Experts: Migrant workers contribute more than they get 

In a hearing in the European Parliament, on 8 October 2007, MEPs put forward the following catalogue of questions to experts: 

1. Is migration an answer to member states' ageing problems and the working-age population decline?
2. If so should the member states focus on the highly-skilled workers or a mix of workers, including the low-skilled?
3. Can the Australian or Canadian cases, based on quotas by economic sector, be taken as examples for the European Union?
4. What kind of residence status should be given to economic migrants entering the EU, long-term or short-term, and what impact would these arrangements have on the integration of migrants?
5. Should third-country migrants enjoy the same labour and social rights granted to the EU citizens?
6. What would be the best way of guaranteeing third-country immigrants the transferability to their home countries of social security entitlements acquired when working in the EU?
7. What policies and actions have been more successful in achieving the integration of third-country workers and what possible role could social partners, NGOs and civil society play in this context?

MEPs' questions were answered by two experts, Norbert Cyrus of the University of Oldenburg in Germany and  Alessio Cangiano , a demographer working with the UK Centre of Migration, Policy and Society on 'Migration Management '. 

Cangiano explained that Australia and Canada apply a so-called 'points system', where workers have to collect a certain amount of rating points on the basis of their personal characteristics (such as profession, language competence or family members in the host country) to be admitted to the labour market. He said that "highly-skilled workers actually contribute more to social security systems than they get" and that there is also a growing demand for low-skilled migrant workers in agriculture, hospitality and social services. However, he said that migration is only a short term solution to compensate for the decline in working-age population.  

Cyrus said he would favour a more "demand-driven" approach over the present "supply-driven" selection: Immigrants should be granted a residence and work permit only after being offered a job in the host country. After a certain "trial period" they should be allowed to shift from temporary to permanent immigration.  

Hubert Krieger of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) said: "Europe should learn from the experiences of some member states who introduced in previous years so-called 'guest worker' programmes without taking into account that the migrants would stay. He added that the job and career offered in the host country should reflect the migrant's qualifications and competences in order to prevent both a loss of income and status for the migrant as well as reduced wealth and competitiveness for the host society.