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 Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of Municipality of Balti (Republic of Moldova) 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 in the municipality of Balti have access to Government-funded health services national-level provisions and there are also local-level measures to facilitate their access to services, such as under the Social Inclusion Strategy for Vulnerable People in the Municipality of Balti for the years 2019–2021 (2018).
- Migrants under the age of 18 who are legally residing in the Republic of Moldova have the same access to education as Moldovan children under national legislation.
- The Integration Centre for Foreigners Northern Regional Directorate, established in Balti in 2017 under the national General Inspectorate for Migration, serves as a local migration information desk and provides integration services to migrants in the municipality.
Areas with potential for further development
- Balti Municipal Town Hall does not have any specific mechanisms to provide migrants with legal services or advice.
- The development of a local policy or campaign against xenophobia and exclusion and promoting acceptance towards migrants and social cohesion is an area for further development.
- There are limited measures in place to help those who wish to migrate through Balti’s Town Hall but these have not been formalized.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Regional Integration Centre for Foreigners Northern Regional Directorate (ICFN) in Balti is tasked with providing services to migrants, collaborating with central and local public administration authorities and engaging with host communities under the national Programme on Managing Migration Flow, Asylum and the Integration of Foreigners for 2022–2025 (2022).
- Local authorities offer information to migrants including through the ICFN and the Balti Municipal Town Hall.
- There are efforts to enhance vertical policy coherence on migration issues in Balti, including through consultations with different levels of government.
- Local authorities in Balti participate in the formulation of migration and diaspora policies through their involvement in the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM).
Areas with potential for further development
- The integration of migration considerations in the local development strategy and sectoral plans in Balti is an area with potential for development.
- The participation of the municipality in the national Coordination Mechanism of State Policy in the field of diaspora, migration and development (DMD), as well as the creation of a local DMD committee are areas for further development.
- The municipality of Balti does not publish local-level statistics on migration.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Local authorities in Balti engage civil society and diaspora organizations in the implementation of migration-related programmes.
- The Balti Municipal Town Hall has cooperation agreements with NGOs that address human trafficking and gender-based violence against all women, regardless of their migratory status.
- The Balti Municipal Council has cooperated since 2022 with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to offer Ukrainian refugees financial assistance alongside civil society and in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
Areas with potential for further development
- Local authorities have recently begun engaging with migrant associations, the private sector, academia or social partners when developing local policies and strategies.
- With the increase in the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Balti in 2022, there have been no specific measures to promote the engagement of expatriated Moldovans and refugees from Ukraine in local development.
- Including migration-related aspects into Balti’s existing bilateral programmes for city-to-city cooperation is an area with potential for further development.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Migrants with the required documentation can apply for jobs via the Balti territorial subdivision of the National Employment Agency (NEA).
- NEA offers assistance and pre-departure support to those wishing to work abroad temporarily through the Agency’s territorial subdivision in Balti and local offices around the country.
- In response to the increase in the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Balti since February 2022, NEA has introduced measures in Balti to help refugees find employment.
Areas with potential for further development
- The municipality of Balti has not yet developed specific measures that promote the ethical recruitment of migrant workers, outside of the work to help Ukrainian refugees get employment.
- There is no local-level assessment for monitoring the local labour market demand for immigrants or the local labour supply and the effects of emigration on the local labour market.
- The implementation of local programmes to promote the financial inclusion of migrants and their families, particularly when they are remittance senders/receivers, is another area for development.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The municipality of Balti has communications systems in place to receive and distribute information during crises including under the Commission for Exceptional Situations (CES) of Balti which is presided over by the Mayor of Balti.
- In March 2022, CES of Balti set up a Crisis Cell which operated a 24-hour toll-free Green Line intended to help manage migration flow and facilitated access to temporary accommodation and social workers for Ukrainian refugees.
Areas with potential for further development
- There is no early warning system in place for crises in Balti or the Republic of Moldova that transmits alerts to the general population’s smartphones, although there are plans to develop one.
- Balti’s emergency management framework has no specific measures to provide assistance to migrants.
- The development of a local strategy to address the climate change–migration nexus, or alternatively the integration of the migration, environment and climate change nexus into local efforts for climate change adaptation is an area with potential for further development.
- There are no local-level migration plans or measures in place to promote the reintegration of Moldovans or migrants who fled the municipality during a potential crisis.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The municipality promotes migrant reintegration programmes directed towards Moldovan migrants returning to Balti.
- In March 2022, the Balti Municipal Town Hall, with support from IOM, opened an Information Centre for Refugees which contributes to increased community outreach and awareness of the available assistance and referrals for refugees, third-country nationals and host communities.
- In January 2023, the Moldovan Government approved the granting of temporary protection to Ukrainians displaced by the armed conflict, as well as stateless and certain third-country nationals.
- The National Strategy on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking for 2018–2023 (2018) mentions local authorities as partners in executing measures, such as distributing promotional materials, and implementing reintegration measures, but not in developing policies or plans.
Areas with potential for further development
- Access to justice is guaranteed for all persons, including migrants, by the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova (Article 20), but there are no specific institutional mechanisms to facilitate access.
- Promoting awareness and information campaigns to combat human trafficking and xenophobia, including through the official page of the Balti Municipal Town Hall, is an area for further development
2023 August
