About the Migration Governance Indicators

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

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

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

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

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

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 Uruguay's 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 from well-developed areas

• In Uruguay, non-nationals have the same status as nationals in the areas of health, education, social protection and work under the Migration Act of 2008.

• The Migration Act grants migrants equality of treatment with nationals when taking up work.

• Any migrant, regardless of visa or residence type, can apply for family reunification.

• Uruguay has agreements with other countries on the portability of rights and entitlements, including old-age pensions, through the Social Security Bank.

Key findings

Whole of government approach

Migration governance: examples from well-developed areas

The National Migration Board (Junta Nacional de Migración) is the permanent mechanism for inter-ministerial coordination on migration matters.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked with publishing information on the Uruguayan Government’s migration policies and initiatives.
The Migration Policy Framework Document for Uruguay is the comprehensive national migration strategy, which includes the objectives, principles and general strategic guidelines for the State’s migration policy in the short, medium and long term.
The national migration strategy is gender responsive and focuses on the protection of women's rights and victims of violence.
In recent years, Uruguay national government has strengthened its work with departmental administrations, recognizing the decentralized nature of migration.
Migration data outside the national census is collected and published on a regular basis by the National Directorate of Migration (Dirección Nacional de Migración), the National Migration Board and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Key findings

Partnerships

Migration governance: Examples from well-developed areas

Uruguay has signed memorandums of understanding on migration with several countries such as Chile and the Dominican Republic.
Uruguay is a member State of Mercosur, whose goals include the promotion of human mobility, economic integration and free trade among South American countries.
Uruguay is a member of the South American Conference on Migration, which main purpose is to provide a platform for consultations in the primary areas of development, including migration issues.
The Directorate General for Consular Affairs and Liaison (Dirección General para Asuntos Consulares y Vinculación) works with advisory boards and associations of Uruguayans abroad.
Since 2015, the World Meeting of Advisory Councils and Associations of Uruguayans Abroad has met every two years.

Key findings

Well-being of migrants

Migration governance: Examples from well-developed areas

The National Institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estadística) and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social) collect labour market data disaggregated by migration status and sex.
Uruguay has developed mechanisms to protect the rights of its citizens working abroad, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Uruguay’s tertiary education system is open to international students on an equal basis with Uruguayan nationals, including free tuition.
Uruguay promotes gender equality for migrants in the workforce, with a law that establishes the principle of equal treatment and opportunities for both sexes in employment, prohibiting any discrimination that violates this principle, regardless of the sector of activity.
The government has formal bilateral labor agreements in place, with the aim of promoting the exchange of experiences and knowledge between young students.

Areas with potential for further development

The government is making efforts to extend social security coverage to all those living in situations of dependency.

Key findings

Mobility dimensions of crises

Migration governance: Examples from well-developed areas

The “Guide for the coordination of the displacement of people in humanitarian action”. is the national strategy for preventing and tackling the impact of displacement in disaster situations.
Uruguay has strategies to address migration movements caused by environmental degradation and the adverse effects of climate change through the National Environmental Plan (Plan Nacional Ambiental).
The Refugee and the Migration Laws of Uruguay provide measures to make exceptions to immigration procedures for non-nationals whose country of origin is in crisis.

Areas with potential for further development

The National Emergency System (Sistema National de Emergencias) lacks specific measures to assist non-nationals before, during and after crises.
The Communications Department of the National Emergency System has operational guidelines on how to communicate with citizens before, during and after emergencies. However, there are no specific protocols for communication with non-nationals.

Key findings

Safe, orderly and regular migration

Migration governance: Examples from well-developed areas

The Department of Migration (Dirección Nacional de Migración), in the Ministry of the Interior portfolio, is responsible for public security and border control.
The Uruguayan State has established a general public policy facilitating and simplifying the return process for Uruguayans.
Uruguay has a national strategy for preventing and prosecuting human trafficking, the Prevention and Combating of Human Trafficking Act (Ley de Prevención y Combate de la Trata de Personas), as well as formal cooperation agreements with other countries to prevent and counteract human trafficking.
Uruguay has measures to prevent the labor exploitation of migrants and provide personalized advice on facts and circumstances that could form the basis of a rights violation.

Areas with potential for further development