Jorge Malheiros: Framing the Iberian model of labour migration

As a result of these active integration policies, Portugal and Spain have risen to top positions in the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), particularly in the labour market domain, where immigrants are eligible for most jobs soon after their arrival, can start businesses on their own and are offered a relatively large range of training and language courses (especially in Portugal). In addition, workers’ security and employment rights are fully ensured to immigrants in both states…
Despite the positive character of these measures, empirically confirmed by the position of Portugal and Spain in the MIPEX, they somehow play a compensatory role in the Iberian immigration policy. On the one hand, these measures compensate immigrants for the vulnerability and exploitation they have undergone during their period of irregularity and also for the potential de facto labour market exploitation they still can face after their regularisation (it is important to remember that control mechanisms and bureaucratic procedures tend to be less effective than some ex ante regulatory  devices, such as diversification of migration channels or the introduction of visas for work searching in destination countries). On the other hand, public authorities ensure, through this policy, fundamental citizenship rights to immigrants, respecting the principles of a democratic state and alleviating some potential social tension. However, these positive integration mechanisms are only seen in response to the ‘irregularity route,’ and often only ensure de jure and not substantive rights...
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