Labour Migrations to Resource-rich Countries: Comparative Perspectives on Migrants’ Rights in Canada, Norway and the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This article compares migrants’ rights and labour-migration policies of three resource-rich receiving countries located in the Persian Gulf, North America and Europe, respectively. The wealthy economies of Canada, Norway and the United Arab Emirates have emerged as some of the largest receivers of labour migrants. The comparative analysis herein focuses on distinctive characteristics of the different migration regimes and policies which regulate the rights of labour migrants. It is maintained that the countries we have explored could hardly be more different, and that the actual similarities with regard to migration policies are limited. Yet, we have still identified some surprising and unexpected converging trends. Specifically, these countries use some similar tools and exclusionary policies in order to restrict the legal status of certain categories of labour migrants, particularly low-skilled migrants.

Temporary Labour–Migration System and Long–term Residence Strategies in the United Arab Emirates

“…The UAE's migration system is commonly depicted as the “ultimate” temporary migration regime, but it is unclear both how migrants cope with it and precisely how temporary the migrations to the country actually are. We believe that the UAE's experiences with these questions may be of considerable relevance to discussions, as they appear in the GCC and elsewhere, about different forms of temporariness and about the sustainability of temporary migrations programmes (Castles, ; Ruhs, ; Howe and Owens, ; Valenta et al., ).…”

“…Various facets of such policies have been observed around the globe, and such restrictions seem to be gaining support, among other places in Europe and North America. Yet the UAE conceivably represents the ultimate case of such “high numbers and low rights trade‐offs” (Ruhs, ; Valenta et al., ). The authorities in the Emirates seem to deal with the above–mentioned concerns by consistently stressing that the migrations are temporary.…”

“…We believe that the UAE's experiences with these questions may be of considerable relevance to discussions, as they appear in the GCC and elsewhere, about different forms of temporariness and about the sustainability of temporary migrations programmes (Castles, 2006;Ruhs, 2013;Howe and Owens, 2016;Valenta et al, 2017). However, our focus is not primarily directed towards general debates about "high numbers and low rights trade-offs".…”

“…One important element of the labour migrations to the country is the regular and irregular strategies adopted by foreign labour migrants. Numerous studies have explored the restrictions and the general outcomes of the temporary sponsorship system in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in general, and the UAE in particular (Kamrava and Babar, ; Irudaya Rajan and Joseph, ; Valenta and Jakobsen, ; Babar, ; Valenta et al., ). However, possibilities of long–term residence in the Emirates, which formally defines immigrations as temporary, are still insufficiently explored.…”