IMRO HAITI report - Observatoire international des transferts de
Transcription
IMRO HAITI report - Observatoire international des transferts de
Assessment of Remittances Policies and Programs in Haiti DRAFT REPORT Study commissioned by the International Migrants Remittances Observatory (IMRO) Pilot Project under the supervision of the LDCs Coordination Bureau in New-York. IMRO 02 BP 2766 COTONOU Tél+22921308297/+229.97570303/+22997068665 [email protected] www.oitfm.org Port au Prince, January 28th 2013 Table of contents 1 Executive summary ..................................................................................................................................... 3 2 Context of the study .................................................................................................................................... 4 3 Migration from Haiti .................................................................................................................................. 5 4 Key data on migrant remittances ........................................................................................................... 7 5 Remittances policies .................................................................................................................................... 8 6 Current Money Transfer Operators ...................................................................................................... 9 7 Banking infrastructure ............................................................................................................................. 11 8 A Telco environment dominated by Digicel .................................................................................... 12 9 Migration & development: Impact of Remittances on the Haitian Economy ..................... 14 10 The local survey........................................................................................................................................ 18 10.1 Semi-structured questionnaire & matrix of results (questions and answers translated in the next paragraph)........................................................................................................ 19 10.2 Remittance experts interviewed ................................................................................................. 22 10.3 Answers analysis ............................................................................................................................. 23 11 The National Working Group ............................................................................................................. 28 Annex : Circulaire # 98 du 20 mai 2011 de la BRH concernant les conditions d'exécution des transferts de fonds internationaux sur Haïti ............................................................................... 29 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 2 1 Executive summary In a Haitian perspective, the specificities of migrant remittances are: - A recent and strong migration flow to Miami and NY area feeding ¼ of the country (800 000 remittances monthly to families of 4/5 people) A large number of undocumented migrants facing day-to-day issues (mobilizing their savings is a way to protect their return when deported) A large amount of aid with no significant impact on growth (only 2.5 % after the earthquake) and reduction of poverty (still many people living in “tents”) A strong nationalism, with issues on governance and violence A bad climate for business despite government efforts Key recommendations for transfer cost reduction, financial inclusion - - Restore confidence for migrant investors with the help of donors Invest in tangible assets through an investment vehicle mixing public and private funding to face educational(school), medical(hospitals) and infrastructure (road, water & electricity) issues Group/ungroup monthly transfers at reduced price Promote an alternative to Tcho Tcho mobile for financial inclusion, competition and transparency Draw on a A4 format sheet in Creole all the alternatives to send and receive remittances from/to Haiti Leverage women efforts to pay scholar fees with automatic co funding Launch a diaspora fund with a governance structure shared between migrants and a foreign cofounder (multilateral/public donor) Policy interventions which facilitate the inflows of remittances through regular channels - Electronic money regulation Encourage competition Waive remittances taxes for migrant donations to infrastructure projects Promote positive impacts of remittances Support solutions linking rural/poor suburban recipients with Mbanking/branchless acces, Microfinance institutions Support solutions to help the undocumented migrant to save periodically in Haiti to avoid to loose everything when arrested Link transfer delivery with a microcredit for women Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 3 2 Context of the study In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Istanbul on 12 May 2011 between the Government of Benin and the Chairman of the LDCs Coordination Bureau, the International Migrants Remittances Observatory commissioned and coordinated a study on policies and programs enhancing remittances flows to four pilot LDCs, namely Bangladesh, Nepal, Haiti and Lesotho. The study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the type and volume of remittances inflows and how their development impact can be enhanced through policy support, mainstreaming remittances into development planning in Haiti. More specifically, the study’s aims are: - to monitor, gather, analyze and disseminate recent information and date on the flows of remittances in the four pilot countries, on mechanisms and transfer costs, on models of use and the impact at national, regional and community levels; - provide a comparative analysis between the pilot countries of remittances trends and parameters for decision making; - assist the Governments of Haiti and their institutional partners to identify, develop policies and initiatives related to the fund transfers in order to improve transfer services in terms of reliability, costs, time and security; - strengthen the capacities of Ministries and central banks of the selected LDCs in order to improve the quality and the quantity of data on remittances collected through collection methods which are more efficient and more comprehensive. The research study consisted of: - a series of 31 key interviews during the second half of January 2013 - a desk review of existing information, policies and literature from September 2012 to January 2013 - a National Working Group (NWG) launched and held at IADB in Port au Prince on the 28th of January, 2013 - a list of key recommendations from the NWG proposing a short and long-term policy strategy which could facilitate the potential multiplier effects of remittances. Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 4 3 Migration from Haiti Port au Prince could be or should be the capital of the Caribbean concentrating half of the urban population of Haiti while the rural areas are representing half of the 10 million total population (the Western region is 10 times less populated than the North Eastern region) . 85% of Haitians are living below the line of poverty (54% in extreme poverty); 2 million people have food security issues. 2/3 of adults are jobless. Deforestation, 4 tornados in 2008 and the 2010 earthquake and cholera have deteriorated living conditions for poor people. Haiti has a strong diaspora (2 million people) with a contrast between US and Canada and the Caribbean where they are often exploited as undocumented who can be deported overnight. Bahamas (25% pop.) 40-70 000 Martinique 14 000 Guadeloupe 23 000 Guyane 40 000 Dominican Republic Around 600 000 Other 200 000 For instance, the number of migrant in Dominican Republic is a sensitive issue and any estimate is very controversial and hazardous. The first wave of migration started with the US occupation beginning in 1915 during World War I and ending in the middle of the 1930s. The second wave was a direct consequence of the dictatorship Duvallier (with a first boat people in 1963 and a second one in 1973 only) reaching 10% of the total population. These millions of people living in North America have a strong influence on the Haitian economy (most of the USD 2 billion of remittances) because they are feeding one fourth of the country as long as we are still in the first generation. Their children could never travel to Haiti and mix in the US melting pot forgetting their roots. Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 5 In this map “Haitians around the World”, George Anglade highlighted these 2 major migration waves 1915-1935 and 1965-1985. However new trends can be observed recently since the earthquake(12 Jan. 2010) with a third wave targeting Latin America 1. After the earthquake, French Guyana was the main destination but the decision from the French government (sept. 2010) to close the border pushed them to other Latin American countries like Brazil (6000), Ecuador (2000), the same in Chili and more than one thousand in Mexico among other countries. This third wave could be estimated at 90 000 (75 000 in 2009 according to G. Anglade estimates). The top destinations remain today the United States, the Dominican Republic, Canada, France, The Bahamas, Netherlands Antilles, Belgium, Venezuela, Switzerland and the Netherlands. US Migrants (Miami Herald 22.02.2010) Among the more than half million Haitians living in the U.S.(2 to 3 million if you include Haitians with US citizenship), Florida has the largest Haitian population : 46.4 percent of Haitians in the United States live in Florida; 24.1 percent live in New York; 7.6 percent live in New Jersey, and 7.1 percent live in Massachusetts. The World Bank found that 55 percent of remittance-receiving households do not have any other income. Remittances sent to Haiti are largely spent on the provision of basic needs: housing, food, clothing and medicine. The United States has a positive trade balance with Haiti, indicating that Haiti purchases more imports from the United States than it exports here. Between 1990 and 2009, between 50-60 percent of imports into Haiti originated in the United States. Rice, wheat and meat products comprise the largest dollar amounts in terms of exported goods. Florida has both the largest Haitian-born population in the United States and the largest share of Haiti's export market. In 2008, nearly 24 percent of Haiti's exports from the United States came from Florida. Haiti was Florida's 37th largest export market in 2008, ranging in value from 34th to 37th between 2000 and 2008, with the 2004 dollar value of these exports reaching $223,241,000. New York ranks sixth in total U.S. state exports to Haiti, realizing $34,677,000 in exports there in 2008 while New Jersey is the 10th-largest state exporter to Haiti, with $22,157,000 in export revenues. 1 Haiti-Migration : Zoom sur la récente vague migratoire haïtienne vers l’Amérique Latine http://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article13070 Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 6 4 Key data on migrant remittances USD330 million in 1997, USD 1 billion in 2006, USD 2 billion , the remittances are representing a growing part of GDP (up to one third today). 