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Guidelines on International Labor Migration Statistics, the 20th ICLS

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Preamble

The 20th Internat(i)onal Conference of Labour Stat(i)st(i)c(i)ans (ICLS),

In response to the resolut(i)on concern(i)ng further work on labour m(i)grat(i)on stat(i)st(i)cs adopted by the 19th Internat(i)onal Conference of Labour Stat(i)st(i)c(i)ans (2013),

Recall(i)ng the (i)mpl(i)cat(i)ons of the ILO Const(i)tut(i)on (1919), the Forced Labour

Convent(i)on, 1930 (No. 29), the M(i)grat(i)on for Employment Convent(i)on (Rev(i)sed), 1949

(No. 97) and the accompany(i)ng M(i)grat(i)on for Employment Recommendat(i)on (Rev(i)sed), 1949 (No. 86), the Convent(i)on Relat(i)ng to the Status of Refugees (1951) and (i)ts Protocol relat(i)ng to the Status of Refugees (1967), the M(i)grant Workers (Supplementary Prov(i)s(i)ons) Convent(i)on, 1975 (No. 143) and the accompany(i)ng M(i)grant Workers

Recommendat(i)on, 1975 (No. 151), the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and

Res(i)l(i)ence Recommendat(i)on, 2017 (No. 205), the Internat(i)onal Convent(i)on on the Protect(i)on of the R(i)ghts of All M(i)grant Workers and Members of The(i)r Fam(i)l(i)es (1990), the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons Convent(i)on aga(i)nst Transnat(i)onal Organ(i)zed Cr(i)me and the Protocols thereto (2003), the Mar(i)t(i)me Labour Convent(i)on, 2006, as amended, the outcomes of the Tr(i)part(i)te Meet(i)ng on Issues relat(i)ng to M(i)grant F(i)shers (2017) and relevant (i)nternat(i)onal and reg(i)onal (i)nstruments, (i)n part(i)cular the General Agreement on Trade (i)n Serv(i)ces (1995), mode 4, 

Follow(i)ng up the resolut(i)on concern(i)ng fa(i)r and effect(i)ve labour m(i)grat(i)on governance

(2017), the 2030 Agenda for Susta(i)nable Development adopted by the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons General Assembly (2015) and the Report of the D(i)rector‐General ent(i)tled Fa(i)r m(i)grat(i)on: Sett(i)ng an ILO agenda (2014), 

Hav(i)ng rev(i)ewed the relevant texts of the Recommendat(i)ons on Stat(i)st(i)cs of Internat(i)onal M(i)grat(i)on, Rev(i)s(i)on 1 (1998), adopted by the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons Stat(i)st(i)cal

Comm(i)ss(i)on, the resolut(i)on concern(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs of ch(i)ld labour adopted by the 18th

Internat(i)onal Conference of Labour Stat(i)st(i)c(i)ans (ICLS) (i)n 2008, the Internat(i)onal Recommendat(i)ons for Tour(i)sm Stat(i)st(i)cs 2008, the resolut(i)on concern(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs of work, employment and labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on adopted by the 19th ICLS (i)n 2013, and the Pr(i)nc(i)ples and Recommendat(i)ons for Populat(i)on and Hous(i)ng Censuses, Rev(i)s(i)on 3 (2017), adopted by the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons Stat(i)st(i)cal Comm(i)ss(i)on.

Recogn(i)z(i)ng that wh(i)le a s(i)gn(i)f(i)cant major(i)ty of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants are m(i)grant workers, (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on (i)s a broader phenomenon than what (i)s covered by the Recommendat(i)ons on Stat(i)st(i)cs of Internat(i)onal M(i)grat(i)on, Rev(i)s(i)on 1, that there (i)s, therefore, a need for (i)nternat(i)onal recommendat(i)ons on all aspects of (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on, that the lack of comprehens(i)ve stat(i)st(i)cal (i)nformat(i)on regard(i)ng (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on and (i)ts (i)mpact on nat(i)onal development has h(i)ndered the effect(i)ve (i)ntegrat(i)on of labour m(i)grat(i)on (i)nto nat(i)onal development strateg(i)es, and that the absence of (i)nternat(i)onal standards regard(i)ng concepts, def(i)n(i)t(i)ons and methodolog(i)es for the measurement of (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on and m(i)grant workers cont(i)nues to be a major obstacle to the product(i)on of harmon(i)zed stat(i)st(i)cs, Recogn(i)z(i)ng that legal author(i)t(i)es (i)n countr(i)es may have a mandate to regulate (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grat(i)on to and from the(i)r terr(i)tor(i)es, and that the reg(i)strat(i)on conducted to adm(i)n(i)ster and enforce such regulat(i)ons may serve as a bas(i)s for stat(i)st(i)cs, 

Acknowledg(i)ng the ILO r(i)ghts‐based approach to labour m(i)grat(i)on, that the methods and measures concern(i)ng (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on and m(i)grant workers (i)n a g(i)ven country w(i)ll depend on the nat(i)onal context and pol(i)cy pr(i)or(i)t(i)es and spec(i)f(i)c user needs, and that the(i)r (i)mplementat(i)on w(i)ll therefore, to a certa(i)n extent, be determ(i)ned by nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances,

Endorses th(i)s 18th day of October 2018 the follow(i)ng gu(i)del(i)nes and encourages countr(i)es to test the conceptual framework on wh(i)ch they are based. 

Object(i)ves and scope

1. Internat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on (i)s a r(i)s(i)ng pol(i)cy pr(i)or(i)ty and there (i)s a need to respond equ(i)tably to the (i)nterests of countr(i)es of or(i)g(i)n and countr(i)es of dest(i)nat(i)on, as well as to the (i)nterests of m(i)grant workers. To be effect(i)ve, pol(i)c(i)es must be based on strong ev(i)dence, (i)nclud(i)ng the number of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)nvolved, the(i)r character(i)st(i)cs and the(i)r employment patterns. Internat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on may take the form of (i)nternat(i)onal labour mob(i)l(i)ty, as temporary or short‐term movement of persons across countr(i)es for employment‐related purposes (i)n the context of the free movements of workers (i)n reg(i)onal econom(i)c commun(i)t(i)es. 

2. The term (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on (i)s used (i)n the present gu(i)del(i)nes as a gener(i)c term to refer, (i)n general, to concepts related to the process and outcome of (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on and, (i)n part(i)cular, to the follow(i)ng three concepts:

3. These gu(i)del(i)nes a(i)m at support(i)ng countr(i)es to develop the(i)r nat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cs on (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on and at encourag(i)ng them to test the conceptual framework suggested (i)n the gu(i)del(i)nes. 

4. In general, stat(i)st(i)cs of (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on should cover the reference populat(i)on, compr(i)s(i)ng all persons who are usual res(i)dents of the country, regardless of sex, country of or(i)g(i)n or c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p (nat(i)onal(i)ty), (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th the Pr(i)nc(i)ples and Recommendat(i)ons for Populat(i)on and Hous(i)ng Censuses, Rev(i)s(i)on 3 (2017). For the purpose of these gu(i)del(i)nes, the reference populat(i)on also (i)ncludes persons who are not usual res(i)dents (i)n the country but who are, nevertheless, (i)n the labour force or potent(i)al labour force or any other forms of work (i)n that country, such as front(i)er workers, seasonal workers, (i)t(i)nerant workers, documented and undocumented m(i)grant workers, project‐t(i)ed workers, spec(i)f(i)ed‐employment workers, seafarers and workers on an offshore (i)nstallat(i)on.1 Refugees and asylum‐seekers may be members of the labour force (i)n the dest(i)nat(i)on country, but the(i)r reason for leav(i)ng the country of or(i)g(i)n (i)s purportedly to seek (i)nternat(i)onal protect(i)on and (i)s not to seek work.

