UNITAR/WTI: Managed Mobility: Trade, Migration and Labour Movement (2012)
The aim of this course is for trade, migration and government officials in relevant agencies as well as experts in civil society and the research community to gain an overview of the different international institutions, multilateral treaties and bilateral agreements governing labour migration. The course focuses particular attention on the treatment of labour mobility in trade agreements, so-called Mode 4 of GATS. The course discusses the reasons behind the lack of meaningful Mode 4 commitments to date, particularly with regard to low-skill services occupations, and discusses various reform proposals such as the plurilateral request and the LDC group request formulated in the context of the WTO's Doha Round. The course also draws lessons from bilateral migration management agreements and how they address various migratory risks facing host and source countries alike, such as overstaying workers, irregular entries, brain drain, worker exploitation, human smuggling and trafficking. Economic partnership agreements are also reviewed for their regulatory advances over Mode 4 of GATS on issues such as migrant worker return, skill testing, mutual recognition of qualifications, joint occupational shortage lists, fast-tracking of visa applications, pro-mobility visas etc. Finally, the course presents a number of new soft law instruments, such as the Global Commission on International Migration (2005) Final Report (2005), the IOM International Agenda for Migration Management (IAMM), the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development in rounding up its analysis of the provisions for managing labour mobility.
At the end of the course, the participants should be able to:
- Identify the different international institutions, multilateral treaties and bilateral agreements governing labour migration;
- Discuss the current treatment of labour mobility in trade agreements (the so-called Mode 4 of GATS) and the various reform proposals made;
- Analyze the reasons behind the lack of meaningful Mode 4 commitments to date; and
- Review economic partnership agreements for their regulatory advances over Mode 4 of GATS.
The course will be structured around three (3) modules, i.e. one module per week. The last week will be set aside for course completion and wrap-up.
Module I: Trade Liberalization and Economic Migration: Understanding the Linkages.
• Lesson 1: Why International Labour Migration? Free Trade and Global Labour Markets.
• Lesson 2: Political Economy Paradox of Trade and Temporary Migration: Impact on Capacity Development.
• Lesson 3: Public Goods Theory of High- and Low-skilled Migration: Institutions, Capacity and Rights.
Module II: Liberalizing Temporary Labour Migration in GATS mode 4, Preferential Trade Agreements and Bilateral Migration Agreements.
• Lesson 4: Temporary Movement of Service Suppliers in WTO/GATS: Jurisdictional Scope and Scheduling Practice.
• Lesson 5: Temporary Labour Migration in Preferential Trade Agreements.
• Lesson 6: Temporary Movement of Persons in Bilateral Migration Agreements.
Module III: A Human Rights-based Approach to International Labour Mobility.
• Lesson 7: Human Rights Foundations of Human Mobility: The Rights to Leave and Return.
• Lesson 8: International Protection of Migrant Workers and Post-Admission Regulation of Labour Migration: Binding and Non-binding Standards.
• Lesson 9: International and Regional Cooperation Processes and Mechanisms.
• Lesson 10: Sharing responsibility for migratory risks and benefits: Partnering with non-state actors.
Wrap Up Course evaluation questionnaire.
In order to ensure the best possible outreach, the course will be delivered through e-learning. Through a multiple-instructional setting, the goal is to achieve the learning objectives by means of learning technologies that match personal learning styles and by the inclusion of non-linear learning that aims at the development of just-in-time skills of adult learners. At the same time, in order to allow participants maximum flexibility of scheduling , the learning will be conducted in an asynchronous manner. Using a state-of-the-art training architecture, UNITAR will combine self-learning with assessments and online discussions. The pedagogy - adapted specifically to professionals in full-time work - will help train participants through various experiences: absorb (read); do (activity); interact (socialize); reflect (relate to one’s own reality).
This course is designed specifically for senior and middle level officials and professionals wishing to deepen their knowledge and understanding of international trade and migration issues.
A certificate of completion will be issued jointly by UNITAR and WTI to all participants who complete the course-related assignments and assessments successfully. Course schedule is subject to change. Course fee is non-refundable but transferrable to another course or participant and subject to change as per UNITAR's policy on pricing.