800,000 people receive about 125 USD per month on average (the lowest amount of the region), which partially feed half of the Haitian population (4/5 beneficiaries per household) 2 The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) released a report in September 2012 on remittances from the Diaspora to the Latin American region including Haiti. The region received in 2011 more than 61 billion U.S. dollars in terms of remittances from emigrants. Among the $ 61 billion sent, Mexico has received about 37% while Haiti attracted less than 4%, i.e $ 2 billion exceeding other finacial flows such as FDI ($200m), ODA($600m) and exports. The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) is monitoring differently private transfers from the diaspora with a slightly higher result than the 2.057 billion dollars recorded by the IDB. BRH’s Department of International Affairs (DAI), regularly collects, transfers from companies recognized monthly data on remittances from the Haitian diaspora to Haiti. Informal mechanisms used by the diaspora arrive in Haiti, prevents BRH to have information on the actual total flow of remittances entering the economy in a given period. Therefore, to take account of private trancould even show higher figures than the ones of BRH and the central bank estimated non institutionnal channels accounted for 27% of the total flow of money transfers sent to Haiti. Registered MTO (money transfer operators) are serving 73% of the total flow only. The major part of migrant remittances is intended for consumption : only 23% of the amounts of transfers have been used for investment (IADB study 2006) 2 Mr Franck LANOIX http://www.touthaiti.com/diaspora/886-125-dollars-par-mois-en-moyen Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 7 Source : remittanceprices.worldbank.org 5 Remittances policies The central bank issued a number of directives targeting MTO; they are available online at : http://www.brh.net/circulaires_maisons_transfert.html - Directive 94#40: Weekly reporting form - Directive 98 (20 May 2011) 1.5 USD tax and use of BRH payment platform - Directive 07: VAT (TCA) not applied on 1.5 USD tax, effect on 15/06/2011 in USA, Canada, Turks & Caicos Islands, Bahamas - Directive 08: transfers can be paid in HTG if the exchange rate is accepted by the beneficiary. Exchange rate to be displayed in all transfer payment locations The results of this policy are available on Conatel website : USD 40 million within 18 months to finance the National Fund for Education (FNE). However, everybody will be very careful about the use of funds. Among our remittance experts, several are suggesting to waive the tax for productive investments while attendees at MHAVE seminar were suggesting to invest in schools where the remittances were delivered. Less commented was the 5 cts tax on international calls since June 2011 which will also contribute to the FNE. Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 8 6 Current Money Transfer Operators The World Bank remittances observatory gives a good overview of the alternatives for senders for 4 major corridors: Canada, Dominican Republic, France, United States. http://remittanceprices.worldbank.org/Country-Corridors/to-Haiti/ From Canada ScotiaBank Average 3rd Q’2012: 12,31% Western Union MoneyGram Bank of Montreal Toronto Dominion Bank CIBC Royal Bank of Canada Dominican Republic Caribe Express Average 3rd Q’2012: 8,69% Western Union Girosol France MoneyGram Average 3rd Q’2012: 15,63% Ria La Poste via Western Union Western Union Moneybookers Credit Lyonnais La Poste BNP Paribas Societe Generale Banque Populaire Caisse D'Epargne d'Ile de France Credit Agricole USA Unitransfer Average 3rd Q’2012: 5,66% CAM MoneyGram Western Union Ria Money transfers from France are 3 times more expensive than the US ones which are also less expensive than the ones originated from the other side of the island…. However, it is easier to have an exhaustive list of Money transfers Operators on the receiving side (also operating South South and South North) since the central bank is giving the full list on its website: http://www.brh.net/maisons_transfert.html and IADB 2011 (released sept 2012): Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 9 MTO Market share SOGEXPRESS/WESTERN 32% https://www.sogebank.com/index. UNION php?c=entites&id=sogexpress Caribbean Air Mail (CAM) 24% http://www.camtransfert.com UNITRANSFER 20% http://www.unitransfer.com/ Others * 24% Moneygram Partners: BUH, UNIBANK, RapidTransfer, Fonkoze VIGO & Capital Transfert CWT**/Rapid transfer RIA / Le levier Payout locations* 267 66 54 84 22 54 (10 Levier) *Inter American Dialogue Scorecard report 18.6.2010 ** Caribbean World Trading SA Other money transfer actors: Apart from the 3 main operators which have a clear strategy (Sogebank with Western Union worldwide, CAM as a regional operator throughout the Caribbean, Unitransfer focusing on USA and Caribbean), the other actors are dominated by Moneygram and partnerships are often done and undone with also other large MTO networks like VIGO & RIA . It is important to mention the involvement of credit unions like Le Levier and microfinance institution like Fonkoze. Le Levier has built a partnership with Desjardins in Canada (Québec) to offer a service called Virement de Fonds International (VFI) and it also provides branch to branch transfer in Haiti. http://www.lelevier.ht/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=222 Fonkoze Remittance services started at FONKOZE in 1998 on a sliding fee of $10-50 (less than the competition). Remittance services have grown fast, with SFF(Fonkoze) becoming a payer for Moneygram and CAM. In 2008, Fonkoze introduced the OSC Visa Prepaid Debit Card that allows users to send up to $2,500 to Haiti for $6, with a monthly fee of $1. Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 10 7 Banking infrastructure The empirical approach of the correspondent banking system is explaining the success of large MTO able to provide a quick and reliable service with more transparency, even if migrants are still ll complaining about the high fees of MTO. A bank money transfer is the only one that you are buying without knowing its price since sending banks are providing their fee but not the one of the receiving bank, and other hidden fees like foreign exchange rates. The current urrent banking system has the following market shares (in %) (http://www.brh.net/bul83.pdf http://www.brh.net/bul83.pdf June 2012) Deposits Loans Unibank 34,88 38,02 Sogebank 31,37 28,62 BNC Capital Bank Citibank NA 13,17 11,26 6,49 7,33 4,01 2,96 Scotia Bank 3,46 3,83 BUH 2,73 2,36 SOGEBEL 2,71 3,69 BPH 1,18 1,93 100,00 100,00 SPIH http://www.brh.net/spih.ppt The SPIH (Systeme de Paiements Interbancaires Haitien) is a real-time time gross settlement i.e. each transfer is settled individually and on a bilateral basis, sending participant, beneficiary participant and instantly in HTG or USD. Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 11 SPIH opens at 8:30am and closes at 3 pm. It costs a maximum of 70 HTG for sender, and has no cost for the recipient 8 A Telco environment dominated by Digicel During 40 years, the state owned Téléco implemented 800 000 landlines serving less than 10% of the population Digicel (an Irish based telco, 3.5+ million customers) took control last year of 80% of the market after the purchase of Voila (1 million custormers - Comcel, a subsidiary of US based Trilogy) while USAID was subsidizing its mobile payment service with millions of USD. The historical Natcom, now owned 60% by Viettel, the largest operator of Vietnam (40% Haitian government) was discouraged by the phone regulatory authority CONATEL to offer attractive prices to compete with Digicel. Viettel promised to offer Internet in all public schools in Haiti and it is now doing the same in Santo Domingo where the company would like to invest 300 million USD (announced sept. 2012) Haitel is bankrupt since the licence removal in 2008. To circumvent taxes and costs, poor people are using VOIP but CONATEL contracted Swiss based SGS to detect bypassing solutions. Mobile P2P transfers in Haiti: HIFIVE’s Haiti Mobile Money Initiative (HMMI) June 2010: HMMI was funded by $10 million in awards plus additional funds for related activities from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as $5 million in technical and management assistance from USAID. The Haiti Integrated Finance for Value Chains and Enterprises (HIFIVE), a USAID-funded project, manages and implements HMMI. HIFIVE offers technical and management assistance to a variety of institutions working to improve access to financial services in Haiti: http://kdid.org/projects/fieldsupport/hifive/hmmi. First to Market Award (Digicel): $2.5 million Second to Market Award (Voilà): $1.5 million Scaling Awards (shared by Digicel and Voilà):$100,000 and $1 million Final award (5M transaction milestone and meeting the award program's requirements): $3.2 million Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 12 July 2012: Digicel and Voilà were supposed to share this final award from the HMMI; however, Voila was purchased a few months before by Digicel who ows 80% of the market. Tcho tcho mobile After launching in April 2011, TchoTcho grew to 20,000 users by June. By July, that number had more than doubled to 50,000 users, and in the last few weeks, the service rocketed to 110,000 mobile wallet carriers. Even more remarkable is the usage of TchoTcho. In June, there were just 54,000 recorded transactions. In the first 17 days of August, more than 925,000 transactions. Agent network YellowPepper is now in the process of expanding their mobile money network to Latin America, where they're already operating in nine countries, including pilot networks in Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Currently, YellowPepper boasts more than 4.8 million active users, a number that has grown significantly over the past month, and processes about 20 million transactions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean with a staff of 203 people in 10 countries. IFC invested $3 million in the start-up technology firm Yellow Pepper in 2010. IFC also brought in a co-investor who put up an additional $2 million. Today Haiti has over 500,000 m-wallet users issued by Scotia Bank in association with YellowPepper and Digicel. http://www.yellowpepper.com Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 13 9 Migration & development: Impact of Remittances on the Haitian Economy Although remittances are extremely important in the Haitian context, their effects on the economy are complex: while some of these effects are clearly positive, others may be less desirable. Unfortunately, data limitations hinder the precise measurement of the relative importance of these effects and do not allow for definitive conclusions. 9.1 Impact on Health and Education There is no state-sponsored health insurance program in Haiti even for vulnerable segments of the population such as the poor, children and the elderly. As a consequence, all health related expenses are borne by households. Haitian households do not fare much better when it comes to education. Although the exact percentage is not known with certainty (estimates vary between 70% and 90%), a large fraction of the supply of primary and secondary education is private and is not subsidized. The empirical evidence suggests that, similarly to Latin America, remittances allow poor recipient households in Haiti to spend more on education and health thereby improving children’s health and educational outcomes. For instance, using a survey of 300 Haitian households conducted during the period 2001-2003, Amuedo-Dorantes find that remittances tend to increase the likelihood that children are schooled. The benefits of remittances are not necessarily gender neutral. For example, because in Haiti girls are less likely to attend school than boys, they may disproportionately benefit from an increase in the household’s budget. Amuedo-Dorantes find some evidence of that effect in their sample. However, the importance of these positive effects of remittances is still poorly understood; in particular, it is still not clear that they are sufficient to counterbalance the negative effects that migration has on the household in the first place, such as the lost contribution of absent parents on children education. 