5. In countr(i)es w(i)th a s(i)gn(i)f(i)cant (i)nflow of short‐term or temporary m(i)grant workers, employment stat(i)st(i)cs should be supplemented, to the extent poss(i)ble, by (i)nformat(i)on on the employment character(i)st(i)cs of non‐usual res(i)dents work(i)ng (i)n the nat(i)onal terr(i)tory, so as to perm(i)t analys(i)s of the(i)r s(i)tuat(i)on and the(i)r (i)mpact on the labour market.

6. The common concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons recommended (i)n the present gu(i)del(i)nes are coherent w(i)th the current (i)nternat(i)onal standards and gu(i)del(i)nes on the subject of stat(i)st(i)cs on work adopted by the 19th ICLS, the Recommendat(i)ons on Stat(i)st(i)cs of Internat(i)onal M(i)grat(i)on, Rev(i)s(i)on 1 (1998), and the Pr(i)nc(i)ples and Recommendat(i)ons for Populat(i)on and Hous(i)ng Censuses, Rev(i)s(i)on 3 (2017). 

7. A pr(i)mary concern of the ILO (i)s to (i)dent(i)fy and measure stocks and flows of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, and on that bas(i)s to promote measures to protect them through a r(i)ghtsbased approach. It (i)s (i)mportant to promote labour m(i)grat(i)on that (i)mproves the welfare of m(i)grant workers and the(i)r fam(i)l(i)es both (i)n the(i)r country of or(i)g(i)n and (i)n the(i)r country of dest(i)nat(i)on.

8. The purpose of these gu(i)del(i)nes (i)s to help countr(i)es to develop the(i)r nat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal system by collect(i)ng comparable stat(i)st(i)cs on (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on (i)n order to prov(i)de an (i)mproved (i)nformat(i)on base for the var(i)ous users, tak(i)ng account of spec(i)f(i)c nat(i)onal needs and c(i)rcumstances. Such a system should be des(i)gned to ach(i)eve a number of object(i)ves, (i)n part(i)cular to obta(i)n a better understand(i)ng of the m(i)grat(i)on process; to assess the soc(i)o‐demograph(i)c character(i)st(i)cs and cond(i)t(i)ons of work and the equ(i)table treatment of d(i)fferent groups of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers; and to study the relat(i)ve status of the d(i)sadvantaged groups of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers that are of spec(i)f(i)c pol(i)cy concern.

9. To ach(i)eve these object(i)ves, the (i)ntegrated nat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal system should be developed (i)n consultat(i)on w(i)th the var(i)ous users of the stat(i)st(i)cs and, to the extent poss(i)ble, (i)n harmony w(i)th the collect(i)on of other econom(i)c, demograph(i)c and soc(i)al stat(i)st(i)cs. Cho(i)ces regard(i)ng the concepts and top(i)cs covered and the(i)r d(i)fferent frequenc(i)es of measurement and/or report(i)ng w(i)ll depend on the(i)r nat(i)onal relevance and the resources ava(i)lable. Each country should establ(i)sh an appropr(i)ate strategy for data collect(i)on and stat(i)st(i)cal report(i)ng that ensures the progress and susta(i)nab(i)l(i)ty of the system.

10. In develop(i)ng the(i)r stat(i)st(i)cs on (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on, countr(i)es should endeavour to (i)ncorporate the gu(i)del(i)nes recommended below (i)n order to promote (i)nternat(i)onal comparab(i)l(i)ty and to perm(i)t the evaluat(i)on of trends and d(i)fferences (i)n the magn(i)tude, patterns and consequences, for countr(i)es and (i)nd(i)v(i)duals, of the stocks and flows of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers.

Concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons

Res(i)dent populat(i)on

11. In l(i)ne w(i)th the Pr(i)nc(i)ples and Recommendat(i)ons for Populat(i)on and Hous(i)ng Censuses, Rev(i)s(i)on 3, the res(i)dent populat(i)on of a country compr(i)ses all persons who are usual res(i)dents of the country, regardless of sex, nat(i)onal or(i)g(i)n, c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p or geograph(i)c locat(i)on of the(i)r place of work. Th(i)s (i)ncludes stateless persons and non‐c(i)t(i)zens who are usual res(i)dents but have no documentat(i)on of res(i)dence. It also (i)ncludes usual res(i)dents who work outs(i)de the country (e.g. front(i)er workers, seasonal workers, other short‐term m(i)grant workers, volunteer workers and nomads). 

Res(i)dent producer un(i)ts

12. In l(i)ne w(i)th the System of Nat(i)onal Accounts, a res(i)dent producer un(i)t (i)s an econom(i)c un(i)t whose pr(i)nc(i)pal funct(i)on (i)s the product(i)on of goods and serv(i)ces and whose centre of econom(i)c (i)nterest (i)s w(i)th(i)n the econom(i)c terr(i)tory of a g(i)ven country.

Internat(i)onal m(i)grants

13. Internat(i)onal m(i)grants (i)nclude all those res(i)dents of a g(i)ven country who have ever changed the(i)r country of usual res(i)dence. For the purpose of pract(i)cal measurement and (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons recommendat(i)ons, (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be measured as “all persons who are usual res(i)dents of that country and who are c(i)t(i)zens of another country (fore(i)gn populat(i)on) or whose place of b(i)rth (i)s located (i)n another country (fore(i)gnborn populat(i)on)”. In part(i)cular:

  • the fore(i)gn‐born populat(i)on of a country (i)ncludes all persons who have that country as the country of the(i)r usual res(i)dence and whose place of b(i)rth (i)s located (i)n another country. They correspond to the stock of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants who have m(i)grated at least once (i)n the(i)r l(i)fe and currently res(i)de outs(i)de the(i)r country of b(i)rth. People born outs(i)de the(i)r country of current res(i)dence but who are c(i)t(i)zens of that country at b(i)rth (e.g. born abroad of nat(i)onal parent(s) l(i)v(i)ng abroad) are somet(i)mes excluded from the count of fore(i)gn‐born populat(i)on. The recorded country of b(i)rth refers to the geograph(i)cal ent(i)ty at the t(i)me of data collect(i)on. Nat(i)ve born persons can be nat(i)onals or fore(i)gn c(i)t(i)zens or both;
  • the fore(i)gn populat(i)on of a country (i)ncludes all persons who do not have c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p of the country of the(i)r usual res(i)dence. It (i)ncludes res(i)dent stateless persons. It excludes (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants who have acqu(i)red c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p of the(i)r country of usual res(i)dence. The fore(i)gn populat(i)on can be fore(i)gn‐born or nat(i)ve‐born.

Internat(i)onal m(i)grant workers

14. The concept of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)s meant to measure the current labour attachment of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants (i)n a country, (i)rrespect(i)ve of the (i)n(i)t(i)al purpose of m(i)grat(i)on, and of others who are not usual res(i)dents of the country but have current labour attachment (i)n the country of measurement. In th(i)s context, the terms “(i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers” and “(i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant and non‐res(i)dent fore(i)gn workers” are equ(i)valent. They are def(i)ned, for stat(i)st(i)cal purposes, as all persons of work(i)ng age present (i)n the country of measurement who are (i)n one of the follow(i)ng two categor(i)es:

  • (a) usual res(i)dents: (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants who, dur(i)ng a spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od, were (i)n the labour force of the country of the(i)r usual res(i)dence, e(i)ther (i)n employment or (i)n unemployment;
  • (b) not usual res(i)dents, or non‐res(i)dent fore(i)gn workers: persons who, dur(i)ng a spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od, were not usual res(i)dents of the country but were present (i)n the country and had labour attachment to the country, (i).e., were e(i)ther (i)n employment supply(i)ng labour to res(i)dent producer un(i)ts of that country or were seek(i)ng employment (i)n that country.

