Migrants’ Access to Universal Social Policy in Latin America’s Most Universal Regimes

Aim: This article constitutes a comparative analysis of migrants’ formal entitlements to social policy, and their real access to social services (health, education, care) and transfers (pensions, social assistance), in the two most universal and inclusive social policy regimes of Latin America: Costa Rica and Uruguay. Background: Literature shows that inclusive and generous social policy regimes tend to provide better access to services and transfers for immigrants than more liberal regimes. However, welfare regime literature in Latin America has almost entirely ignored migrants, while international migration literature has given social policy regimes a minor role in the analysis of migrant incorporation. Both strands of literature have focused on formal entitlements, and much less on de facto access. However, a deeper understanding of migrants’ recognition of social rights and their access to social services, engages with important public policy and academic debates on migrant integration into host societies, especially through social policy. Costa Rica and Uruguay are among the strongest state-led welfare regimes in Latin America, with much of their social policy based on the principles of universalism and solidarity. Both have relatively long histories of state-led social protection, and high levels of inclusion to social services and transfers among their populations, but incorporating immigrants in welfare systems remains a challenge. Migration scenarios of the two are very different: Costa Rica is a longstanding net immigration country with immigrants representing 9% of the total population. Uruguay historically was, and still is, a net emigration country, with immigrants representing only 2.5% of its population. However, immigration from other Latin American countries is increasing, and with it, the challenges of incorporating them into their welfare arrangements. This paper analyzes if and to what extent immigrants are incorporated in the two countries; the state’s reaction to immigrants’ demands for incorporation in welfare; migrants’ eligibility and access to social services and social transfers. Methodology: The analysis includes data from interviews with policymakers; review of laws and policy documents to understand eligibility criteria for social services and transfers;, data from social policy institutions and secondary survey data for immigrants’ de facto access to social services.

Maria Ahmad /Universidad de la Republica del Uruguay
Koen Voorend /Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales, Universidad de Costa Rica