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 the Marshall Island’s (hereinafter referred to as The Marshall Islands) 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.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Migrants, without any distinction based on nationality or residency status, have access to Government-funded health services under the same conditions as nationals.
- All migrants have the same access to public education services as nationals regardless of their migratory status.
- The Marshall Islands has an agreement since 1999 with New Zealand on the portability of social security entitlements and earned benefits.
- Marshallese nationals residing abroad can vote in national and local elections.
Areas with potential for further development
- The Marshall Islands gives its citizens preferential treatment in the selection and placement of trainees for vocational training.
- The country does not issue indefinite residence permits or recognize any status comparable to permanent residency.
- There is no specific policy or strategy in place to combat hate crimes, violence, xenophobia or discrimination against migrants.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Immigration Act (2006) streamlines the requirements for the issuance of visas and permits, clarifies procedures for the removal of persons who enter the Marshall Islands unlawfully, and regulates the enforcement of immigration laws.
- The Marshall Islands provides clear, transparent, and easily accessible rules and regulations on immigration procedures.
- The latest Population and Housing Census conducted in 2021 included some questions on migration.
Areas with potential for further development
- There are no government agencies or departments responsible for designing and coordinating the implementation of an overarching migration policy or strategic plan.
- There is no interministerial coordination mechanism on migration issues, but coordination takes place on an ad hoc basis.
- The Marshall Islands does not collect and publish migration-related data on a regular basis.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The country participates in different regional consultative processes such as the Pacific Immigration Development Community, the Pacific Islands Development Forum and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
- The Marshall Islands signed the Compact of Free Association (1983, amended in 2003) with the United States whereby its citizens and their immediate relatives have the right to reside and work indefinitely in the United States and its territories without the need for any visa or permit.
Areas with potential for further development
- The Government has not signed migration-specific memorandums of understanding with other countries, nor does it participate in bilateral migration-related negotiations or discussions.
- The private sector was involved in reviewing immigration legislation only on an ad hoc basis through invitations to public hearings during the drafting process.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Non-resident workers may be recruited to supplement the local labour force with available and qualified workers for professions that lack suitably qualified Marshallese workers.
- The Immigration Act (2006) accounts for different types of permits to attract specific labour skills.
- The Marshall Islands participates in the Pacific Qualifications Framework (PQF) and the Pacific Register of Qualifications and Standards (PRQS) that enable the benchmarking and recognition of specific qualifications.
Areas with potential for further development
- There is no national assessment for monitoring the labour market demand for immigrants, the domestic labour supply, and the effects of emigrants on the domestic labour market in the Marshall Islands.
- There are no specific measures in place to promote gender equality for migrants in the labour force.
- There are no mechanisms to protect the rights of nationals working abroad.
- The Marshall Islands does not actively promote the creation of formal remittance schemes.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The soon-to-be adopted National Adaptation Plan includes the relocation of communities from the outer islands to larger islands and the elevation of some of the islands to keep them habitable.
- Communication systems for the public to receive information on the evolving nature of crises are available in Marshallese and English and during large-scale disasters in Mandarin and Tagalog additionally.
- The Marshall Islands makes some exceptions to immigration procedures for migrants whose country of origin is experiencing crisis.
Areas with potential for further development
- The Marshall Islands does not have a strategy with specific measures to assist migrants before, during or after crises.
- There are no specific measures in place to assist nationals living abroad during crises.
- Migration issues are not explicitly addressed in the Marshall Islands’ recovery strategies.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Marshall Islands has a system in place to monitor visa overstays.
- The National Task Force on Human Trafficking leads anti-trafficking efforts and includes government, non-governmental and international organizations as members.
- The Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Act (2017) establishes measures to combat migrant labour exploitation by criminalizing trafficking in persons in the Marshall Islands.
Areas with potential for further development
- Border staff receive training only on an ad hoc basis.
- There are no policies or strategies to ensure that migrant detention is used only as a measure of last resort.
- The Government collects data on trafficking cases and its counter-trafficking activities, but it does not systematically publish these.
2022 December