15. From the perspect(i)ve of the country of usual res(i)dence, category 14(b) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (not usual res(i)dents, or non‐res(i)dent fore(i)gn workers) may be called “res(i)dents work(i)ng abroad”. From the perspect(i)ve of the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p, res(i)dent c(i)t(i)zens work(i)ng abroad and non‐res(i)dent c(i)t(i)zens work(i)ng abroad ((i)n the sense of be(i)ng (i)n the labour force of the country of the(i)r current usual res(i)dence) may be called “c(i)t(i)zens work(i)ng aboard”. S(i)m(i)larly, from the perspect(i)ve of the country of b(i)rth, res(i)dent nat(i)veborn persons work(i)ng abroad and non‐res(i)dent nat(i)ve‐born persons work(i)ng abroad may be called “nat(i)ve‐born persons work(i)ng abroad”.

16. The concepts of “work(i)ng age populat(i)on”, “labour force”, “employment” and “unemployment” are def(i)ned (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th the latest (i)nternat(i)onal standards concern(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs of work, employment and labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on, as follows:

  • (a) the work(i)ng age populat(i)on (i)s determ(i)ned on the bas(i)s of a spec(i)f(i)ed lower age l(i)m(i)t (tak(i)ng (i)nto cons(i)derat(i)on the m(i)n(i)mum age for employment or the age of complet(i)on of compulsory school(i)ng), w(i)th no upper age l(i)m(i)t. Where relevant, the lower age l(i)m(i)t may be extended to separately measure the labour attachment of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant ch(i)ldren and of non‐res(i)dent ch(i)ldren below the work(i)ng age;
  • (b) the labour force (i)s def(i)ned as persons of work(i)ng age who were e(i)ther (i)n employment or (i)n unemployment dur(i)ng the spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od;
  • (c) persons (i)n employment are def(i)ned as all those of work(i)ng age who, dur(i)ng the spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od, were engaged (i)n any act(i)v(i)ty to produce goods or prov(i)de serv(i)ces for pay or prof(i)t;
  • (d) persons (i)n unemployment are def(i)ned as all those of work(i)ng age who were not (i)n employment, carr(i)ed out act(i)v(i)t(i)es to seek employment dur(i)ng the spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od and were currently ava(i)lable to take up employment g(i)ven a job opportun(i)ty.

17. Depend(i)ng on pol(i)cy object(i)ves, countr(i)es may w(i)sh to also (i)nclude among (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers persons who, dur(i)ng the spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od, were (i)n the potent(i)al labour force or were engaged (i)n unpa(i)d forms of work, as def(i)ned (i)n the latest (i)nternat(i)onal standards on the top(i)cs. The extens(i)on of the scope of labour attachment to the potent(i)al labour force may be part(i)cularly relevant (i)n cases where some (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants are not allowed to work for pay or prof(i)t or are subject to restr(i)ct(i)ons l(i)m(i)t(i)ng the type or locat(i)on of work. For the purpose of (i)nternat(i)onal compar(i)sons, data on d(i)fferent categor(i)es of labour attachment and d(i)fferent forms of work of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers should be presented separately.

18. The spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od should, (i)n pr(i)nc(i)ple, be short, such as seven days or one week. The measurement of d(i)fferent forms of work may, however, use d(i)fferent lengths of t(i)me around the reference per(i)od, such as four weeks or a calendar month for own‐use product(i)on of goods, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work and volunteer work, and one or more 24‐hour days w(i)th(i)n a seven‐day or one‐week per(i)od for own‐use prov(i)s(i)on of serv(i)ces. 

19. The ma(i)n elements of the measurement of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers are presented (i)n the d(i)agram below. 

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20. The follow(i)ng categor(i)es of workers are (i)ncluded as (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers. The categor(i)es are not exhaust(i)ve and mutually exclus(i)ve, and are not meant to be measured separately (i)n all c(i)rcumstances. The l(i)st (i)s meant to (i)llustrate the part(i)cular categor(i)es of workers that are (i)ncluded w(i)th(i)n the scope of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers:

  • (a) front(i)er workers, who are not usual res(i)dents of the country of measurement but have been granted perm(i)ss(i)on to be employed on a cont(i)nuous bas(i)s (i)n that country prov(i)ded they depart at regular and short (i)ntervals (da(i)ly or weekly) from the country;
  • (b) seasonal workers, who are not usual res(i)dents of the country of employment, whose work by (i)ts character (i)s dependent on seasonal cond(i)t(i)ons and (i)s performed dur(i)ng part of the year;
  • (c) (i)t(i)nerant workers, who are not usual res(i)dents of the country of measurement but travel to the country for short per(i)ods for work‐related reasons;
  • (d) project‐t(i)ed workers, who are adm(i)tted to the country of employment for a def(i)ned per(i)od of employment solely on a spec(i)f(i)c project be(i)ng carr(i)ed out (i)n that country by the(i)r employer;
  • (e) spec(i)f(i)ed‐employment workers, who have been sent by the(i)r employer, such as a mult(i)nat(i)onal enterpr(i)se, for a restr(i)cted and def(i)ned per(i)od of t(i)me to the country of employment to undertake a spec(i)f(i)c ass(i)gnment or duty, or to undertake work that requ(i)res profess(i)onal, commerc(i)al, techn(i)cal or other h(i)ghly spec(i)al(i)zed sk(i)lls or work that (i)s trans(i)tory or br(i)ef, and who are requ(i)red to depart from the country of employment e(i)ther at the exp(i)rat(i)on of the(i)r author(i)zed per(i)od of stay or earl(i)er (i)f they no longer undertake that spec(i)f(i)ed ass(i)gnment or duty or engage (i)n that work;
  • (f) self‐employed workers, who are engaged (i)n a remunerated act(i)v(i)ty otherw(i)se than under a contract of employment and who earn the(i)r l(i)v(i)ng through the(i)r act(i)v(i)ty normally work(i)ng alone or together w(i)th members of the(i)r fam(i)ly, also (i)nclud(i)ng any other m(i)grant worker recogn(i)zed as self‐employed by appl(i)cable leg(i)slat(i)on of the country of employment or b(i)lateral or mult(i)lateral agreements;
  • (g) seafarers, (i)nclud(i)ng f(i)shermen employed on a vessel wh(i)ch (i)s reg(i)stered (i)n the country of measurement, of wh(i)ch the workers are not nat(i)onals;
  • (h) workers employed on an offshore (i)nstallat(i)on that (i)s under the jur(i)sd(i)ct(i)on of the country of measurement, of wh(i)ch the workers are not nat(i)onals;
  • ((i) ) fore(i)gn domest(i)c workers engaged by res(i)dent employers;
  • (j) fore(i)gn students who entered the country on the declared purpose of study(i)ng but then were work(i)ng or seek(i)ng work or comb(i)n(i)ng work and study; 
  • (k) (i)nternat(i)onal travellers on tour(i)sm tr(i)ps whose ma(i)n purpose (i)s to be employed (i)n the country of v(i)s(i)t and rece(i)ve compensat(i)on for the labour (i)nput prov(i)ded; 
  • (l) work(i)ng or seek(i)ng work refugees and asylum‐seekers, (i)rrespect(i)ve of author(i)zat(i)on to work dur(i)ng process(i)ng of refugee status or sanctuary request;
  • (m) forc(i)bly d(i)splaced persons across borders due to natural or human‐made d(i)sasters, work(i)ng or seek(i)ng work (i)n the country of d(i)splacement; 
  • persons traff(i)cked across (i)nternat(i)onal borders for forced labour or labour explo(i)tat(i)on.

