Foreign payments rise
https://www.ipn.md/en/foreign-payments-rise-7966_973121.html
The average amount of remittances per migrant worker has grown from $1,296 to $1,848 for the last 12 months, shows a study on households presented on December 18, on the occasion of the International Migration Day, Info-Prim Neo reports.
Ion Jigau, the director of CBS – AXA – the institution carrying out the research – explains the growth of foreign payments by the fact more and more migrants gain experience and their retributions go up.
The total amount of remittances in 2008 is expected to be over $2 billion, as they went on rising in the first nine months. Converted into Moldovan lei and adjusted to inflation, the foreign payments grew 8% compared to 2007. Related to the GDP, the remittances have stood relatively stable at some 35%.
Jigau says the research shows that, from 2006, over 100,000 Moldovans left the country. The number of migrants eying to remain abroad fell slightly, from 15.6% in 2006 to 14% in 2008. A bigger fall has been recorded in Chisinau, from 43.2% to 32.4%. The figure remains almost stable (11%) concerning the rural areas.
The total number of migrants soared to 340,000 by the middle of 2007, and has remained stable ever since.
1/3 of migrants stay illegally in their host countries. More stay illegally in the CIS area than in the EU countries, where the situation has improved. 65% of the migrants without stay permits in 2006 have legalized their stay, following legalization drives carried out in Italy or Spain.
The quota of the households with bank accounts has risen to 12 % from 2006 to 2008 in families with migrants and to 8% in the households with migrants.
Some 23 % of migrants are willing to donate money to revamp churches , for projects related to education and infrastructure.
According to the research, the differences between salaries and work conditions in Moldova and host countries remain huge. Despite the world financial crisis, the Moldovans' motivation to find a job abroad is strong.
According to the National Bank of Moldova, the Moldovans abroad sent home $1.4 billion in the first 10 months, through banks. It's $426 million more than the transfers operated from January to October in 2007, and $181 million more than the money sent home in 2007 ($1.218 billion).
According to the World Bank, Moldova ranks the second in terms of the relation between the GDP and the remittances – 38,3%. In 2007 the relation was 27%.