9.2 Impact on the Financial System The penetration of commercial banks is low in Haiti even by developing world standards. According to the World Bank, in 2009 the banking system only had 339 depositors per 1000 adults.3 This corresponded to a total number of 2,195,215 deposit 3 World Data Bank Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 14 accounts at the end of the year.4 Given that the number of accounts is only slightly higher today (2,197,368 accounts as of June 30, 2012) 5 access to the banking system has likely not improved much. Even households that have bank accounts tend to limit the frequency of their transactions: the limited number of branches (many were destroyed in the January 2010 earthquake) as well as the bureaucratic nature of the process the time required to complete a transaction is significant (hours). It is not surprising therefore, that cash is the prevalent form of payment and store of value. The heavy reliance on cash creates the need for protection against inflation that in the recent past has rarely been under 10%. This increases demand for the American dollar that is perceived as more stable in terms of buying power. Indeed, the formal banking system itself has not been immune from dollarization and 65% of bank deposits are denominated in dollars. This preference for dollars and cash forces monetary authorities to import large quantities of actual dollar bills; the recent scarcity of these bills has prompted commercial banks to limit the amounts of cash that can be withdrawn from dollar denominated accounts in a day. To the extent that recipients prefer to collect part or all of the funds in the form of dollar bills, remittances contribute to these issues. The preference for cash also heightens the security risks that are associated with its storage and transportation. The recent introduction of mobile money, the transfer of funds through cellular phones, is meant to address some of the issues stemming from the restricted coverage and bureaucratic processes of the national network of commercial bank branches. The search for more efficient and less risky mechanisms for the distribution of cash payments is at least partially driven by the need to channel remittances to recipients that do not have access to banks. There is a definite connection between the international and domestic transfers of funds. 9.3 Impact on the economy In particular, they tend to reduce poverty and inequality in recipient countries, as well as increase aggregate investment and growth. Moreover, thanks to their countercyclical behavior, remittances significantly reduce growth volatility and help countries adjust to external and macroeconomic policy shocks. At the microeconomic level, remittances allow poor recipient households to increase their savings, spend more on consumer durables and human capital, and improve children’s health and educational outcomes. 4 5 According to the central bank, Banque de la République d’Haiti (BRH) Ibid Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 15 Even though remittances have a positive impact on the development indicators of the recipient economies, the magnitude of the estimated changes tends to be modest. Countries experiencing a surge in remittances tend to also experience a real exchange rate appreciation. Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 16 Migrants are the most loyal investors while the climate for investment is regularly downg downgraded by IFC Doing business report despite government efforts. Source: IFC and http://www.potomitan.info/ayiti/investissements.php* Zafen.org from Fonkoze After creating a KIVA like funding mechanism for small businesses in Haiti, Fonkoze found that migrants are the main donors (USD 1 million raised through 1500 online user within 2 years creating 760 new jobs in 110 businesses). Katleen Felix is the Diaspora liaison officer of Fonkozee and project director of Zafen. PADF LEAD Leveraging Effective Application of Direct Investments (LEAD) from the Pan American Development Foundation http://www.padf.org/pages/leveraging http://www.padf.org/pages/leveraging-effective-application-of-direct direct-investmentslead This new USAID project oject aims to attract investments in Haitian SMEs and to increase the development impact of remittances. LEAD will also work with the Haitian Diaspora in the United States and elsewhere to engage them in targeted philanthropic activities, social businesses, and innovative ways to use a portion of remittances to further the development impact of these resources at the local level. The project will also focus on encouraging job creation for women and those with disabilities. Up to 20 Semi-finalistss will be given: - Practical training in critical areas such as business planning, accounting, human resources, and marketing Guidance in developing a bankable business plan Individual consultations with business development experts to address the specific concerns oncerns of your enterprise Networking with financial institutions and other entrepreneurs The finalists will be eligible for USAID grants, each of which could be up to US $200,000 that must be matched with private investments at a minimum ratio of 1:1. he program will be repeated and expanded in 2013. The Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 17 10 The local survey 4 were recruited in Port au Prince to carry the interviews during the second half of January 2013 (the 3 letter code is used in the matrix of results): • • • • Woodjina STEPHON (WOO) Patricia CHARLES (PAT) Joseph JOHNSON (JON) Stephane DAUPHIN (STE) A large part of the 31 experts were attending the BID conference on the 12th of September on remittances and consequently have a professional interest on Remittances. The same week, the Ministry of Haitians living abroad (MHAVE) organized a 3 day conference on migrants and their remittances with the participation of Randolph GIBERT, Haitian remittance expert from the regional office of CEPAL in Mexico and a delegation of Mexican representatives of the migrant remittances leverage program Tres per Uno . CEPAL, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, known as ECLAC, UNECLAC or in Spanish CEPAL, is a United Nations regional commission to encourage economic cooperation. http://www.eclac.cl/mexico/ Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 18 10.1 Semi-structured questionnaire & matrix of results (questions and answers translated in the next paragraph) Evaluation des politiques et des programmes en matière de transferts de fonds Questionnaire Haïti Bonjour, je