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Roundup: Better int'l cooperation needed "to make winners from migration": OECD

Xinhua, December 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s development center on Monday called for better international coordination in handling the migration crisis in a way that leads to benefits in countries of origin and destination.

"Migration is a natural result of economic development that can benefit both countries of origin and destination. This trend is here to stay, so it has to work for all countries," said Angel Gurria, OECD's Secretary General.

"Improved co-operation would help developing, emerging and advanced economies better manage migration to the benefit of all, making sure there are more winners and fewer losers from migration," he added.

In its new report on migration development, the OECD development center noted that migration could have a positive impact on origin countries where the flows of people seeking better opportunities abroad could alleviate the burden of mass unemployment and contribute to the development of native countries via foreign currency remittances and know-how.

Meanwhile, these countries should take steps to tackle labor shortages and the loss of educated and skilled workers caused by migration, the think-tank said.

In countries of destination, migrants represent a potential workforce in specific sectors and help to create jobs by investing in host states, it added.

"As the number of people migrating is likely to continue to increase, the need is growing for greater international cooperation to manage migration flows as well as a framework for handling refugees," the OECD development center said.

The Paris-based organization asked the international community to further cooperate on protecting migrants' rights, visa agreements, recruitment and remittance costs, as well as qualifications and skills partnerships.

The share of the world population living outside their native country stood at 3.3 percent in 2015, up from 2.7 percent in 1995, or an increase of about 85 million people in two decades, according to OECD data. Endit