Middle East regional award AID/NE-C-1593 · 1979 · labor policies and markets

Investigates the implications of international migration of workers from low-income countries to high-income nations of the Arab Near East, in Maghrib, North Africa, the Nile Valley, the Levant, and the Arabian peninsula. Considers two factors to be of overriding significance: Widening gap between rich and poor Arab Near East countries and the likelihood of large-scale unemployment when workers return to poor countries after being discarded by richer countries. Predicts a turnabout in Arab world labor market as employment opportunities in rich states diminish rather than grow. Thus, employment of Arab migrant workers will fall sharply. Suggests implementation of regional labor market strategy to predict and stabilize labor flows. Believes efforts should be made to employ national remittances in broader rather than individual interests. This might be achieved by using banks for transfers, development bonds, and storing foreign exchange reserves for the future. Encourages the protection of indigenous agriculture and the return of migrant workers to native lands rather than preventing their departure to seek work in other countries.

Source: DEC abstract, PN-AAG-611 (1979). The source's own text.