Telemigrants: actors of international work
A telemigrant is a person who lives in another developing country while working for a company located in a developed country. This term first appeared in 2019 in a publication by Richard Baldwin, an international economics professor. Collaboration between a firm and long-distance employees is not a new occurrence. In more recent years, this form of collaboration has grown considerably because of many factors. Telemigration also allows companies to take advantage of the skills of telemigrants to be more efficient.
What is driving the telemigration trend ?
The widespread use of teleworking is the first factor in telemigration’s expansion. The waves of lockdowns resulting from covid_19 have made it necessary for companies to reorganise themselves in such a way that they can carry on operating despite health restrictions. They have also invested in computer equipment that allows for virtual collaboration. The uptake of telecommuting has made company executives realize that working with telemigrants may actually be beneficial to their companies. Indeed, foreign labor is very affordable.
The online work platforms have also provided telemigrants with access to international work. They facilitate the recruitment and hiring process by connecting companies with remote workers.
The enhancement of automated translating has broken down the language barrier. Search engines and online presence platforms can now automatically translate texts, while previously this was only done on a per word basis. As a result, language skills are no longer a decisive criterion for recruitment.
The final factor driving the evolution of telemigration is the development of “telepresence” technology. These communication media enable telemigrants to participate in company meetings and communicate with national employees as if they were actually present.
The Advantages of Hiring Telemigrants
Telemigrants offer different services that bring real additional value to companies. The enterprises can give them strategic tasks that allow them to be more productive and to minimize the cost of labor. For example, telemigrants can take care of bookkeeping, carry out programming missions or strengthen a company’s brand identity.
More and more telemigrants are choosing a field of specialization in order to stand out. In this way, they can meet precisely the requirements of the recruiters they wish to work alongside.
Being a teleworker also requires ongoing training. That’ s because a telemigrant will only be effective if he or she keeps up to date with all the latest technology and news related to his or her field of work. This way, they can provide quality advice to companies to help them establish themselves as market leaders.
Still, telemigration is modifying the employer and employee relationship. Both sides have to make the best organization to achieve the best conditions for the long-distance collaboration. For example, investment in communication and information technologies is frequently required by both the telemigrant and the employer.
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