21. Excluded as (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers are:

  • (a) fore(i)gn m(i)l(i)tary and d(i)plomat(i)c personnel;
  • (b) (i)nternat(i)onal travellers on tour(i)sm tr(i)ps undertak(i)ng work (i)n the country of v(i)s(i)t that (i)s (i)nc(i)dental to the tr(i)p ((i).e. not (i)ts ma(i)n purpose);
  • (c) staff of call centres (i)n non‐res(i)dent product(i)on un(i)ts and others prov(i)d(i)ng serv(i)ces from a fore(i)gn locat(i)on.

For‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants

22. The concept of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants (i)s (i)ntended to measure the movements of persons from one country to another for the purpose of undertak(i)ng or seek(i)ng work. For stat(i)st(i)cal purposes, for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants are all (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants as def(i)ned (i)n paragraph 14 above cover(i)ng category 14(a) (usual res(i)dents) as well as category 14(b) (not usual res(i)dents), who entered the country of measurement dur(i)ng a spec(i)f(i)c reference per(i)od for the purpose of undertak(i)ng or seek(i)ng employment and whose (i)ntent(i)on was documented or declared at the t(i)me of entry to the country. In part(i)cular:

  • (a) the spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od for the measurement of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants should be long, such as the prev(i)ous 12 months or the prev(i)ous calendar year;
  • (b) for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants are d(i)st(i)ngu(i)shed from other (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants who enter the country pr(i)mar(i)ly for reasons not related to undertak(i)ng or seek(i)ng employment. In both cases, the d(i)st(i)nct(i)on refers to the t(i)me of entry and not to the current s(i)tuat(i)on of the person;
  • (c) the term “undertak(i)ng or seek(i)ng employment” (i)s understood to mean engag(i)ng (i)n employment or seek(i)ng and be(i)ng ava(i)lable for employment, (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th the def(i)n(i)t(i)ons of employment, unemployment and potent(i)al labour force of 19th ICLS Resolut(i)on I. Undertak(i)ng or seek(i)ng employment may not be the only reason or the ma(i)n reason for entry (i)n the country. It suff(i)ces for (i)t to be one of the documented or declared reasons. Where relevant and feas(i)ble, countr(i)es may w(i)sh to extend the measurement to a broader concept of “undertak(i)ng or seek(i)ng work” that would (i)nclude forms of work other than employment, such as “unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work”, “volunteer work” or “own‐use product(i)on work”;
  • (d) the term “documented or declared” (i)s understood to mean documented (i)n off(i)c(i)al (i)mm(i)grat(i)on reg(i)sters or declared to relevant (i)mm(i)grat(i)on author(i)t(i)es.

Return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers

23. The concept of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)s (i)ntended to prov(i)de a bas(i)s for measur(i)ng the work exper(i)ence of persons return(i)ng after be(i)ng (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers abroad. For the country of measurement, return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers are def(i)ned as all current res(i)dents of the country who were prev(i)ously (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)n another country or countr(i)es. In part(i)cular:

  • (a) the measurement of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers does not depend on the current labour force status of persons (i)n the country of current res(i)dence. Return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may (i)nclude persons currently outs(i)de the labour force or outs(i)de the potent(i)al labour force, or persons no longer engaged (i)n any form of work (i)n the country of current res(i)dence;
  • (b) return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)nclude those current res(i)dents of the country of measurement who were work(i)ng aboard w(i)thout be(i)ng usual res(i)dents of the country (c) (i)n wh(i)ch they worked (correspond(i)ng to category 14(b) (not usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers as g(i)ven above);
  • (c) (i)t (i)s recommended that the chosen m(i)n(i)mum durat(i)on of labour attachment abroad for a person to be cons(i)dered as a return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant worker be relat(i)vely short, such as 6 months, calculated on a cumulat(i)ve bas(i)s for workers w(i)th repeated spells of m(i)grat(i)on;
  • (d) (i)t (i)s recommended that the reference per(i)od for the date of return, (i).e., the max(i)mum t(i)me elapsed s(i)nce the return of the person to the country of current res(i)dence for them to be (i)ncluded (i)n the count (stock) of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)n that country, should be relat(i)vely long, such as last 12 months or last 5 years, or (i)t may be left open and then class(i)f(i)ed by date of return.

Class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons

24. Internat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on (i)s character(i)zed by (i)ts d(i)rect(i)onal(i)ty, durat(i)on and nature. D(i)rect(i)onal(i)ty d(i)st(i)ngu(i)shes between entry and ex(i)t of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers. Durat(i)on refers to the durat(i)on of stay (i)n the country of labour attachment. Nature of (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on refers to (i)ts permanent or temporary character. 

D(i)rect(i)onal(i)ty

25. Internat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may be class(i)f(i)ed by country of labour attachment and country of or(i)g(i)n. In part(i)cular:

  • (a) country of labour attachment (i)s the country (i)n wh(i)ch the (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant worker was supply(i)ng labour to res(i)dent producer un(i)t(s) dur(i)ng the spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od used for measurement. For category 14(a) (usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, the country of labour attachment (i)s the same as the country of usual res(i)dence. For category 14(b) (not usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, the country of labour attachment d(i)ffers from the country of usual res(i)dence;
  • (b) depend(i)ng on the def(i)n(i)t(i)on used for measurement purposes (category 14(a) or 14 (b) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers), the country of or(i)g(i)n of the (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant worker may refer to the country of b(i)rth, the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p or the country of prev(i)ous usual res(i)dence. For category 14(b) (not usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, the country of or(i)g(i)n may usually refer to the country of current usual res(i)dence; alternat(i)vely, (i)t may refer to the country of b(i)rth or the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p.

26. For‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be class(i)f(i)ed by country of or(i)g(i)n and country of dest(i)nat(i)on. In part(i)cular:

  • (a) as for (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, the country of or(i)g(i)n of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be the country of b(i)rth, the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p or the country of prev(i)ous usual res(i)dence, depend(i)ng on the def(i)n(i)t(i)on of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants used for measurement purposes; 
  • (b) the country of dest(i)nat(i)on of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants refers to the country wh(i)ch the m(i)grant entered to undertake or seek employment.

27. For‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may trans(i)t through one or more countr(i)es (i)n the(i)r movement from country of or(i)g(i)n to country of dest(i)nat(i)on. For‐work m(i)grant workers may be class(i)f(i)ed by country or countr(i)es of trans(i)t retrospect(i)vely, when the country of dest(i)nat(i)on has been reached. For a country to be cons(i)dered as a country of trans(i)t, the m(i)n(i)mum length of stay (i)n that country should be at least 4 weeks dur(i)ng wh(i)ch the worker had been undertak(i)ng or seek(i)ng work. If the durat(i)on of stay was beyond a certa(i)n max(i)mum threshold, the country should be cons(i)dered not as a country of trans(i)t but as a country of prev(i)ous labour attachment. The max(i)mum threshold may be determ(i)ned (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th the nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances and pol(i)cy pr(i)or(i)t(i)es of the country. 

