Illegal Immigrants: Mongolia’s Most Vulnerable Foreigners
In 2007, four Mongolians working illegally in Korea were granted citizenship after saving eleven people from a building fire. The men were working on the roof of an apartment complex when it caught alight, they ran down into the building and managed to evacuate the unconscious residents.
Later that day, the men fled the hospital before they could be treated, fearing that they would be caught by authorities and deported.
While these were exceptional circumstances, they brought the problem of illegal Mongolian immigrants to a wide audience, as the e-community fired up, demanding the four men receive citizenship.
There aren't exact figures about the number of illegal Mongolian immigrants abroad, but there's little doubt that the number is rising. Hot spots for illegal workers include Korea and the Czech republic. According to the Encyclopaedia of 'Asian American Folklore and Folklife' published last year, there is also a significant population of Mongolian illegal immigrants who travel across at loose borders from Europe and Russia.
The problem of illegal migrant workers may be sourced back home though, with Mongolia's job market suffering from critical inconsistencies. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Mongolians were first offered the opportunity to cross borders freely, and in the economic depression that followed, many took advantage of the growing construction industries in their neighbouring countries.
Evidence that Mongolians are still crossing borders (both legally and illegally) suggests the remnants of the post-communist habit had stuck. Though figures suggest that the job market hasn't truly rebounded.
2011 Labor Force Surveys suggest that while unemployment rates remain stable at around 9 percent, real workers wages fell by 13 percent. Almost half of those surveyed indicated that "their earning did not meet their basic needs."
Along with an accelerating 11 percent inflation rate in Ulaanbaatar, buying essentials and supporting family appears to be becoming increasingly harder for the average Mongolian worker. This could possibly explain the rising number of illegal immigrants in neighboring countries and countries abroad.
Aside from being a legal liability to Mongolia, illegal immigrants are also often treated in extremely undignified ways, causing a humanitarian issue for the Mongolian government as well as the Governments of the countries that receive them.
Workers are forced into low quality accommodations and receive none of the workplace benefits of citizens. This includes health insurance and workers compensation. Injured and disabled workers are given limited choices in receiving health care from their host country.
A 2007 report revealed that legally registered Mongolian workers can even experience the same lack of rights. While inter-government relations dictate that workers be treated fairly, workplace rights are often foregone in the trickle down effect from enforcing authorities to employers.
“they are well aware of their rights and are entitled to those benefits,” said the ‘Korea Focus’ report. “But they soon realise they have to rely on the whim of their employers, who are not all ready to provide them with such benefits.”
Mongolian workers seem to prepared to face the risks though. Last month, two Mongolian illegal workers were caught and detained in Australia after they were found to have been working illegally. They were transported to the country’s infamous Villawood detention centre where they await deportation.
The Mongolian Government has made efforts in the past to stem the flow of illegal workers. In 2008, there were meetings held between Mongolian and Czech authorities that resulted in a series of educational programs aimed at young immigrants and at risk populations. The programs were aimed at discussing proper immigration procedure and explaining the risks involved in illegal employment.
The illicit nature of alien immigrations makes it hard to track however, and there is no way of evaluating the success of the program. While the four men hailed as heroes in the Korean fire were eventually granted honorary citizenship, life for Mongolian illegal immigrants is usually very difficult.
On New Years Eve, President Elbedorj made a request that all Mongolians come home. However, the request may have to be substantiated with relief projects aimed at curbing unemployment and combating inflation if there is to be any chance of stemming the flow of illegal immigrations.
Later that day, the men fled the hospital before they could be treated, fearing that they would be caught by authorities and deported.
While these were exceptional circumstances, they brought the problem of illegal Mongolian immigrants to a wide audience, as the e-community fired up, demanding the four men receive citizenship.
There aren't exact figures about the number of illegal Mongolian immigrants abroad, but there's little doubt that the number is rising. Hot spots for illegal workers include Korea and the Czech republic. According to the Encyclopaedia of 'Asian American Folklore and Folklife' published last year, there is also a significant population of Mongolian illegal immigrants who travel across at loose borders from Europe and Russia.
The problem of illegal migrant workers may be sourced back home though, with Mongolia's job market suffering from critical inconsistencies. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Mongolians were first offered the opportunity to cross borders freely, and in the economic depression that followed, many took advantage of the growing construction industries in their neighbouring countries.
Evidence that Mongolians are still crossing borders (both legally and illegally) suggests the remnants of the post-communist habit had stuck. Though figures suggest that the job market hasn't truly rebounded.
2011 Labor Force Surveys suggest that while unemployment rates remain stable at around 9 percent, real workers wages fell by 13 percent. Almost half of those surveyed indicated that "their earning did not meet their basic needs."
Along with an accelerating 11 percent inflation rate in Ulaanbaatar, buying essentials and supporting family appears to be becoming increasingly harder for the average Mongolian worker. This could possibly explain the rising number of illegal immigrants in neighboring countries and countries abroad.
Aside from being a legal liability to Mongolia, illegal immigrants are also often treated in extremely undignified ways, causing a humanitarian issue for the Mongolian government as well as the Governments of the countries that receive them.
Workers are forced into low quality accommodations and receive none of the workplace benefits of citizens. This includes health insurance and workers compensation. Injured and disabled workers are given limited choices in receiving health care from their host country.
A 2007 report revealed that legally registered Mongolian workers can even experience the same lack of rights. While inter-government relations dictate that workers be treated fairly, workplace rights are often foregone in the trickle down effect from enforcing authorities to employers.
“they are well aware of their rights and are entitled to those benefits,” said the ‘Korea Focus’ report. “But they soon realise they have to rely on the whim of their employers, who are not all ready to provide them with such benefits.”
Mongolian workers seem to prepared to face the risks though. Last month, two Mongolian illegal workers were caught and detained in Australia after they were found to have been working illegally. They were transported to the country’s infamous Villawood detention centre where they await deportation.
The Mongolian Government has made efforts in the past to stem the flow of illegal workers. In 2008, there were meetings held between Mongolian and Czech authorities that resulted in a series of educational programs aimed at young immigrants and at risk populations. The programs were aimed at discussing proper immigration procedure and explaining the risks involved in illegal employment.
The illicit nature of alien immigrations makes it hard to track however, and there is no way of evaluating the success of the program. While the four men hailed as heroes in the Korean fire were eventually granted honorary citizenship, life for Mongolian illegal immigrants is usually very difficult.
On New Years Eve, President Elbedorj made a request that all Mongolians come home. However, the request may have to be substantiated with relief projects aimed at curbing unemployment and combating inflation if there is to be any chance of stemming the flow of illegal immigrations.
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