1. Fostering the Social and Professional Reintegration
of Return Labour Migrants
Introductory module
26th – 30th November 2012
ITC-ILO, Turin (Italy)
http://rsc.eui.eu/RDP/ Return migration and Development Platform
2. Note: There exist different definitions as applied to “return migrants” and “return”. Please
read the various definitions mentioned below and analyse their scope and implications for
policy-making. Please note when such definitions were provided. Which concerns and
criteria drove the definitions?
Return Migrant:
• Frank Bovenkerk (1974): Persons returning to their country of origin, on a temporary
or permanent basis.
• Definition recommended by the United Nations (1998): “Persons [who] return to their
country of citizenship after having been international migrants (whether short-term or
long-term) and who are intending to stay in their own country for at least one year.”
Return:
• IOM (2004): “Refers broadly to the act or process of going back. This could be within the
territorial boundaries of a country, as in the case of returning Internally Displaced Persons
and demobilized combatants; or from a host country (either transit or destination) to the
country of origin, as in the case of refugees, asylum seekers, and qualified nationals. There
are subcategories of return which can describe the way return is implemented, e.g. voluntary,
forced, assisted and spontaneous return; as well as subcategories which describe who is
participating in the return, e.g. repatriation (for refugees).”
• EU (2002): “Comprises the process of going back to one’s country of origin, transit or
another third country, including preparation and implementation. Return may be voluntary or
enforced.”
2
http://rsc.eui.eu/RDP/ Return migration and Development Platform
3. Note: There exist as many migration cycles as return motivations. On the basis of your own
experience, please think about list the categories of returnees you identify, as well as the
reasons for which such categories of returnees differ from one another.
Here below some examples :
http://rsc.eui.eu/RDP/ Return migration and Development Platform
![Note: There exist different definitions as applied to “return migrants” and “return”. Please
read the various definitions mentioned below and analyse their scope and implications for
policy-making. Please note when such definitions were provided. Which concerns and
criteria drove the definitions?
Return Migrant:
• Frank Bovenkerk (1974): Persons returning to their country of origin, on a temporary
or permanent basis.
• Definition recommended by the United Nations (1998): “Persons [who] return to their
country of citizenship after having been international migrants (whether short-term or
long-term) and who are intending to stay in their own country for at least one year.”
Return:
• IOM (2004): “Refers broadly to the act or process of going back. This could be within the
territorial boundaries of a country, as in the case of returning Internally Displaced Persons
and demobilized combatants; or from a host country (either transit or destination) to the
country of origin, as in the case of refugees, asylum seekers, and qualified nationals. There
are subcategories of return which can describe the way return is implemented, e.g. voluntary,
forced, assisted and spontaneous return; as well as subcategories which describe who is
participating in the return, e.g. repatriation (for refugees).”
• EU (2002): “Comprises the process of going back to one’s country of origin, transit or
another third country, including preparation and implementation. Return may be voluntary or
enforced.”
2
http://rsc.eui.eu/RDP/ Return migration and Development Platform](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)