28. Return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may be class(i)f(i)ed by country of prev(i)ous labour attachment. The country of prev(i)ous labour attachment refers to the country (i)n wh(i)ch the return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant was prev(i)ously an (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant worker. In the case that the return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant had more than one country of prev(i)ous labour attachment, the country of last labour attachment or the country of longest labour attachment, or a comb(i)nat(i)on of the two cr(i)ter(i)a, may be used for class(i)f(i)cat(i)on purposes.

Durat(i)on of stay

29. Internat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants and return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may be class(i)f(i)ed accord(i)ng to durat(i)on of stay (i)n the country of current labour attachment. Return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may also be class(i)f(i)ed accord(i)ng to durat(i)on of stay and durat(i)on of labour attachment (i)n the country of prev(i)ous labour attachment, (i)nclud(i)ng per(i)ods the person was (i)n that country but temporar(i)ly had no labour attachment. 

30. For (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, durat(i)on of stay (i)s the length of elapsed t(i)me spent (i)n the country of labour attachment. It (i)ncludes per(i)ods dur(i)ng wh(i)ch the (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant worker was temporar(i)ly absent from h(i)s or her work or had temporar(i)ly no labour attachment (i)n the country. The term elapsed t(i)me refers to the fact that the (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant worker (i)s st(i)ll present (i)n the country of labour attachment and the durat(i)on of stay, at the t(i)me of measurement, may be (i)ncomplete. 

31. The follow(i)ng categor(i)es of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may be d(i)st(i)ngu(i)shed (i)n terms of durat(i)on of stay:

W(i)th(i)n the three categor(i)es 31(a), 31(b) and 31(c), (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may be further class(i)f(i)ed for analyt(i)cal purposes by durat(i)on of labour attachment, d(i)st(i)ngu(i)sh(i)ng between durat(i)on of employment and durat(i)on of unemployment, and, where relevant, durat(i)on (i)n other forms of work or act(i)v(i)t(i)es.

32. In the case of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, the durat(i)on of stay refers to the durat(i)on of (i)ntended stay and the country of labour attachment refers to the country of dest(i)nat(i)on.

33. In the case of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, the country of labour attachment (i)s the country of prev(i)ous labour attachment and the durat(i)on of stay refers to the durat(i)on of the completed stay (i)n that country. For certa(i)n pol(i)cy and analyt(i)cal purposes, (i)t may also be relevant to class(i)fy return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers accord(i)ng to the cumulat(i)ve durat(i)on of stay (i)n all countr(i)es of prev(i)ous labour attachment.

Permanent or temporary nature

34. For‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be class(i)f(i)ed accord(i)ng to the permanent or temporary nature of the(i)r (i)ntended stay (i)n the country of labour attachment at the t(i)me of entry, as follows:

  • (a) permanent for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants, that (i)s, for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants w(i)th the (i)ntent(i)on of settl(i)ng for a l(i)fet(i)me (i)n the country of labour attachment or country of dest(i)nat(i)on. For pract(i)cal purposes, (i)n the case of employees w(i)th labour contracts, permanent for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be def(i)ned on the bas(i)s of the durat(i)on of the labour contract, such as those w(i)th labour contracts w(i)th a durat(i)on of 5 years or more. From the perspect(i)ve of the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p, when d(i)fferent from the country of labour attachment or country of dest(i)nat(i)on, permanent for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be regarded as “c(i)t(i)zens work(i)ng abroad w(i)th no (i)ntent(i)on of return(i)ng to the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p”. S(i)m(i)larly, from the perspect(i)ve of the country of b(i)rth, when d(i)fferent from the country of labour attachment or country of dest(i)nat(i)on, permanent for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be regarded as “nat(i)ve‐born persons work(i)ng abroad w(i)th no (i)ntent(i)on of return(i)ng to the country of b(i)rth”;
  • (b) temporary for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants, that (i)s, for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants enter(i)ng the country of labour attachment or country of dest(i)nat(i)on w(i)th the (i)ntent(i)on of stay for a l(i)m(i)ted per(i)od of t(i)me per(i)od, wh(i)ch may be less or more than 12 months. The t(i)me restr(i)ct(i)on may be voluntary on the part of worker or due to the needs of the employ(i)ng organ(i)zat(i)on. For pract(i)cal purposes, (i)n the case of employees w(i)th labour contracts, temporary for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be def(i)ned on bas(i)s of the durat(i)on of the labour contract. From the perspect(i)ve of the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p, when d(i)fferent from the country of labour attachment or country of dest(i)nat(i)on, temporary for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be regarded as “c(i)t(i)zens work(i)ng abroad w(i)th the (i)ntent(i)on of return(i)ng to the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p”. S(i)m(i)larly, from the perspect(i)ve of the country of b(i)rth, when d(i)fferent from the country of labour attachment or country of dest(i)nat(i)on, temporary for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may be regarded as “nat(i)ve‐born persons work(i)ng abroad w(i)th the (i)ntent(i)on of return(i)ng to the country of b(i)rth”;

35. Where relevant and feas(i)ble, (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may also be class(i)f(i)ed as permanent and temporary (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers on the bas(i)s of nature of (i)ntended stay as (i)n the case of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants. It should be noted that (i)n the case of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, there may be categor(i)es who cannot be adequately class(i)f(i)ed as permanent or temporary (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers due to the nature of the(i)r labour m(i)grat(i)on. One part(i)cular group compr(i)ses c(i)rcular (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, that (i)s, (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)nvolved (i)n mult(i)ple movements between country of or(i)g(i)n and country of labour attachment w(i)th(i)n a spec(i)f(i)ed per(i)od of t(i)me, such as 12 months. Th(i)s group (i)ncludes category 14 (b) (not usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers.

Stat(i)st(i)cs of stocks and flows

36. The stat(i)st(i)cs of stocks and flows prov(i)de (i)nformat(i)on on the numbers of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers present (i)n the country and the changes (i)n the(i)r m(i)grant status and work status, as follows:

  • (a) the stock of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)s the number of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers present (i)n the country of measurement at a g(i)ven t(i)me, as def(i)ned (i)n categor(i)es 14(a) and 14 (b) set out above; 
  • (b) the (i)nflow of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants (i)s the number of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants who entered (i)n the country of measurement dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 22(a) above; 
  • (c) the (i)nflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)s the sum of: ( (i) ) the number of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants already present (i)n the country of measurement before the beg(i)nn(i)ng of the spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od, who were outs(i)de the labour force at the beg(i)nn(i)ng of the reference per(i)od but entered the labour force of the country of measurement dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od; ((i)(i)) the (i)nflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants who entered the country of measurement dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od – whether as for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants or for whatever other reason – and entered the labour force of the country of measurement dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od; ((i)(i)(i)) non‐res(i)dents of the country of measurement who became non‐res(i)dent (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)n the country dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od. The (i)nflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)ncludes the (i)nflow of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants who entered the country of measurement dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od and had labour attachment (i)n that country at some t(i)me dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od. It excludes, however, the (i)nflow of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants who entered the country of measurement dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od but have rema(i)ned w(i)thout labour attachment (i)n that country throughout the reference per(i)od; 
  • (d) the outflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)s the sum of: ( (i) ) the number of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers who left the country of measurement (or d(i)ed) dur(i)ng the spec(i)f(i)ed reference per(i)od; ((i)(i)) the number of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers who rema(i)ned (i)n the country of measurement but left the labour force of the country dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od; and ((i)(i)(i)) non‐res(i)dent (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)n the country of measurement whose labour attachment (i)n that country term(i)nated dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od, for whatever reason. The outflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers excludes for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants (i)n the country of measurement who left that country (or d(i)ed) dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od, w(i)thout hav(i)ng had labour attachment (i)n the country at any t(i)me dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od. 

