More on the contribution of migrants to volunteering in Wales.

1. International Migrants,
Asylum Seekers & Refugees in
Wales, an overview
All statistics are from Migration Briefings produced by Professor Heaven Crawley, Centre for Migration Policy Research (CMPR),
Swansea University for the Wales Migration Partnership (WMP) to be published Winter 2013, or from the Wales Migration Portal (see end slide).
Published July 2013
www.wmp.org.uk
T 029 2090 9550
F 029 2090 9510
E anne.hubbard@wmp.org.uk

2. Key points
• Although Immigration is non-
devolved, the Welsh Government
has responsibility towards
international migrants and asylum
seekers and refugees living in Wales
under its housing, health, education,
social services and through its
community cohesion agenda.

3. Asylum seekers
Asylum Seeker
• An asylum seeker is someone who has lodged
an application for protection on the basis of
the Refugee Convention or Article 3 of the
ECHR
• Swansea, Wrexham, Newport and Cardiff are
agreed asylum dispersal areas in Wales.
• Wales receives 8% of the UK total population
of asylum seekers

4. Asylum seekers in Wales
• Wales accommodates approximately 1500 dispersed
asylum seekers (as at May 2012). Of these 825 are
dependants of the main applicant.
• The top 5 nationalities of asylum seekers in Wales are:
Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, People's Republic of China
and Nigeria.
• The most common age group of asylum seekers is 30-
34 years (including single people and heads of
families).
• Of the 684 males overall in Wales, 36% are single and
18% are in families. Of the 634 Females overall, 9% are
single and 37% are in families.

5. Refugees in Wales
A refugee is a person who ‘owing to a well-founded fear of being
persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a
particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his
nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail
himself of the protection of that country…’ (1951 Refugee Convention)
• Numbers of asylum seekers have decreased in recent years,
reflecting lower national trends,
• Some asylum seekers from previous years will have been granted a
form of leave to remain/refugee status and will be living in Wales as
refugees or they may have become British citizens; there is no way
of knowing how many remain in Wales.

6. Definition-International Migrant
• Someone who has or intends to change his or her
country of usual residence for a period of at least
a year (Welsh Government 2013)
• In Wales and the rest of the UK the term
‘international migrant’ is often used to refer
specifically to Eastern European citizens due to
the significant in increase in the number of
people from these countries - particularly Poland
and Slovakia – who have come to Wales to live
and work since 2004.

7. ‘A8’ Migrants
• A8 migrants are members of the eight central
and eastern European countries - Poland,
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia – that joined
the European Union in 2004 and whose
citizens acquired the right to work in the UK.
• Croatia joined the EU in July 2012

8. Croatia
• Croatia officially joined the EU on 1 July 2013,
becoming the 28th member state ratified.
From that date Croatian nationals are able to
move and live freely in any Member State of
the EU.

9. ‘A2’ Migrants; Bulgaria & Romania
• Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in
January 2007
• Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania are currently
subject to restrictions and cannot work for an
employer without a work permit (although
they can be self-employed).
• From 31st December 2013 they will also
acquire the right to work in the UK.

10. Key Points
On average (in recent years) there has been a
net inflow of international migrants of around
2,400 per year ; this figure significantly
increased in May 2004 when eight central and
eastern European (A8) countries - Poland, Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Slovakia and Slovenia - joined the EU and
acquired the right to work.

11. Migrant workers in Wales
• Around 22,300 A8 migrants joined
the Welsh labour market between
May 2004 and March 2008. Over half
of all migrant workers from central
and eastern Europe in Wales are
living in Carmarthenshire (Llanelli),
Cardiff, Newport and Wrexham.

12. Largest Cohorts born outside UK
The largest cohort of people born
outside the UK living in Wales are from
Poland, but there are also significant
numbers who were born in India,
Germany, Ireland and the Philippines.

13. Downturn
• The economic downturn since 2008 has been
associated with significant changes in patterns
of international migration to Wales. From
2008 onwards the number of international
migrants in Wales decreased.
• In 2011 there was a net outflow of
international migrants for the first time since
1993 (Welsh Government 2013).

14. Key points
• Research and economic analysis shows that, overall,
A8 migrants coming the UK after 2004 have made a
net fiscal contribution to the UK with no negative
impact on the UK welfare system. Overall there have
been no negative effects on the Welsh labour
market.

15. Key points
• International students have become
increasingly important to the Welsh
economy. 8% of undergraduate
students and 39% of postgraduate
students at Welsh Universities are
from outside the EU (Wales
Migration Portal)

16. International students
• In 2009-10, there were 19,050 foreign
students, from more than 70 countries
studying in Wales
• They paid £110m in tuition fees, spent £130m
on living costs, triggered a £23m injection
from family and friends. In total estimates that
international students in Wales add £237m to
the nation’s gross domestic product and
more than 9,000 jobs in Wales. Oxford Economics
(2011)

17. Key points
• There is considerable political and
policy debate about the number of
migrants expected from the A2
countries – Romania and Bulgaria – who
will be entitled to work in the UK from
31st December 2013. The scale and
impact of migration from Bulgaria and
Romania is difficult to accurately
predict. (IPPR, 2006, AAPG, 2013)

18. Key Points
• There are many different factors which may
influence immigration from A2 to the UK –
including the economic situation in Bulgaria &
Romania and the UK
• There are other EU destinations – who are
lifting restrictions – including France,
Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium

19. Key Points
• Spain & Italy have the highest numbers of
Romanian migrants in the EU
• Bulgaria and Romania have ageing and
shrinking populations and the lowest fertility
rates in Europe so the cohort of young people
who are more likely to migrate is shrinking
• Any numbers provided will be informed
guesses and not enough to develop policy
responses

20. Key Points
• The debate very much focussed on
expectations of increased numbers of people
of Roma background
• A higher proportion of Roma live in Bulgaria
and Romania than in the A8 countries
• However, it’s not clear how many Roma intend
to leave or come to the UK

21. Key points
• Local authorities need good quality, up-
to-date local level data on how many
migrants are living in the area, their
nationality and backgrounds and
characteristics in order to meet their
duties under the Equality Act 2010 to
eliminate unlawful racial
discrimination, promote race equality
and promote good relations.

22. WMP Chair; Rev Aled Edwards OBE

23. WMP Team
Contact; 02

24. CONTACT DETAILS/further info
• anne.hubbard@wmp.org.uk
• http://migrantforum.org.uk/joint-2013-
winner-woman-of-the-year-constance-
nzeneu/
• http://wssagwales.wordpress.com/

25. Data and resources can be
downloaded from the Wales
Migration Portal ( registration
required):
http://wmp.infobasecymru.net/IAS