suis consultant pour l’Observatoire des Transferts de Fonds des Migrants du groupe des Pays les Moins Avancés aux Nations Unies. Cette institution basée à Cotonou organise une étude dans 4 pays pilotes : le Lesotho, le Népal, le Bangladesh et Haïti. Dans ce cadre, 30 experts ont été sélectionnés au niveau national pour recueillir vos avis et recommandations et les compiler pour notre groupe national de travail qui se tiendra à la BID le 28 Janvier 2013. Merci d’avance pour votre coopération. Vos remarques n’engagent pas votre institution et représententsimplement un avis personnel lié à votre expertise en matière de transferts. Question 1. Quel est votre rôle spécifique en matière de transfert ? Pratiques et comportements des consommateurs 2. Quels sont les paramètres déterminants pour choisir un operateur de transfert (plusieurs réponses possibles) : 3. Constatez-vous des envois réguliers de type mensualisation chez une partie des migrants, par exemple pour le paiement d’un loyer ou d’une charge récurrente ? 4. Notez-vous une part significative des transferts affectés à des investissements productifs (création d’entreprise, construction de maison, commerce, paiement de fournisseurs ou de salaires,…) autre que l’aide urgente à la famille (nourriture, santé, éducation) ? 5. Les femmes ont-elles des pratiques différentes des hommes en matière de transfert? Si oui, lesquelles ? 6. Comment mieux répondre aux besoins spécifiques des femmes ? Informations données aux clients 7. Sur quel paramètre de couts le client manque-t-il d’information ? 8. Comment améliorer la transparence et la comparaison de prix ? 9. Connaissez-vous un observatoire de comparaison de prix des transferts ? Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Réponse □ a. Prix □ b. Rapidité □ c. Proximité □ d. Fiabilité/confiance □ e. Autre : préciser □ a. Non □ b. Oui Si Oui, dans quelle proportion : □ a. Non □ b. Oui Si Oui, dans quelle proportion : □ a. Non □ b. Oui : ………………………………......... □ a. Coût à l’émission □ b. Coût à la réception (virement bancaire) □ c. Frais de change □ d. Autre : préciser…………………………. □ a. Non □ b. Oui Si Oui lequel: Page 19 Barrières et incidents 10. Quels sont les principaux obstacles aux transferts de fonds vers Haïti ? 11. Quels sont les types d’incidents qui affectent la réception de fonds en Haïti ? Propositions d’améliorations 12. Pensez-vous que les migrants doivent disposer d’un compte au pays pour faciliter leurs opérations et si oui, comment devraient ils le gérer ? 13. Pensez-vous que les autorités puissent influer la proportion des transferts destinés aux investissements productifs ? Si Oui comment ? 14. Quelles propositions feriez-vous aux autorités pour encourager les transferts via des politiques publiques : 15. Quelles sont les autres propositions que vous souhaiteriez faire pour améliorer l’impact des transferts sur l’économie haïtienne ? 16. Pensez vous que les migrants investiraient dans un diaspora bond pour le développement d’Haïti ? □ a. Frais élevés □ b. Délai de réception □ c. Manque d’information sur les alternatives □ d. Difficulté de communication □ e. Autre : préciser…………… □ a. Problème lié à l’identification □ b. Fonds reçus par un mauvais destinataire □ c. Problème lié a la réglementation □ d. Litige sur la commission □ e. Autre incident : préciser ……………………. □ a. Non □ b. Oui Si Oui : □ 1. Via une procuration à un proche □ 2.Par la gestion en ligne (Mobile ou eBanking) □ 3. Quand il vient au pays □ 4. Via une agence en Europe ou en Amérique □ 5. Autre : préciser ……………………. □ a. Non □ b. Si Oui : ………………………………......... □ a. Infrastructure nationale de paiement □ b. Inciter les transferts par des mesures fiscales □ c. Encourager les transferts par une contribution proportionnelle □ d. Autre : préciser ……………… □ a. à l’envoi des fonds :…………………… …………..………………………………………………… □ b. à la réception des fonds : ………………… …………..………………………………………………… □ a. Non □ b. Oui Si Oui : □ 1. Obligation d’Etat □ 2. Partenariat Public Privé □ 3. Initiative internationale □ 4. Uniquement si lié à un projet d’infrastructure (ex : centrale électrique) Nom : Prénom : Organisation : Titre : Portable : Email : Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 20 Organization Matrix summarizing the responses and findings obtained from the interview series Answers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12bi s 13 14 15 16bi 16 s JON1 JON2 JON3 JON4 JON5 JON6 Min. Tourisme USAID ANACPH BRH Min. Tourisme PADF/LEAD bcd b b b b a c a a a b a b 4 ac b a b b a ac a b 5 b d b a 4 bc b b b b a c d ac a a a e a b b d a e e a JON7 JON8 Jude Piquant Unitransfer Federation le levier Federation le levier OIT USAID MHAVE Unitransfer Western Union Tchotcho mobile Etudiant Etudiante FHAF KOTELAM Unibank UNIQ Sogexpress Sogexpress Min. of Finances Phoenix BUH Uni. Quisqueya AHE GAIN SA Min. of finances bd b b b a a d ac abcde b b b d e bc b b b d a abc b b b d bcd b b b bcd b b ab b b bcd b b bc b b STE1 Results STE2 STE3 STE4 STE5 STE6 STE7 STE8 PAT1 PAT2 PAT3 PAT4 PAT5 PAT6 PAT7 PAT8 WOO1 WOO2 WOO3 WOO4 WOO5 WOO6 WOO7 c b b 4 a b b 2 b c a b 2 b 1 a c b b 3 ae b 1 a c b b 2 d a a a d a b 4 a d a a a d b b 4 b a ad ae a b b b b 2 b a cd abc b 1 b bc ab b 2 a c a acd a b 24 b b b b 3 a c a cd a a b ab ab b 4 b c a d abc a b b ab b 4 d a d b 5 b a b b 2 e b 1 d d a b c d e 1 2 3 a b b a a a b a a c a b 4 b b a b 4 d b b b c a d b b 2 a c b b 2 ab b b a c a cd a b 24 b c b b 34 ac a b a c a d e b 2 b c b b 3 ac b b b d a e d b 5 b abc b 35 ac b a b c a a a b 2 b b b 2 abcd b b b a a a ac b 2 b a a b 2 cd b b b b b ad ac b 1 b ab b b 1 ab b a a c b c d a b c ab b 12 d b b a a a ac a b 2 b c ab b 2 cd b b b a b ce ab b 2 b b ab b 2 abcd b a b c a cd c b 3 b bc b b 12 acd b a b d a ace bc b 1 b bc b b 2 ad b a a bc a cd a b 3 b c b 2 a b a a bc a ac ac b 2 b b ab b 2 16 4 8 8 6 26 9 15 25 20 19 8 3 0 20 9 6 6 21 23 5 12 13 12 29 19 11 15 8 14 15 8 16 4 3 5 4 3 Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances 1 6 3 10 16 2 5 Page 21 4 5 3 9 3 10.2 Remittance experts interviewed Most of the relevant