Circular migration – pros and cons

Pros

• Encourages a steady flow of remittances, spread over a larger group of recipients
• Reduces the effects of a brain drain
• Increases the likelihood of a ‘brain gain’ and ‘brain circulation’
• Minimizes negative social impacts on the families left behind
• Follows ‘natural’ migration patterns
• Reduces opportunities for employers to exploit illegal immigrants
• Allows receiving countries to adapt migration according to labour needs
• Increases employment opportunities for migrant workers
• Opens the receiving countries to globalization
• Encourages the development of multicultural societies

Cons

• Will not discourage continued illegal immigration
• Requires strong measures to prevent migrants settling and bringing their families
• Works only if the free movement of temporary migrant workers is limited
• Results in the bureaucratization of labour migration
• Increases the risk that migrants will settle and thus put pressure on social systems in receiving countries
• Increases opportunities for employers to exploit temporary migrants
• Could result in the creation of second-class citizens
• Could put downward pressure on wages in the lowest sectors
• Could result in friction between people of different cultural backgrounds