Wh(i)le the three categor(i)es ( (i) ), ((i)(i)) and ((i)(i)(i)) (i)n subparagraphs 36(c) and 36(d) are needed to ensure that the stat(i)st(i)cs of (i)nflow and outflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers are cons(i)stent w(i)th those on the change (i)n the stock of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, (i)t (i)s (i)mportant to d(i)st(i)ngu(i)sh between the m(i)grant flows (category ((i)(i))) and the labour force flows (categor(i)es ( (i) ) and ((i)(i)(i))) represent(i)ng the entr(i)es and ex(i)sts to and from the labour force. 

37. The change (i)n the stock of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers dur(i)ng a g(i)ven per(i)od of t(i)me (i)s equal to the (i)nflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers dur(i)ng that per(i)od m(i)nus the outflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers dur(i)ng that same per(i)od. If the stock has (i)ncreased, there has been a net (i)nflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers; (i)f the stock has decreased, there has been a net outflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers dur(i)ng the g(i)ven per(i)od.

38. The ma(i)n stat(i)st(i)cs of stocks and flows of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers are:

39. In countr(i)es where there (i)s a s(i)gn(i)f(i)cant movement of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers to other countr(i)es (or to certa(i)n spec(i)f(i)ed countr(i)es), (i)t may be relevant to also comp(i)le stat(i)st(i)cs of outflow of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, def(i)ned as the number of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers who leave the country of measurement for another country dur(i)ng a g(i)ven per(i)od for work or other reasons.

Core (i)nd(i)cators

40.

Each country should select a set of (i)nd(i)cators to mon(i)tor the process of (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on affect(i)ng the country. For (i)nternat(i)onal report(i)ng, the follow(i)ng set of core (i)nd(i)cators (i)s proposed.

41. The core (i)nd(i)cators of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers are:

  • (a) the stock of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers at the m(i)d‐po(i)nt of the report(i)ng per(i)od, d(i)st(i)ngu(i)sh(i)ng between categor(i)es 14(a) (usual res(i)dents) and 14(b) (not usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers;
  • (b) the labour force part(i)c(i)pat(i)on rate, the employment‐to‐populat(i)on rat(i)o and the unemployment rate of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants, as def(i)ned (i)n paragraph 16 above. S(i)nce category 14(a) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers refers to usual res(i)dents (i)n the country of labour attachment, by def(i)n(i)t(i)on, the correspond(i)ng categor(i)es 16(a), 16(b), 16(c) and 16(d) cover only res(i)dents:

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42. The core (i)nd(i)cators of the (i)nflow of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants are:

  • (a) (i)nflow of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od chosen (i)n paragraph 22(a), (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng separately the number of temporary, and where relevant, the number of c(i)rcular for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants as def(i)ned (i)n paragraphs 34 and 35; 
  • t(b) he share of (i)nflow of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants (i)n the total (i)nflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od, (i)rrespect(i)ve of the reason for m(i)grat(i)on.

43. The core (i)nd(i)cators of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers are:

44. The core (i)nd(i)cators should be d(i)saggregated by sex and, where relevant, by country of or(i)g(i)n, country of dest(i)nat(i)on, country of labour attachment or country of prev(i)ous labour attachment, (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th the def(i)n(i)t(i)ons g(i)ven (i)n paragraphs 25 to 28 above. Where relevant and feas(i)ble, the core (i)nd(i)cators may be extended to reflect on other aspects of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, (i)n part(i)cular, t(i)me‐related underemployment and other forms of underemployment.

45. To enable measurement of trends, the core (i)nd(i)cators should be reported at the nat(i)onal level on a regular bas(i)s and, where relevant and feas(i)ble, on a frequent bas(i)s, such as annually, quarterly or monthly, as appropr(i)ate.

Data collect(i)on

Items of data collect(i)on and tabulat(i)on

46. The (i)tems of data collect(i)on should prov(i)de comprehens(i)ve (i)nformat(i)on for the var(i)ous users of the stat(i)st(i)cs of (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on, tak(i)ng (i)nto account spec(i)f(i)c nat(i)onal needs and c(i)rcumstances. The (i)nformat(i)on should cover data on the ma(i)n soc(i)odemograph(i)c character(i)st(i)cs and the m(i)grant status and work status of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants and return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers. The ma(i)n (i)tems of data collect(i)on (i)nclude:

  • (a) ma(i)n soc(i)o‐demograph(i)c character(i)st(i)cs:
    • sex
    • age or date of b(i)rth
    • mar(i)tal status
    • level of educat(i)on atta(i)ned
    • type of l(i)v(i)ng quarters (pr(i)vate household, collect(i)ve or (i)nst(i)tut(i)onal household, other type of l(i)v(i)ng quarters, non‐res(i)dent(i)al accommodat(i)on)
    • country of b(i)rth and country of b(i)rth of parent(s)
    • country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p
    • country of usual res(i)dence
    • country of last usual res(i)dence (or country of prev(i)ous labour attachment for return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers)
    • prof(i)c(i)ency (speak(i)ng, read(i)ng, wr(i)t(i)ng) (i)n a language of the country of labour attachment
  • (b) ma(i)n m(i)grat(i)on character(i)st(i)cs:
    • purpose of m(i)grat(i)on (declared or documented reason for f(i)rst entry (i)nto the country, spec(i)f(i)cally the country of actual or (i)ntended labour attachment); and also, for return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, the ma(i)n reason for last departure from the country of prev(i)ous labour attachment
    • type of v(i)sa, res(i)dence perm(i)t, work perm(i)t
    • permanent, temporary or c(i)rcular nature of m(i)grat(i)on
    • durat(i)on of stay: date of f(i)rst entry (i)nto the country of labour attachment; and also, for return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, date of last departure from the country 
    • any restr(i)ct(i)ons (i)n the r(i)ghts to res(i)dence (i)n the country of actual or (i)ntended labour attachment (such as concern(i)ng place of res(i)dence, durat(i)on of stay, mob(i)l(i)ty)
  • (c) ma(i)n work character(i)st(i)cs:
    • labour force status (employed, unemployed, outs(i)de the labour force)  branch of econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty
    • occupat(i)on
    • status (i)n employment
    • work(i)ng t(i)me, (i)nclud(i)ng hours usually worked, contractual hours of work
    • durat(i)on of employment (i)n months or years
    • employment‐related (i)ncome
    • rem(i)ttances sent outs(i)de the country of labour attachment
    • soc(i)al secur(i)ty ent(i)tlements (i)n the country of labour attachment
    • any restr(i)ct(i)ons of the r(i)ght to employment (e.g. concern(i)ng undertak(i)ng or seek(i)ng work, chang(i)ng employer or work performed) 

Labour force status refers to the current s(i)tuat(i)on of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers and for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants and to the last s(i)tuat(i)on of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)n the country of prev(i)ous labour attachment. The ma(i)n work character(i)st(i)cs refer to the current ma(i)n job of employed (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers and for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants and to the last job of return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers (i)n the country of prev(i)ous labour attachment. 

47. The concepts and categor(i)es of the (i)tems of data collect(i)on should adhere or be convert(i)ble to the latest (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards where they ex(i)st, such as the Recommendat(i)ons on stat(i)st(i)cs of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grat(i)on, the Internat(i)onal Standard Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Educat(i)on (ISCED), the Internat(i)onal Standard Industr(i)al Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of All Econom(i)c Act(i)v(i)t(i)es (ISIC), the Internat(i)onal Standard Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Occupat(i)ons (ISCO), the Internat(i)onal Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Status (i)n Employment (ICSE), and the ICLS standards on stat(i)st(i)cs of work, employment and labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on, work(i)ng t(i)me and employment‐related (i)ncome.

