Tunis, Tunisia - Tunisia, primarily a country of emigration, could benefit from expanded bilateral and regional mobility schemes to facilitate regular emigration and maximize gains both at home and in destination countries. This perspective is detailed in the World Bank's (WB) Fall 2023 Economic Monitor of Tunisia, published Monday under the title "Migration amid Challenging Economic Context."
According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, authored by a team led by Massimiliano Calì, Senior Economist at the World Bank, and Consultant Mohamed Habib Zitouna, the report suggests that expanding legal migration pathways is essential for providing Tunisian emigrants with legal guarantees and protection against abuse. This access also ensures a range of services in destination countries.
To enhance these mobility schemes, Tunisia could tailor labor agreements with host countries experiencing labor shortages or increased labor demand. The WB cites the skill partnership for the mobility of nurses between Germany and Tunisia since 2013 as an effective model. Additionally, the Tunisian-French agreement, the largest and oldest bilateral scheme in Tunisia, offers about 9,000 spots each year for workers with competencies and skills in demand in the French labor market.
The Office for Tunisians Abroad (OTE) estimates that the number of Tunisians residing abroad in 2022 was double the UN's count, reaching around 1.8 million. Tunisian emigrants have significantly contributed to their home country through remittances, which have become the largest financial inflow to Tunisia. In 2021-22, remittances accounted for 6.6 percent of the country's GDP, surpassing both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and official development assistance.
The report also notes that some Tunisians who emigrate, especially those with high skills, return with new skills and capital to invest, though the number of returnees is fewer than those who leave. Looking ahead, the importance of attracting migrants to Tunisia is expected to grow due to the ongoing demographic transition. This could further enhance economic benefits for immigrants, including employment rights and residency privileges comparable to those of nationals. The WB references job search visas in Austria, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates, allowing foreign workers meeting specific criteria to enter for employment purposes, as examples of successful policies.