Impact of the Botnia pulp mill project on internal migration to Fray Bentos, Uruguay
Author
Jansa, Veera
Term
4. term
Publication year
2008
Pages
82
Abstract
I september 2005 begyndte det finske selskab Oy Metsä‑Botnia Ab at bygge en papirmassefabrik i Fray Bentos i det vestlige Uruguay (ca. 23.000 indbyggere). Projektet er mest kendt for den diplomatiske konflikt mellem Argentina og Uruguay om miljøpåvirkninger, men denne undersøgelse fokuserer på, hvordan projektet påvirkede intern migration i Uruguay. Med udgangspunkt i bekymringer fra de lokale myndigheder i Fray Bentos og International Organization for Migration (IOM) vurderer undersøgelsen, i hvilket omfang fabrikken medførte to typer intern migration: personer ansat med formelle kontrakter og personer, der flyttede uden kontrakt for at søge arbejde. Undersøgelsen fungerer som baggrund for en planlagt pilotindsats fra IOM, andre agenturer i FN’s landeteam for Uruguay og lokale partnere i regionen Río Negro–Fray Bentos. Resultaterne peger på, at projektet ikke har skabt varig intern migration, bortset fra de arbejdere, der fortsatte i ansættelse ved fabrikken efter byggefasen. Migration uden kontrakt var begrænset og midlertidig: den opstod i begyndelsen af 2006, steg let samme år og faldt hurtigt ved årets slutning. På denne baggrund konkluderer undersøgelsen, at der ikke er behov for den planlagte pilotindsats i Fray Bentos til at håndtere intern migration. Den anbefaler samtidig yderligere undersøgelser af, om intern migration er en væsentlig årsag til uregelmæssige (uformelle) bosættelser i Uruguay.
In September 2005, the Finnish company Oy Metsä‑Botnia Ab began building a pulp mill in Fray Bentos in western Uruguay (about 23,000 residents). The project is widely known for a diplomatic dispute between Argentina and Uruguay over environmental impacts, but this study examines how it affected internal migration within Uruguay. Responding to concerns from Fray Bentos authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the study assesses whether the mill led to two types of internal migration: people hired under formal employment contracts and people who moved without a contract to seek work. The study serves as background for a planned pilot intervention by IOM, other agencies in the United Nations Country Team for Uruguay, and local partners in the Río Negro–Fray Bentos region. Findings indicate the project did not generate lasting internal migration, except for workers who stayed on at the mill after construction. Uncontracted migration was small and temporary: it appeared in early 2006, rose slightly during the year, and declined quickly by year’s end. Based on these results, the study concludes there is no need in Fray Bentos for the planned pilot intervention to manage internal migration. It also calls for further research into whether internal migration is a significant cause of irregular (informal) settlements in Uruguay.
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