48. Where “labour attachment” (i)n the def(i)n(i)t(i)on of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers covers the potent(i)al labour force and unpa(i)d forms of work, the l(i)st of (i)tems of data collect(i)on should be extended to (i)nclude elements for the measurement of potent(i)al labour, forms of work and the(i)r character(i)st(i)cs, such as degree of labour market attachment, type of econom(i)c un(i)t (market un(i)ts/non‐market un(i)ts) and work(i)ng t(i)me (i)n d(i)fferent forms of work, as appropr(i)ate.

49. S(i)m(i)larly, where the age l(i)m(i)t of the work(i)ng age populat(i)on (i)s lowered to cover (i)nternat(i)onal ch(i)ld m(i)grant workers, the l(i)st of (i)tems of data collect(i)on should be extended to obta(i)n relevant (i)nformat(i)on on the ch(i)ld’s l(i)v(i)ng and work(i)ng cond(i)t(i)ons, (i)nclud(i)ng school attendance, engagement (i)n unpa(i)d domest(i)c serv(i)ces or household chores, exposure to hazardous work(i)ng cond(i)t(i)ons and r(i)sk of other worst forms of ch(i)ld labour, (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th the latest ICLS standards on stat(i)st(i)cs of ch(i)ld labour.

50. Depend(i)ng on pol(i)cy concerns, add(i)t(i)onal data (i)tems may be collected, such as on past m(i)grat(i)on and work h(i)story; fam(i)ly relat(i)onsh(i)ps and character(i)st(i)cs of fam(i)ly members; part(i)cular categor(i)es of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, such as one or more of those l(i)sted under paragraph 20 above; or spec(i)al top(i)cs, such as occupat(i)onal (i)njur(i)es, the (i)nformal sector and (i)nformal employment, and labour explo(i)tat(i)on and forced labour of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th the latest ICLS standards on the respect(i)ve top(i)cs, namely, stat(i)st(i)cs of occupat(i)onal (i)njur(i)es (result(i)ng from occupat(i)onal acc(i)dents), stat(i)st(i)cs of employment (i)n the (i)nformal sector and (i)nformal employment and stat(i)st(i)cs of forced labour, etc.

51. In general, the per(i)od(i)c(i)ty of data collect(i)on depends on the stat(i)st(i)cal needs and capac(i)ty of the stat(i)st(i)cal (i)nfrastructure (i)n the country of measurement. The per(i)od(i)c(i)ty of data collect(i)on may not be the same for all (i)tems of data collect(i)on. At a m(i)n(i)mum, the per(i)od(i)c(i)ty of the ma(i)n (i)tems of data collect(i)on should be suff(i)c(i)ent to prov(i)de the (i)nformat(i)on requ(i)red for the core (i)nd(i)cators spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraphs 40 to 45 above.

52. The (i)tems of data collect(i)on descr(i)bed above g(i)ve r(i)se to a mult(i)tude of tabulat(i)ons and cross‐tabulat(i)ons of data on (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants and return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers. The cho(i)ce and deta(i)ls of the tabulat(i)on plan depend on pol(i)cy concerns, as well as on the representat(i)veness, data qual(i)ty and sample s(i)ze of the underly(i)ng (i)nqu(i)ry (i)f the data are based on sample surveys, and on the ava(i)lab(i)l(i)ty, populat(i)on coverage and su(i)tab(i)l(i)ty for stat(i)st(i)cal purposes of the (i)nformat(i)on (i)f the data are based on adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve records. The ma(i)n tabulat(i)ons should prov(i)de the (i)nformat(i)on requ(i)red to der(i)ve the core (i)nd(i)cators spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraphs 40 to 45 above.

53. For the purpose of (i)nternat(i)onal compar(i)sons, countr(i)es that use the country of b(i)rth as the cr(i)ter(i)on for (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may w(i)sh to tabulate relevant populat(i)ons by country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p and country of prev(i)ous usual res(i)dence. S(i)m(i)larly, countr(i)es that use the country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p as the cr(i)ter(i)on for (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may w(i)sh to tabulate relevant populat(i)ons by country of b(i)rth and country of prev(i)ous usual res(i)dence. F(i)nally, countr(i)es that use change (i)n the country of usual res(i)dence as the cr(i)ter(i)on for (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants may w(i)sh to tabulate the relevant populat(i)ons by country of c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p and country of b(i)rth.

Data sources

54. Informat(i)on on d(i)fferent aspects of (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on and categor(i)es of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers may come from d(i)verse sources. These d(i)fferent stat(i)st(i)cal sources should be treated as complementary, to be used (i)n comb(i)nat(i)on (i)n order to der(i)ve comprehens(i)ve sets of stat(i)st(i)cs to the extent poss(i)ble. It (i)s useful to d(i)st(i)ngu(i)sh the sources of stock and flow stat(i)st(i)cs as follows: 

  • (a) sources generat(i)ng stock stat(i)st(i)cs: populat(i)on censuses; household surveys, (i)n part(i)cular labour force surveys (espec(i)ally relevant for certa(i)n groups, e.g. category 14(a) (usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers); spec(i)al(i)zed m(i)grat(i)on and demograph(i)c surveys; surveys l(i)m(i)ted to, or focused on, part(i)cular populat(i)ons or doma(i)ns (such as surveys near (i)nternat(i)onal borders, surveys of refugee camps); and establ(i)shment census and sample surveys; 
  • (b) sources generat(i)ng flow stat(i)st(i)cs: border reg(i)strat(i)ons; stat(i)st(i)cs of res(i)dence perm(i)ts (i)ssued; stat(i)st(i)cs of work perm(i)ts (i)ssued, stat(i)st(i)cs of v(i)sas (i)ssued; departure reg(i)strat(i)ons; and household surveys;
  • (c) sources that can generate both flow and stock stat(i)st(i)cs: populat(i)on reg(i)sters; household surveys, reg(i)sters of fore(i)gners; tax and soc(i)al secur(i)ty reg(i)strat(i)ons; and reg(i)strat(i)ons for use of ut(i)l(i)t(i)es (e.g. phone, electr(i)c(i)ty);
  • (d) other sources: certa(i)n groups of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers who are (i)n need of (i)nternat(i)onal protect(i)on may requ(i)re spec(i)al surveys w(i)th targeted samples due to the(i)r part(i)cular character(i)st(i)cs and c(i)rcumstances. Appropr(i)ate adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve sources of data, where ava(i)lable, may supplement targeted sample surveys or may even serve as an alternat(i)ve to such surveys.

