Glossary of key terms in refugee labour mobility
This glossary includes frequently-used terms within the field of refugee labour mobility and across this site. When available, we have drawn definitions directly from the UNHCR’s master glossary of terms. When a definition is unavailable from UNHCR, we have provided an original definition that reflects the usage of the term in the context of this site. We will continue to update this glossary with new additions and to reflect changing usage of terms.
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A
Autonomous access
The process by which displaced people connect directly with international job and migration opportunities without facilitation by a managing organization. As logistical and policy-related barriers to refugee labour mobility decrease, autonomous access to refugee labour mobility should become possible for growing numbers of displaced people.
C
Candidate
A displaced person who is submitting themselves for international employment opportunities. The term candidate is used interchangeably with displaced talent throughout this site.
Capacity-building organizations
Managing organizations with experience facilitating refugee labour mobility processes that are equipped to share knowledge, tools and best practices with other organizations interested in growing their capacity to facilitate refugee labour mobility.
Complementary pathways
Existing legal admission pathways that are adjusted for persons in need of international protection, as well as newly created programs that provide for lawful stay in a third country where the international protection needs of the beneficiaries are met. These programs are distinct from resettlement programs. Eligibility for complementary pathways is often determined by criteria different from those for resettlement, including education or employment qualifications, family composition, etc.
D
Destination country
The country in which a displaced person will ultimately arrive and begin working after a successful labour migration process.
Displaced Talent
Any person with employable skills who has been forcibly displaced from their country. This includes refugees, stateless people and other people in need of international protection. The term “displaced talent’ is used interchangeably with “candidate” throughout this site.
Displaced Talent Mobility
The movement of displaced talent between countries and toward a durable solution. Otherwise called “refugee labour mobility” or “complementary employment pathways.”
Dual intent
Visas that allow for “dual intent” are temporary visas or migration programs that enable recipients to take steps towards a permanent immigration status in the destination country. This is in contrast to temporary migration visas or programs which require applicants to state they have no intention of pursuing permanent residence.
Durable Solution
The satisfactory or permanent resolution of a person’s displacement through ensuring national protection for their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.
Note: In the refugee context a durable solution requires (re-)establishment of a permanent legal status and generally involves voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement. For stateless persons durable solutions are linked to the provision or recognition of nationality.
E
Employment complementary pathways
Any programmes that facilitate the movement of persons in need of international protection to a safe third country for the purpose of employment, while also having their protection needs met. Candidates’ eligibility for programmes is assessed based on their professional qualifications and experience. These are complementary to traditional refugee resettlement pathways.
H
Host country
The country in which a candidate currently stays or resides, whether legally or irregularly. Host country is used interchangeably with source country throughout this site.
I
In-demand occupations
In-demand occupations are typically identified by local, regional or national governments, individual corporations or industry bodies as vital to the economic prosperity of the locality, region, country, industry or organization. These occupations typically have a high number of unfilled vacancies or a projected growth trajectory, and as such are often the most natural starting point for implementing labour mobility in a destination country.
In-demand skills
In-demand skills are those which are most sought-after in a given job market. When skills are in high demand, candidates with those skills are more competitive.
Informed decision making (IDM)
The process by which candidates are supported to make a well-informed decision about whether or not to accept an international offer of employment on the basis of a thorough review of the terms and conditions of their prospective employment and visa, as well as information about the visa application process and the conditions of life in the prospective destination country and community.
Intake (n)
A data set that includes all of the information a managing organization needs to determine a candidate’s interest in refugee labour mobility, their suitability for a particular international job, and their eligibility for certain refugee labour mobility schemes.
Intake (v)
The process by which managing organizations systematically collect information from candidates that will be used to confirm their interest in refugee labour mobility, their suitability for particular international jobs, and their eligibility for refugee labour mobility programs.
International Labour Mobility
The movement of workers between countries. It is otherwise referred to as skilled migration or economic migration.
J
Job opportunity intake (n)
A data set that includes all of the information a managing organization needs to determine the eligibility of a particular employer and job description to recruit an international worker through an existing migration pathway.
Job opportunity intake (JOI) (v)
The process by which a managing organization systematically collects the data it needs to determine the eligibility of a particular employer and job description to recruit an international worker through an existing migration pathway.
