Maurizio Ambrosini, Beyond the Subaltern Integration: The Exploitation of Immigrants as a Resource
This article deals with the
question of giving the right value to professional qualifications of immigrants in Italy.
Up to now, we are faced with a system of "subaltern integration": foreign
workers have had access to those sectors in the job market which are no more filled by the
Italians, regardless of the degree of education, individual abilities and vocation.
Kinship and ethnic networks attract the immigrants in the same sectors as their
fellow-countrymen, generally at the bottom levels.
To confirm this argument, the Author analyses the findings of a survey conducted by
Caritas among 2.114 foreign workers in four Italian cities: Genoa, Turin, Brescia and
Modena. A greater capacity of absorption, even in the regular market, emerges in the areas
with Small and Medium Enterprises (like Brescia and Modena) rather than in the huge
metropolitan districts (such as Turin and Genoa) which are in transition towards
post-fordist assets. However, almost everywhere, the typology of job is at the bottom
line, well far from the level of qualification (46% of immigrants holds a 8-13 year
education; 28,4% more than 14 years).
In the conclusions, the article delineates some feasible options to give the right value
to the skills brought in by immigrants. In the Italian case, of particular interest are
the areas of self-employment, where it is being registered a quick increase in the number
of immigrants.
Baldassarini A., Foreign labour and non-regular occupation in the new estimates of Italian national accounts
The phenomenon of foreign workers is assuming a great interest in the Italian labour market for its dimension and for its rapid increase, in particular regarding the non-regular component. The Italian National Statistical Institute (ISTAT) has studied an approach for estimating non-regular foreign workers as one of the most important component of the underground labour market. This paper presents the results of a research developed in the last five years by the Italian national accountants. It can be divided into six sections: the first section contains a general introduction; the second section analyses the problems of measuring the foreign employment; the third section describes the general definitions adopted in the national account system in terms of underground employment and the solutions adopted for classifying regular and non regular foreign workers; the fourth section analyses all the sources of information adopted for estimating foreign workers in the field of national accounts; the fifth section describes the method used for estimating the phenomenon; the sixth section presents data currently produced by ISTAT on the non-regular foreign workers.
Valentini Alessandro, The Incidence of Immigration on the Balance of the Italian Pension System
In the forthcoming years, a
significant increase in ageing will take place within the Italian population, because of
the low rate of birth and, in the short term, the gradual transition of the
"baby-boom" generation to the adult age. This trend, which appears to be
irreversible even in the case of massive immigration, deeply affects the socio-economic
asset of the country in all its components. This study is aimed at illustrating the
variations which the pension system should undergo in the next future in order to
counterbalance the progressive ageing; at the same time, the influence of yearly entry
quotas from abroad is taken into account.
A macro economic model is applied to the results of four demographic projections related
to the 1996-2031 period, with a different quota of annual intakes. For each level of
intakes, it provides an estimate of the modifications that should be made to the
contribution rate or either the retirement age in order to maintain the balance. Measures
to counterbalance the national pension system are examined, showing that these are hardly
endurable from a social point of view. It is also highlighted how the entity of these
measures is only slightly reduced, as a consequence of high quotas of immigrants.
Brandi Carlotta, The evolution of "skilled migration studies". Brain drain and mobility.
The paper considers the evolution of the concept of skilled migration in the last decades and shows how this evolution is connected with the general changes in international relationships and in the global economy. In fact, early studies on the topic were performed when the main concern was the "brain drain" from Europe to USA. The research was then focused on the movement of professionals and skilled workers from the Third World to the industrialised countries, in connection with the political and economic interest in the North-South relations. At present, most of the studies concentrate on the effects of globalisation and on the role of international mobility of human resources for science and technology in the global economy. Many scholars believe that the concept itself of "brain drain" has lost its meaning. However, from the analysis of a number of important case studies published in the international literature in the last decade, we show how the phenomenon of brain drain is still active and is actually jeopardising the development of many countries. We also argue that the general framework of skilled migration is still far from clear, both from the theoretical and operative point of view, and that the same terms are used with quite different meaning in different studies. We conclude that it is necessary to make a distinction between brain drain and international mobility of human resources for science and technology, and that a deeper analysis of the topic is urgently needed.