stakeholders have been interviewed, ranging from the vice president of the largest MTO to students achieving a research on migrant remittances. Answer Question 1: What is your specific role related to money transfers? Code JON1 JON2 Organization Min. Tourisme USAID JON3 ANACPH JON4 JON5 JON6 JON7 JON8 STE1 STE2 STE3 STE4 STE5 STE6 STE7 STE8 PAT1 PAT2 PAT3 PAT4 PAT5 PAT6 PAT7 PAT8 WOO1 WOO2 WOO3 BRH Min. Tourisme PADF/LEAD Jude Piquant Unitransfer Federation le levier Federation le levier OIT USAID MHAVE Unitransfer Western Union Tchotcho mobile Etudiant UNIQ FHAF KOTELAM Unibank UNIQ Sogexpress Sogexpress Min. de l'eco. Et Fina Phoenix BUH Role / Tasks Transfer recipient Channel transfers through prod.inv. Ensure transferts reaching recipients Statistics compiler Observer USAID Project manager Money transfer agent VP & Managing director Director support to CU Middleman between operators Internal crystaliser Data auditor Transfer sender Money transfer agent MTO Authorized agent Research on transfers Research on transfers Sender In charge of branch network Deputy branch mgr Moneygram Professor Transactions development Compliance Sender Receiver Sender & receiver WOO4 WOO5 WOO6 WOO7 Uni. Quisqueya AHE GAIN SA Min. de l'eco. Et Fina Study on money transfers Researcher Sender Data collection & analysis Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Title Economist Senir ICT Advisor Agent Statistics compiler Observer Director Money transfer agent VP & Managing director Director support to CU Director Hunger & devlpt Link agent Data auditor Chargé de mission Money transfer agent MTO Authorized agent Economics student Economics student Executive Director COO Branch officer University dean Commercial devlpt Transaction manager Deputy chief of department President Chief of Department Transfers Teacher Researcher General secretary President Member Economist Page 22 10.3 Answers analysis Customer practices Question 2. What are the determining factors for choosing a transfer operator (multiple answers possible): - 16 x a. Price (16 answer a. Price) - 15 x b. Speed - 19 x c. Proximity - 15 x d. Reliability / confidence - 3 x e. Other: please specify The four components of a choice operator are equally distributed in the end although paradoxically the answers are very different from one respondent to another. We can deduce that each MTO must excel in each of these criteria for success. Question 3. Do you notice regular monthly payments among some migrants, for example, the payment of rent or a recurring charge? - 4 x a. Not - 25 x b. Yes If yes, how much: Generally speaking, respondents have noticed recurring shipments but working in competitive areas where the client can choose an agency to another, makes it difficult to observe their habits Most of those who specified the proportion is between 65 and 90% except 2 lower cases Question 4. Do you notice a significant proportion of transfers allocated to productive investments (start-ups, home construction, trade, payment of wages or suppliers, ...) other than emergency aid to the family (food, health, education) ? - 8 x a. Not - 20 x b. Yes If yes, how much: Clearly, productive investment is a minority share and mainly concerns the construction and trade (sometimes informally) The proportions vary considerably from one respondent to another Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 23 Question 5. Do women have different practices of men in the transfer? If yes, which ones? - 8 x a. Not - 19 x b. Yes ................ Women are seen as more responsible, including their activity breadwinner. This result in lower transfer amount allocated to education but often also to trade. Question 6. How best to meet the specific needs of women? The question was a bit difficult and many comments are encouraging women more than making concrete proposals. However, two people link it to offer microcredit. Information given to the customer Question 7. Parameter on which costs the client fails he information? - 6 x a. Cost issue - 8 x b. Cost at the reception (bank transfer) - 11 x c. Exchange fees - 8 x d. Other: please specify Answers equitably spread. No trend emerges except the lack of information from beginning to end. However, under Other answers, another hidden cost is repeatedly mentioned: the cost of transport due to the nearness of the agency. Question 8. How to improve transparency and price comparison? It seems obvious to all that the regulator must define the law so that the final amount in local currency is displayed with all its components from end to end. Question 9. Do you know a remittance price observatory? - 26 x a. Not - 3 x b. Yes If yes which: Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 24 Only one knows the observatory of the World Bank and even if Internet would be easily accessible, the comparator is complex. A quarterly table summarizing the money transfer alternatives would really help. Barriers and incidents Question 10. What are the main barriers to remittances to Haiti? - 9 x a. High costs - 0 x b. Deadline for receipt - 15 x c. Lack of information about alternatives - 16 x d. Communication difficulties - 5 x e. Other: please specify ...... It is assumed that the deadline for receipt is no longer an obstacle since it is sufficient to pay the price to have an instant transfer However, we can clearly remark that users like the professionals do not really have all the expected information. One MTO qualifies MTO costs as too low Undocumented migrant and insecurity are 2 other issues mentioned. Question 11. What are the types of incidents that affect the receipt of funds in Haiti? - 20 x a. Problem identification - 6 x b. Funds received by a wrong recipient - 8 x c. Problem has regulations - 4 x d. Dispute over commission - 4 x e. Another incident: specify ......................... - It appears clear that the identification is the number 1 problem that blocks up to a quarter of transactions (essentially a slightly different name between order and identity card, the rule is very strict for Moneygram for example). The sending