The government wants to better map foreign migrants in Suriname in order to develop targeted policy. President Jennifer Simons said on Sunday, 4 October, on the radio programme Welingelichte Kringen that the size of this group requires a broader approach. This includes the registration of foreign workers and attention to education and healthcare for migrant children.
According to Simons, the presence of undocumented migrants affects the local labour market. She stated that these workers often work for lower wages, creating competition with Surinamese workers.
“Companies can get them cheaply. They work very hard. Because they are not only immigrants, they are also under pressure from being undocumented,” the president said.
Through registration, the government wants to gain insight into who is residing in Suriname and what measures are needed. According to Simons, the presence of tens of thousands of migrants requires a different policy approach.
The position of foreign children also urgently deserves attention, according to the head of state. She mentioned Spanish-speaking children from Cuba and other countries, among others. Simons stressed that Suriname has international obligations to provide these children with access to education and healthcare, regardless of their residency status.
“We must now look at how we can address the issue of education,” the president said. This must take account of language differences and the guidance of children into mainstream Surinamese education, in which Dutch is the language of instruction.
The government wants to determine how many migrants and migrant children are living in the country and what their future prospects are. According to Simons, returning to their country of origin is not always likely, due to difficult conditions in some countries.
According to the president, registration should form the basis for effective immigration policy, with attention to both the interests of Surinamese society and the rights of migrant children.