Trapassi F., Native americans at the end of the twentieth century: the case of mexican immigrants in California
In the last decade of the XX century, conservative sectors of the Californian society have adopted legislative provisions in order to reduce the social rights of immigrants who are not yet US citizens. Employment, health care and education are the areas more concerned and immigrants from Mexico the target group. Limitations of the citizenship rights of immigrants in California were imposed by calling referendary consultations: Propositions 187, 209, and 227. All of them showed some elements in common: they were promoted by conservative sectors of the Californian society; they passed by a great majority of votes; they all were appealed against for unconstitutionality.Anne von Oswald/Karen Schönwälder/Barbara Sonnenberger, Labour Migration, Immigration Policy, Integration: A Re-evaluation of the West German Experience
The article challenges the dominant views of labour migration to West Germany and German migration policy and argues that recent research should encourage us to take a new look at established truths. Debates about migration processes were more wide-ranging and varied than is assumed and government policy not quite as ignorant as commonly believed. The image of the single, male, aquiescent guest worker needs to be replaced by a more varied picture of a migrant population which was also, to a significant extent, female and occasionally rebellious. In order to better understand migration processes and migration policy, we need a more detailed understanding of the intentions and actions of different actors in the field, and how they influenced and shaped social and political developments.
Sales R., Longo A., "Faster, Fairer, Firmer": The Migratory Policy in Great Britain
This article discuss the provisions of the 1999 Act, focusing particularly on the new structures created for the social support of asylum seekers while they await decisions on their claim. It is argued that this latest legislation, while yet more repressive than previous laws, is consistent with the general tradition of British immigration policy which, in spite of Britain’s continuing dependence on immigrant labour, has given priority to discouraging immigration and asylum seeking. British policy-makers have maintained a rigid distinction between immigration policy and "race relations": thus, controls on immigration which have disproportionately affected potential immigrants from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean have been introduced by governments which claim a commitment to combating racism. The study begins with a brief discussion of the history of immigration policy in Britain, noting in particular the extension of controls since the Second World War, introduced by both Conservative and Labour governments. We then discuss the specific legislation on Asylum introduced during the 1990s. The main section analyses the provisions of the 1991 Act. We argue that the changes to the social support system, together with the measures to extend control over the entry of asylum seekers and to facilitate detention and deportation, exclude this group from mainstream society. This has contributed to a climate of racism against refugees and asylum seekers in Britain, which affects all immigrants and citizens of immigrant origins.
Schappi Walter, Foreign labour in Switzerland
During the XX century, Switzerland has become a country of immigration. The share of foreign residents is currently 20%. The significant presence of immigrant communities requires an effective integration policy. For decades, there has been almost exclusively an intake of immigrant workforce according to the needs of economy at a given time. Notwithstanding the fact that integration of foreigners has been recognised as a priority in internal politics, financial resources proved to be insufficient and the measures implemented appear to be partial. It was only with the 1998 modification to the "Federal Law relative to the Residence and Stay of Foreigners" (LDDS) that a Fund has been created to support projects of social integration. In the next future, the LDDS will undergo an overall revision, as a result of bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, particularly in connection with the free movement of European citizens. The Law on foreigners will consequently and mainly deal with the regulation of stay of non-EU foreign immigrants.
Di Rosa Roberta, Migrations in Tanzania between the XIX and XX Centuries: Social Aspects and Characteristics
The salient features of Tanzanian
migration are depicted through an overview of the national history. It appears that there
are major differences, also in comparison with other developing countries. There are
little migratory flows towards the Western world; however, internal displacement is a
prominent phenomenon, as a consequence of internal political turmoil in the country.
Besides the specificity of each historical periods (colonialist and socialist rule;
opening to the market economy), there appears to be some common aspects regarding
Tanzanian migration: the phenomenon appears to be mainly an internal forced displacement,
either imposed by the Government or by the need to survive in the lack of basic
conditions. Furthermore, there is a reciprocal dynamics of cause/effect in the
ever-changing social system.
Many aspects of the social life (traditional rural economy, the division of labour along
gender lines, the distribution of "power" and responsibilities within the
family, education and emancipation of the new generations) have been modified by migratory
movements, which have therefore contributed to the spreading of new lifestyles.