In January, a parliament was ratified in Ethiopia, giving refugees rights, including the right to seek employment and education; Other countries should follow their footsteps by giving refugees better access to formal jobs and schooling, which would in turn also benefit host countries. According to the UNHCR, The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a record of 68.5 million people worldwide, including 25.4 million refugees, have been forcibly moved as a result of persecution or generalized violence. Even though hosting large numbers of refugees is a challenge, there is increasing evidence of the economic benefits that the policies bring to the table. For example, Uganda’s Refugees Act of 2006 allowed them the right to work and access schools and hospitals, which stimulated economic growth by creating small businesses serving the wider community; Even going as far as to improve social integration and cohesion.
Evidence from the Center for Global Development indicates that giving refugees access to the formal labor market boosts growth, potentially creates new jobs for host-country citizens, and reduces reliance on aid. The UNESCO’s 2019 Global Education Monitoring Report emphasizes that migrants and refugees have skills that can help transform the economies and societies of both their host and home countries. The governments can start by allowing them to attend local community schools, which would give them a better understanding and appreciation for the local culture and would increase their chances of finding a job in the formal sector. Many are working to debunk the notion that refugees are a burden on host countries, when actually, it’s the opposite that is true.