Brussels, 03/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - More and more emigrants are targeting OECD countries in search of a job or to join their family. This confirms that, since the mid-1990s, the trend towards growing international migration is continuing despite the worsening economic situation in certain member countries of OECD. This comes from the OECD's annual report, entitled "Trends in international migration", published at the end of January.
This publication tells of a considerable increase in the number of permanent immigrants to the United States: over a million were recorded in 2001 and 2002 (25% more than in 2000). In the same period, migratory flows to countries such as Austria, France, Switzerland, Canada and New Zealand were sustained. Korea, Japan and certain North European countries were the only ones not to note a rapid increase in the number of new arrivals. The period 2001-2002 was characterised by a considerable increase in migration for reasons of temporary and permanent employment, for all categories of worker (qualified, seasonal, placement students, "active holiday-makers", people being seconded within multinationals, cross-border), indicates the OECD report, adding that other categories of entrants, such as family, refugees and students, have continued to move forward. The report also reveals a changing geography of migratory flows, as demonstrated by the emergence of "new itineraries", with an increase in arrivals of Asian nationals (Chinese and Filipinos, amongst others), and from Russia, Ukraine and Latin America to all OECD member countries.
The report also states that changes occurred in the migration policies in OECD member countries, with a view to getting on top of the growing number of asylum seekers and to recruit qualified overseas workers, and other forms of foreign labour force (care professional for children and the elderly, for example). It also specifies that in 2002 and 2003, Denmark, France, Greece and Portugal brought in new laws governing the entry, residence and work of overseas nationals; Others, such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Switzerland changed their rules on asylum. Lastly, it summarises the main directives to harmonise migration policies within the EU (Info: Jean-Pierre Garson, OECD in Paris, Tel +331452474. Website: http://www.eocd.org ).