About the Migration Governance Indicators
About the Migration Governance Indicators
Migrants' rights
Migrants' rights
Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.
Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.
Whole of government approach
Whole of government approach
Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.
Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.
Partnerships
Partnerships
This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.
Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.
Well-being of migrants
Well-being of migrants
This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.
Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.
Mobility dimensions of crises
Mobility dimensions of crises
This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.
Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.
Safe, orderly and regular migration
Safe, orderly and regular migration
This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.
Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.
Key findings
Introduction
This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Kingdom of Eswatini ’s (hereafter referred to as Eswatini) migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.
Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.
The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM Member States.
Key findings
Migrants' rights
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:
- All migrants, regardless of their status, have equal access as citizens to Government-funded health-care services.
- Migrant workers with valid work permits have equal access to social security as citizens.
- Non-nationals can apply for citizenship after residency of 5 to 10 years in Eswatini.
Areas with potential for further development:
- The Government of Eswatini does not have agreements with other countries on the portability of social security entitlements and earned benefits.
- All non-nationals need a work permit to take up employment and cannot change jobs under the same permit.
- There is no path to permanent residency in Eswatini.
Key findings
Whole of government approach
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:
- The Ministry of Home Affairs has primary responsibility for developing the country’s migration policy and regulating immigration.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs’ website includes in-depth information on visas and permits.
- The Integrated Labour Force Survey collects data on the percentage of migrant workers in the workforce, disaggregated by sector.
Areas with potential for further development
- Eswatini does not yet have an overall national migration strategy.
- There is no dedicated government entity responsible for enacting an emigration policy or diaspora engagement policies.
- Eswatini publishes limited migration data on a regular basis outside the census.
Key findings
Partnerships
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:
- Eswatini is a member of the Migration Dialogue from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Member States (MIDCOM), established in 2013 to improve the capacity of governments to manage migration.
- Eswatini signed a number of bilateral labour agreements (BLAs) and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Taiwan Province of the People’s Republic of China on migration issues.
- Eswatini participates in migration-related bilateral discussions with several countries.
Areas with potential for further development:
- Eswatini is not part of any regional agreement promoting labour mobility.
- Eswatini only engages civil society organizations and the private sector in agenda-setting and implementation of migration-related issues on an ad hoc basis.
Key findings
Well-being of migrants
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:
- Eswatini offers different types of visas to attract specific labour skills.
- Eswatini follows the Southern African Development Community Qualifications Framework (SADQF), to promote mutual recognition of qualifications across the region.
Areas with potential for further development:
- Eswatini does not have a national assessment to monitor labour market demand for immigrants or the effects of emigrants on the domestic labour market.
- There are no laws specifically promoting ethical recruitment of migrant workers in Eswatini.
Key findings
Mobility dimensions of crises
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:
- The National Multi Hazard Contingency Plan includes strategies to address the displacement impacts of natural disasters.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation assists in evacuation planning of Eswatini citizens abroad in cases of political turmoil or disasters.
Areas with potential for further development:
- Eswatini does not have a strategy with specific measures to provide assistance to migrants before or during crises, or in post-crisis situations.
- Eswatini does not have measures in place to make exceptions to the immigration procedures for migrants whose country of origin is experiencing crises.
Key findings
Safe, orderly and regular migration
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:
- Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Immigration has been conducting health screenings for all migrants arriving in and departing from the country, in coordination with the Ministry of Health.
- The People Trafficking and People Smuggling (Prohibition) Act provides for the protection and support of “trafficked or smuggled persons”.
Areas with potential for further development:
- The country does not have a visa-monitoring mechanism in place.
- There is only a paper-based system for applying for visas and permits prior to arrival.
