News | Sunday, 05 April 2009

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Immigration is ‘national crisis’, 84% say

But majority don’t know how many migrants have left Malta

The perception of immigration as a crisis is rooted in wild misconceptions regarding the actual scale of the problem facing Malta, a MaltaToday survey shows. The survey reveals that 84% think Malta faces a “national crisis” because of immigration. But 50.4% believe that fewer than 500 migrants have been repatriated or left the island in the past five years. A further 5.7% believe no immigrants at all left the island in the same period.
There were 12,500 arrivals of irregular migrants since March 2002; Malta has repatriated 2,958 immigrants between January 2004 and September 2008, while experts like Martin Scicluna – a government advisor on this issue – contend that in total, over 7,000 have departed, either through repatriation or of their own accord. And yet, only 7.3% of respondents think that more than 2,000 illegal immigrants have left the island since then; while the percentage of those who estimate the figure at higher than 5,000 migrants falls to 2.3%.
Official statistics also show that while 2,235 are in detention awaiting either repatriation or the processing of their asylum application, another 2,137 are in open accommodation centres. It is estimated that a further 1,000 are at large in the community. This places the number of migrants living in Malta between 5,000 and 6,000 people: contrasting with the view of 24% of respondents who believe that more than 6,000 irregular immigrants are living in Malta.
Just under half the respondents (44.3%) correctly think that the number of immigrants currently residing in Malta stands at between 4,000 and 6,000. But a staggering 12% believe the figure is higher than 10,000.
The survey also reveals that 75% of the Maltese have no contact whatever with illegal immigrants. Only 25% have ever spoken to an illegal immigrant once in their life.
Asked how the authorities should respond to a distress call from a drowning boat full of illegal immigrants, 4.3% brutally replied that the authorities should take no action and let the immigrants drown.
A further 55.3% replied that the authorities should offer their help on the high seas and allow the migrants to proceed their journey – something which is technically illegal under international law.
Another 38% replied that Malta should bring the migrants to Maltese shores to offer them assistance.

Concerns on immigration
The Maltese are generally concerned by Malta’s spatial limitations. 25.3% are concerned Malta is being “invaded” or “swamped” by illegal immigrants. A further 21.3% believe that Malta does not have sufficient space to accommodate migrants.
Seen in the light of misconceptions on the number of migrants who have actually left the island, these statistics show that some migration fears can be allayed by providing correct information.
A more tangible concern is that expressed by 32% of respondents who think that immigrants are taking Maltese jobs. This concern is highest among skilled workers (54%) and unskilled workers (37%).
Significantly, 5.3% claim that a family member has lost his job because an illegal immigrant was employed in his or her place.
When respondents were asked where they are most likely to meet illegal immigrants, 7.7% replied that they frequent them at work.
The perception that Malta is facing a crisis on immigration is also highest among the occupational groups at the lower end of the labour market. Currently 691 persons awarded protection and 492 asylum seekers are in legal employment. These constitute 14% of the total number of legally employed foreigners, and most of them occupy lower-end jobs in the construction and tourism industries.
Yet these figures do not include immigrants in illegal employment.
Asked about crime, although 3.3% of respondents claim to have been the victims of crimes committed by immigrants, only 1.7% consider crime and lack of security as one of their two main concerns regarding immigration.
This contrasts with the situation in other countries like Italy, where concern on immigration is mostly related to security issues and crime.
The government’s expense on immigration is considered as the main concern expressed by those in the higher occupational groups.
Fear of contagious diseases is cited as a major concern by 28.3% of respondents. The concern is highest among pensioners. This shows that a large number of Maltese people harbour a physical fear of illegal immigrants which could betray latent racism.
But overtly racist concerns are only raised by a minority of respondents. Only 2% are concerned by mixing of different races. But nearly 4% are concerned by an erosion of Maltese identity, and another 2% fear the growth of the Muslim population.
Only 12% are concerned by growing racism or the ill-treatment of immigrants in detention centres.

‘Labour has best policy’
Following the presentation of its action plan on illegal immigration, the Labour Party has overtaken the PN as the party deemed to have the best immigration policy.
In the past year support for the PN’s immigration policy has fallen from 23.5% to 17.7%. On the other hand support for Labour’s immigration policy has grown from 17.8% to 22.7%.
Significantly. 11.1% of PN voters in the 2008 election prefer Labour’s immigration policy.
Labour leader Joseph Muscat has called on the government to establish the number of migrants that Malta can host in a suitable and sustainable manner. He also said that if the international community did not act and the number of arrivals continued to exceed what Malta could handle, Malta should not exclude the suspension of its international obligations.
Labour’s more militant stand on this issue could have contributed to a fall in the number of respondents opting for Azzjoni Nazzjonali’s immigration policy, down from 11% to 3.3%.
But the drop in support for AN’s main platform could also be reflected in a 14% increase in the number of respondents who do not support any party on this issue.
AD has also registered a drop in support of its immigration policy from 2.7% last year to just 0.7% now.

Methodology
The survey was held between Wed 25 March and Thursday 2 April. A total of 489 respondents were randomly chosen from the

telephone directory and 300 accepted to be interviewed. The survey has a margin of error of +/-5.7%.

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