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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Republic of Guatemala (hereinafter referred to as Guatemala) 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 Impact. Funding is provided by IOM Member States.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Standards for Comprehensive Primary and Secondary Health Care (2018) ensures that primary and secondary health-care personnel will attend to the entire population, irrespective of migration status, and contains a specific section on “Caring for migrants”.
- The Inter-agency Cooperation Agreement between the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2022) aims to facilitate voting by Guatemalan citizens abroad.
- The Regulations on comparability and equivalencies of studies at the pre-primary, primary, and high school levels and in the formal and non-formal education subsystems (2019) regulates the technical and administrative process for the handling of applications relating to the comparability of studies done abroad, or equivalences in the education subsystems.
- The Register of Ordinary Migration Status set up in 2019 centralizes the issuance, registration, and monitoring of temporary and permanent residence permits.
Areas with potential for further development
- Resident foreigners do not enjoy equal access to employment as Guatemalan nationals, as the Labour Code (2011) prohibits the hiring of less than 90 per cent Guatemalan workers.
- There is no draft policy or strategy to combat crimes of hatred, xenophobia and discrimination towards migrants.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Public Policy on Protection and Assistance to Migrants 2019–2032 and the General Government Policy 2020–2024 (adopted in 2020) contain provisions and guidelines to ensure that a whole-of-government approach is taken to migration matters.
- The Guatemalan Migration Institute (IGM) implements Guatemala’s migration policy, which is issued by the National Migration Authority.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides support to Guatemalans abroad, while the Guatemalan National Council for Assistance to Migrants offers support and assistance to Guatemalan migrants and their families in Guatemala, and also to returnees and migrants present in the national territory.
- IGM publishes monthly figures on returnees and migratory flows by air and land.
Areas with potential for further development
- The Public Policy on Protection and Assistance to Migrants 2019–2032 does not contemplate specific actions to empower women migrants.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Guatemala participates in regional forums such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Central American Integration System where migrations issues are discussed.
- The government of Guatemala signed in 2021 the Public–Private Partnership to Reduce Irregular Migration in Guatemala.
- Guatemala held in 2019 the pro tempore presidency member of the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) or Puebla Process and, in 2021, chaired the Central American Commission of Migration Directors.
Areas with potential for further development
- Guatemala is a party to the Agreement Creating the Central American Single Visa for the Free Movement of Foreign Nationals between the Republics of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua (CA-4) (2005), but the Agreement contains no provisions on labour migration.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Through the General Directorate of Non-Formal Education, the Ministry of Education runs education programmes for returnees and foreign nationals in Guatemala.
- Guatemala has signed bilateral labour agreements such as the Labour Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Guatemala and the United States of Mexico in 2018 and, in 2020, the Agreement concerning Temporary Agricultural and Non-agricultural Worker Programmes between Guatemala and the United States of America.
- The Regulations on the registration of recruiters of Guatemalan workers to supply services or perform work outside of the territory of the Republic of Guatemala (2022) create a register of recruiters of Guatemalan workers to protect the rights of Guatemalan working abroad.
- In 2021, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare published the strategy on the Temporary Work Programme, which lays out the vision, functions, principles and mechanisms for linking up Guatemalan workers with job opportunities abroad.
- The Public Policy on Protection and Assistance to Migrants 2019–2032 lays out measures to encourage financial inclusion.
Areas with potential for further development
- The formulation of policies for monitoring and assessing the demand for foreign nationals in Guatemala’s labour market is deemed an area with potential for further development.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Guatemala National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2018–2022 and the National Response Plan (2019) lay out comprehensive risk management measures to all population.
- In 2019, the Republic of Guatemala published its Regulations on the Procedure for the Protection, Determination and Recognition of Refugee Status.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contingency plans for the “Evacuation of Guatemalans in cases of emergency”, and they are kept updated through Guatemala’s consulates and embassies abroad.
- Since 2021, the Guatemalan Migration Institute has had an internal action protocol for mass migration movements, which was approved by the Central American Commission of Migration Directors.
Areas with potential for further development
- Although Guatemala has strategies for addressing mobility in times of crisis, there are no specific provisions for migrants and their needs.
- The preparation of road maps and protocols for dealing with migration and human displacement issues is considered an area with room for improvement.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- In Guatemala, there is an Office against Trafficking in Persons within the Office of the Public Prosecutor, along with a Specialized Division against Trafficking in Persons in the National Civil Police.
- The Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (SVET) inaugurated in 2021 the “Mobile Units for the Prevention of Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons – UNIVET”.
- The Mechanism for the Comprehensive Protection of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents was established in 2020.
- The Migration Code (2016) established the Council for Assistance and Protection (CAP) as the body charged with “attending to families of migrants deemed to have disappeared during migration.
- In 2021, CAP approved the Inter-agency Protocol on the Reception and Care of Guatemalan Migrants Repatriated by Air.
Areas with potential for further development
- The conclusion of formal cooperation agreements with other countries to prevent and counteract migrant smuggling is considered an area with potential for further development.
2022 August
