Joint General Membership Meeting
The Business of Migration

4 June 2008 – “The Business of Migration,” the theme of the 4 June 2008 joint general membership meeting of the Makati Business Club, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, IDEALS, and the Management Association of the Philippines, tackled the things the business sector needs to know to contribute to the global synergy of managing migration for development.

HRH Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, chairman of The Hague Process for Refugees and Migration (THP), graced the meeting, where he presented the initial findings that have come out of THP’s work. Through a series of conferences, seminars and meetings, and research studies and publications, THP has identified the challenges faced by countries worldwide regarding the issue of labor and migration, as well as the negative side effects encountered by businesses when faced with the growing phenomenon of migration.

Significant Player
In his speech, HRH Prince Constantijn highlighted some facts about the business of migration. First, he noted the undeniable reality of a global war for talent, making migration a legitimate concern of the business sector. The business sector’s demand for skilled labor has pushed economies to develop aggressive strategies, such as immigration, to attract people regardless of their place of origin.

In addition, the large and growing population of migrant workers has opened new business opportunities, be it simply servicing the needs of migrant communities or providing corporate social responsibility programs for them. The Prince also explained the important role the business community plays in the global migration debate. According to him, businessmen are pragmatic and solutions-oriented, therefore, their participation in the policy debate is imperative to move the discussion forward.

However, businesses face certain challenges in dealing with the migration issue. Prince Constantijn explained that the issue’s complexity led to the creation of The Hague Process. Complexities and sensitivities surround the migration debate, particularly in the interconnection of different policies. The allocation of responsibilities, compliance liabilities, as well as the political sensitivity of the issue, due to the strong negative sentiment towards migration and integration in many recipient countries, have made migration a topic that scares away most businessmen.

Unfinished Business
Ms. Doris Magsaysay Ho, one of the local business community’s ardent advocates for the advancement of the welfare of Filipino overseas workers, was also a guest speaker at the joint membership meeting. She presented the issue of labor as the unfinished business of globalization due to the lack of policies on migration and labor mobility. Some of these concerns include cases of migrants getting locked into modes of dependency and exploitative relationships with employers; instances when workers go into debt to pay placement fees and travel costs; and the lack of common standards for training, assessments, and licensing that restrict workers’ mobility.

To move forward, Ms. Ho urged all stakeholders to work on crafting a clear vision and strategy on migration laws. She encouraged the creation of policies based on circular migration rather than permanent migration, which causes the brain drain problem for the sending country. Circular migration, she explained, results in larger remittances sent; the retention of traditions, association and family linkages; and the opening of opportunities for newly acquired skills and knowledge to be shared in the home country.

Migration: An Option, Not a Need
In bringing together governments and business communities in its global advocacy, THP made the Philippines one of its major pit stops because of the country’s high labor exports. “We came here to learn and listen, and to hear your views on how your businesses are able to sustain employment levels, create high quality of employment, and maintain high-quality staff… and also to learn how the local business community influences the migration policies in your country,” the Prince explained.

While a high number of overseas workers helps boost a country’s economy through the large amount of remittances sent home by these migrant workers, it also creates economic and societal problems. Prince Constantijn stated that there is an underutilization of union capital, wherein many educated workers go to other countries to take on lower-level jobs. Then there is the cost of social disruption at home, as well as the problem of brain drain for the home country.

Prince Constantijn challenged the Philippine business community to create a unified message for the upcoming global forum on migration in October, and to formulate a list of possible inputs and contributions to raise the debate to the next level. “We want to see an interaction of business and government in taking care of workers abroad and how it can be improved...and make proactive migration strategies.”

To make mobility work, Prince Constantijn suggested that countries create environments and opportunities at home where people can fully explore their talents, and thus do away with the need to look for opportunities abroad. “Our vision is this: people that want to stay should be able to stay. But if they seek opportunities abroad they may do so in a way that they can also explore their talents and not be underutilized, and where they feel protected like any other citizen in any other country.”
Read Ms. Ho’s speech | Download Ms. Ho’s presentation

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

HRH Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
HRH Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands is the chairman of The Hague Process for Refugees and Migration (THP), an international foundation focused on the refugee and migration agenda. He specialized in civil law at Leiden University and studied business economics at INSEAD. Aside from his chairmanship of THP and his official duties as a member of the Royal House, he is an advisor on European communications at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a policy researcher for RAND Europe in Brussels.

Doris Magsaysay Ho
Ms. Doris Magsaysay Ho is the president and CEO of the Magsaysay Group of Companies involved in shipping and providing human resource services to the international shipping industry. She is currently a member of the MBC’s Board of Trustees, as well as a member of MAP. Aside from her active involvement in these organizations, she fills the role of the Philippine representative to the APEC Business Advisory Council. In 2004, she was given the Earnst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year for Social Responsibility” Award for incorporating innovative ideas to address the plight and struggles of Filipino seamen who work onboard international sea vessels.