L
Labour market testing
Requirement to advertise the role for a period of time to prove that no local workers can do the job.
Legal services provider
An individual or organization with appropriate authorization within their country of jurisdiction to offer legal advice and services, including filing visa applications.
M
Managing organization
An organization that plays an active role in facilitating displaced talent mobility, often through supporting employers and candidates to make appropriate job matches and providing holistic support to both actors through the visa application and migration processes. Managing organizations can be based in source countries or in destination countries.
Managing organizations often focus their efforts and operations on one side of the refugee labour mobility equation. Some managing organizations, often based in source countries, interface most regularly with displaced talent, while others, often based in destination countries, interface most often with employers. Multiple managing organizations with different operational strengths may work together to provide end-to-end support for a refugee labour mobility process.
Talent-facing managing organization (or talent-facing organization)
Organizations that reach out to, identify and prepare displaced talent for international labour mobility opportunities.
Employer-facing managing organization (or employer-facing organization)
Organizations that reach out to, identify and prepare international employers to hire and sponsor displaced talent.
Migration pathway
A regular, well-defined program or policy under which a non-national can be granted permission to enter a destination country, whether temporarily or permanently. Different migration pathways are characterized by distinct eligibility criteria, policy goals, regulations and approval / enforcement mechanisms.
P
Pathway to permanence
A feature of some visa programs or migration status that allows individuals admitted to a destination country on a temporary basis to apply to transition their legal status to permanent residence, either immediately or after a defined period of time.
Permanent residence
The right granted by a destination country to a non‐national to live within that country on a permanent or indefinite basis.
Person in Need of International Protection
A person who is outside their country of origin or habitual residence and is unable to return because they would be at risk there, and their country is unable or unwilling to protect them. This includes refugees. It may also include those who do not meet the international definition of a refugee but are unable to return, e.g. persons displaced across an international border in the context of disasters or climate change.
Prevailing wage
The typical rate of wages and benefits paid to similarly employed workers in a given geography. Some labour migration processes require employers to offer, at minimum, the prevailing wage of their locality to any foreign workers they seek to sponsor for employment.
R
Refoulement
The removal of a person to a territory where they would be at risk of being persecuted (direct refoulement), or of being moved to another territory where they would face persecution (indirect refoulement). Under international refugee law and customary international law, refoulement is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Refugee
Any person who meets the eligibility criteria under an applicable refugee definition, as provided for in international or regional refugee instruments, under UNHCR’s mandate, or in national legislation.The full legal definition is found in Art. 1(A)(2) of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. You can learn more here.
Refugee labour mobility
The regular movement of refugee workers between countries. In the context of this site, “refugee labour mobility” is used interchangeably with “displaced talent mobility” or “employment complementary pathways”. Learn more about refugee labour mobility.
Refugee status determination (RSD)
The legal or administrative process by which governments or UNHCR determine whether a person seeking international protection is considered a refugee in under international, regional or national law.
Resettlement
The selection and transfer of refugees from a State in which they have sought treaty protection to a third State that has agreed to admit them – as refugees – with permanent residence status. The status provided ensures protection against refoulement and provides a resettled refugee and their dependents with access to rights similar to those enjoyed by nationals. Resettlement also carries with it the opportunity to eventually become a naturalized citizen of the resettlement country. As such, resettlement is a mechanism for refugee protection, a durable solution, and an example of international burden and responsibility sharing.
S
Settlement services provider
An organization located in a country of destination that provides supportive services for recently arrived migrants and refugees. In many cases these organizations are contracted by local or regional governments to provide a range of services related to community and social service navigation.
Source country
The country from which a displaced person begins their labour mobility application process. Source country is used interchangeably with host country throughout this site.
Stateless person
A person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law. This can be because they never had a nationality, their country does not recognize their nationality, or they lost their nationality without acquiring a new one.
T
Talent Catalog
A digital platform designed for the purpose of facilitating displaced talent mobility. Learn more about the Talent Catalog here.
Temporary residence
The right granted by a destination country to a non‐national to live within that country for a defined period of time. These non-nationals may or may not have the opportunity to renew their temporary residence, and may or may not have a pathway to permanence.