A/71/285 A study 5 undertaken over a period of 14 years into the effects of non-European Union migration on 15 Western European countries showed that, by taking manual jobs, migrants pushed European Union nationals to wards more highly skilled and better-paid jobs. A significant increase in more complex skills among nationals was noted. The labour market adjusted with no significant impact on the employment rates for European Union nationals. The impact of the global re cession was shown to temper but not eradicate this positive phenomenon, debunking the argument that an economic downturn justifies repressive policies against migrants. 33. Similarly, conceptions of migrants as a “burden” are not based on facts and serve political objectives. Against a backdrop of fiscal and demographic challenges and of austerity policies, discussing external migration as a “burden” and focusing on the need to share this “burden” across different Member States again legitimizes the further securing of borders and encourages negative public attitudes. Economic studies demonstrate that, as workers, consumers and taxpayers, migrants contribute to the economic growth of societies, with very limited downside effects (see A/HRC/29/36). In fact, the perceived “burden” of migration comes predominantly from the financial, technological and human resources necessary to implement counterproductive national security-focused policies and to deal with their unintended, although foreseeable, secondary effects. 34. Acknowledging that migrants are human beings with rights, States should be talking about sharing a “responsibility”, not a “burden”, and considering the costs for welcoming refugees and migrants as an investment, not an expense. All studies show that the return on the investment is well worth it. 35. A global compact based on the core principles and provisions of international and regional law could stop the widespread suffering of migrants in trans it, at borders and in destination countries. Applying the United Nations core values to policies based on fact rather than fiction would lead to migration policies that facilitate mobility and promote diversity. The development of a global compact with a long-term vision supporting a human rights-based framework will become increasingly vital to the internal and external interests of States as they face demographic, societal and labour market challenges. Committing to a global compact that recognizes the benefits of mobility will provide better protection for the human rights of migrants and will better equip States to sustain recovery, encourage growth and further develop global competitiveness. 36. Fully implementing a global compact relying on a human rights-based framework for regular migration therefore involves a number of policy orientations, including: (a) Increasing search-and-rescue capacity; (b) Developing rights-based alternatives to detention and expeditiously and completely ending the immigration detention of children and families; (c) Considerably reducing underground labour markets and exploitation in the workplace over the coming decade, as they act as a magnet for irregular migration at the request of exploitative employers; __________________ 5 8/24 Francesco D’Amuri and Giovanni Peri, “Immigration, jobs and employment protection: evidence from Europe before and during the Great Recession”, Bank of Italy working paper, No. 886 (University of California, Davis, 2012). 16-13509