Measurement (i)ssues

55. W(i)th(i)n each data source, spec(i)al methodolog(i)es should be developed to deal w(i)th the part(i)cular measurement (i)ssues concern(i)ng (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on. For example:

  • (a) (i)n measur(i)ng category 14(a) (usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, us(i)ng household surveys, such as labour force surveys, (i)t (i)s essent(i)al that (i)nformat(i)on on m(i)grant status and work status be collected and matched at the level of (i)nd(i)v(i)duals. Data collect(i)on (i)nstruments should be developed to perm(i)t such l(i)nkage;
  • (b) s(i)m(i)larly, (i)n measur(i)ng returned (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers us(i)ng household surveys such as labour force surveys, data collect(i)on (i)nstruments should be developed to collect and perm(i)t l(i)nkage between data on past or last m(i)grant status and correspond(i)ng past or last work status (i)n the country of labour attachment at the level of (i)nd(i)v(i)duals; 
  • (c) (i)n measur(i)ng category 14(b) (not usual res(i)dents) of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, us(i)ng adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve records of work perm(i)ts or survey data at the place of work (i)n the country of measurement, spec(i)al methodolog(i)es should be developed to avo(i)d double‐count(i)ng of (i)nd(i)v(i)duals (e.g. count(i)ng all adm(i)ss(i)ons rather than only f(i)rst‐t(i)me entr(i)es dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od) and to take (i)nto account s(i)tuat(i)ons (i)n wh(i)ch the worker has mult(i)ple employers or (i)s engaged (i)n more than one establ(i)shment. Results may be compared w(i)th correspond(i)ng data obta(i)ned from household surveys, such as labour force surveys conducted (i)n the country of usual res(i)dents;
  • (d) s(i)m(i)larly, (i)n measur(i)ng the (i)nflow of for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants or the outflow of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers us(i)ng adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve sources, spec(i)al care should be taken to strengthen these sources to ensure, to the extent poss(i)ble, the accuracy of the (i)nformat(i)on (i)n order to adequately (i)dent(i)fy target populat(i)ons;
  • (e) f(i)nally, (i)n measur(i)ng part(i)cular subcategor(i)es of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, such as undocumented workers or externally d(i)splaced workers l(i)v(i)ng and work(i)ng (i)n camps, spec(i)al sampl(i)ng procedures should be developed that are capable of captur(i)ng s(i)gn(i)f(i)cant and representat(i)ve samples of these elus(i)ve populat(i)ons, wh(i)ch are often covered only partly or not at all (i)n convent(i)onal censuses and sample surveys.

ILO global est(i)mates

56. Internat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on (i)s a r(i)s(i)ng pol(i)cy pr(i)or(i)ty. To be effect(i)ve, (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on pol(i)c(i)es must be grounded (i)n robust ev(i)dence. For th(i)s purpose, data on the number of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, the(i)r d(i)str(i)but(i)on by sector of econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty and the(i)r work status are urgently needed. In order to f(i)ll th(i)s knowledge gap, the ILO developed a comprehens(i)ve methodology for global and reg(i)onal est(i)mates of m(i)grant workers and generated est(i)mates w(i)th the reference year 2013. That methodology has been further (i)mproved and used to generate new global est(i)mates w(i)th the reference year 2017, wh(i)ch are due for publ(i)cat(i)on (i)n 2018 and should be updated per(i)od(i)cally. The qual(i)ty of global est(i)mates depends on the completeness and qual(i)ty of the source data ava(i)lable from countr(i)es, requ(i)r(i)ng pers(i)stent effort to (i)mprove those sources.

ILO database

57. The ILO Internat(i)onal Labour M(i)grat(i)on Stat(i)st(i)cs (ILMS) database (i)s currently hosted as a spec(i)al collect(i)on w(i)th(i)n the ILOSTAT database and (i)s freely ava(i)lable to users onl(i)ne. The database focuses on:

  • (a) prov(i)d(i)ng an openly ava(i)lable, relevant and comprehens(i)ve (i)nformat(i)on source to enable ev(i)dence‐based pol(i)cy‐mak(i)ng on (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on;
  • (b) mapp(i)ng the ex(i)st(i)ng data sources that countr(i)es collect, (i)nclud(i)ng the(i)r qual(i)ty, scope, completeness and comparab(i)l(i)ty and poss(i)ble weaknesses that can be f(i)lled through capac(i)ty‐bu(i)ld(i)ng;
  • (d) def(i)n(i)ng a set of relevant tables on (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on as a standard reference‐po(i)nt for future data collect(i)on and report(i)ng, as well as for assess(i)ng ongo(i)ng capac(i)ty‐bu(i)ld(i)ng efforts.

58. The ILO (i)s gradually extend(i)ng the ILMS database to cover all ILO member States. All data are gender‐d(i)saggregated.

Future act(i)ons

ILO methodolog(i)cal work

59. The ILO, (i)n collaborat(i)on w(i)th (i)nterested countr(i)es, (i)nternat(i)onal and reg(i)onal organ(i)zat(i)ons, and workers’ and employers’ representat(i)ves, should cont(i)nue methodolog(i)cal work relat(i)ng to these gu(i)del(i)nes, (i)n part(i)cular, on appropr(i)ate methodolog(i)es for captur(i)ng and collect(i)ng data on the ma(i)n categor(i)es and subcategor(i)es of (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers, for‐work (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grants, and return (i)nternat(i)onal m(i)grant workers. The ILO should report the progress of (i)ts work to future sess(i)ons of the Internat(i)onal Conference of Labour Stat(i)st(i)c(i)ans, as appropr(i)ate.

60. To promote the (i)mplementat(i)on of these gu(i)del(i)nes, the ILO should carry out (i)ts work through the collaborat(i)ve mechan(i)sm, focused on: 

  • (a) w(i)de d(i)ssem(i)nat(i)on and commun(i)cat(i)on of these gu(i)del(i)nes;
  • (b) shar(i)ng good pract(i)ces among countr(i)es;
  • (c) techn(i)cal ass(i)stance through tra(i)n(i)ng and capac(i)ty‐bu(i)ld(i)ng, espec(i)ally for nat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal agenc(i)es and relevant stat(i)st(i)cal serv(i)ces (i)n l(i)ne m(i)n(i)str(i)es; 
  • (d) (i)mplementat(i)on of conceptual and methodolog(i)cal work;
  • (e) (i)mproved harmon(i)zat(i)on between mult(i)ple data sources, both adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve and stat(i)st(i)cal, wh(i)ch (i)s essent(i)al for produc(i)ng more rel(i)able global, reg(i)onal and nat(i)onal est(i)mates of labour m(i)grat(i)on;
  • (f) better coord(i)nat(i)on between users and producers of labour m(i)grat(i)on (i)nformat(i)on, (i)nvolv(i)ng soc(i)al partners when determ(i)n(i)ng nat(i)onal and (i)nternat(i)onal data needs;
  • (g) ma(i)nstream(i)ng the labour m(i)grat(i)on module (i)n labour force surveys and nat(i)onal censuses, as appropr(i)ate, to ensure the qual(i)ty of the result(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs, as relevant to the nat(i)onal context;
  • (h) analys(i)s and presentat(i)on of stat(i)st(i)cs on (i)nternat(i)onal labour m(i)grat(i)on and m(i)grant workers, supported by appropr(i)ate techn(i)cal notes;
  • ((i) ) collaborat(i)on w(i)th the Global Forum on M(i)grat(i)on and Development (GFMD) and contr(i)but(i)on to the (i)mplementat(i)on of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular M(i)grat(i)on (as adopted).

ILO techn(i)cal ass(i)stance

61. The ILO should expand (i)ts techn(i)cal ass(i)stance on labour m(i)grat(i)on stat(i)st(i)cs to support the (i)mplementat(i)on of these gu(i)del(i)nes by member countr(i)es. Such techn(i)cal ass(i)stance should (i)nclude the prov(i)s(i)on of techn(i)cal adv(i)ce and tra(i)n(i)ng that are targeted to enhance nat(i)onal capac(i)t(i)es, where requ(i)red, and the prov(i)s(i)on of f(i)nanc(i)al support to countr(i)es for labour m(i)grat(i)on data collect(i)on and analys(i)s, to the extent poss(i)ble.

  1. ^ Internat(i)onal Convent(i)on on the Protect(i)on of the R(i)ghts of All M(i)grant Workers and Members of The(i)r Fam(i)l(i)es (1990), Art(i)cle 2.