moved out and can be found in the diaspora. These people in the diaspora are in many cases highly motivated to contribute to the development of their country of origin by working there. We consider that in their development work Swedish authorities and organisations should note and utilise the qualified resource available in parts of the diaspora in to a greater extent than is the case today. proposes that a newly established be instructed as part of its remit to create, by means of informational efforts and in other ways, meeting places for people in the diaspora who want to contribute to the development of their country of origin. should also undertake efforts to ensure an increase in the supply of voluntary activities and the like, that link the diaspora in with activities in the country of origin relevant in a development context. A special grants programme will also be set up to enable to some extent participation in activities important for development. The newly established will be tasked to collect applications showing interest from members with expert competence in the diaspora who can constitute a resource base for projects. It should be possible to give financial support to experts who carry out individual expert efforts in their countries of origin. The activities of the Centre should be evaluated after three years. Development effects through the Swedish diaspora abroad deems that the resource which the Swedish diaspora abroad constitutes, irrespective of whether it consists of persons born in or of migrants that have lived here a time, should be used to a greater extent to promote Swedish interests. Many embassies and consulates already carry on cooperation with this diaspora today, however the Committee proposes that missions abroad be instructed to, in their activities, systematically create interfaces with the whole of the extended Swedish diaspora. Swedish authorities circular migration efforts policy for circular migration and development must as far as possible be based on knowledge of circular migration streams and the effects of migration on development. Continued development of the policy area is furthered by increasing knowledge. assesses that it should be possible for the authorities that keep statistics to get more out of the basic material that has already been collected. However, there is also reason to consider whether other basic data need to be collected and if they need to be organised differently for it to be possible to describe modern migration.