partner is not always specifying the required information about it. All other problems encountered are: country codification problem, insecurity twice. Suggestions for improvements Question 12. Do you think that migrants must have an account in the country to facilitate their operations and if so, how should they manage? - 9 xa. No 21x b. Yes If Yes: • 6x1. Via a proxy to close • 10x 2.By way line management (Mobile or eBanking) Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 25 • 2x3. When it comes to country • 3x4. Through an agency in Europe or America • 3x5. Other: please specify ......................... • The account seems to be a consensus in the country with a preference for Mobile banking management With Tcho Tcho, an account is required Management through an e-card is suggested Banking services offering for recipients is recommended three times. Question 13. Do you think the authorities can influence the proportion of transfers for productive investment? If yes how? - 6 x a. Not - 23 x b. Yes If Yes: ............................................. - Tax incentive by reducing taxes for investment transfers - Investment in Education (2x) and social (2x) - State Aid to investors (3x) and installation companies - Create trust between the state and the migrant - Grouped shipments - Foster the meeting between investors and entrepreneurs - Tax incentive (x2), discriminatory tax, incentive framework gouvernemental (2x) - Reduce costs, encourage microcredit linked to transfer receipt Question 14. What suggestions would you make to authorities to encourage transfers via public policy: - 5 x a. National infrastructure payment - 13 x b. Encourage transfers of tax measures - 14 x c. Encourage transfers a proportionate contribution - 3 x d. Other: specify .................. - National Payment Infrastructure - Increase the limit of HTG 10 000 per Tcho Tcho agent when investing Question 15. What other suggestions would you make to improve the impact of remittances on the Haitian economy? - 12 x a. sending funds to: ........................ - 12 x b. the receipt of funds: ..................... Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 26 - Sending: Encourage grouped shipments (2x), encourage the opening of a bank account, define the specific purpose of sending (5x), the percentage development of the region of origin - Receiving: Helping recipients to manage their budget (4x) Direct service payment upon receipt of funds(food, drugs) to avoid waste of money, investing in the long term beyond consumption, better communication, ensure that funds are not sent back abroad, tax incentives to promote alternative investment funds, savings incentive to encourage investment, transfers 10% deduction with government contribution. Question 16. Do you think that migrants could invest in a diaspora bond for the development of Haiti? - 1 x a. No 29 x b. Yes If Yes: • 3 x 1. Government bond • 16 x 2. Public Private Partnership • 5 x 3. International Initiative • 9 x 4. Only if project-related infrastructure (eg power plant) - Very strong consensus on a diaspora bond but involving a private or international entity along with local authorities - Infrastructure projects could attract migrants Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 27 11 The National Working Group On 28th of January 2013, the International Migrant Remittances Observatory invited few of the most representative remittances experts to initiate a National Working Group on Remittances during a meeting at a conference room of the Inter American Development Bank (IADB): • • • • • • IADB: Jempsy FILS-AIME, national senior specialist FOMIN BRH(central bank): Joseph BERTHONY, International Affairs Department Ministry of Economy and Finance : Philippe THADAL, Senior Economist, Department of Economic Studies MHAVE: Joseph AUGUSTIN, Managing Director of the Ministry of Haitians living abroad SOGEXPRESS: Franck LANOIX, Vice President (last minute cancellation in the morning but should participate in further meetings) FONKOZE: Anacoana ADAMSON The participants had an interesting and constructive discussion on the best way to attract migrant savings and to better serve migrants to promote investments in Haiti. Jempsy Fils Aime informed the attendees of the current MIF call for proposals http://www5.iadb.org/mif/en-us/home/projects/financing/callforproposals.aspx and the upcoming release of the 2012 report of the IDB. Beside the model “Tres per Uno” presented at MHAVE last week, Ana from FONKOZE described the MFI initiatives for migrants (ZAFEN, Tcho Tcho partnership, Ti Mama Cherie, and the possibility for undocumented Turks & Caicos to save the country that seems appropriate to the risk especially those who are dispossessed in case of arrest for repatriation) We also discussed the future diaspora identification card which could be promoted by ONI, DGI and MHAVE. Philippe Thadal had informed us of the willingness of the Ministry of Finances to promote PPP and its use of BRH guarantees to win the trust of migrants in case of issue of treasury bonds. The participants are expecting IMRO to clarify the mandate of the working group, its operating mechanism and to share the experiences of other national working groups. Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 28 Annex : Circulaire # 98 du 20 mai 2011 de la BRH concernant les conditions d'exécution des transferts de fonds internationaux sur Haïti Dans le cadre de ses efforts pour maintenir l'efficience, l'intégrité, la fiabilité des informations et la sécurité du système de paiements aussi bien que pour promouvoir l'inclusion financière, la BRH a décidé d'initier une réforme qui vise à • élargir la gamme des instruments et services de paiement • accélérer la dématérialisation de la monnaie et l'inclusion financière ; • promouvoir la décentralisation et la vulgarisation des points de paiement ; • améliorer les coûts d'exploitation et d'utilisation des liquidités ainsi que l'accès à ces moyens de paiement ; • renforcer l'interopérabilité des infrastructures bancaires et de paiement • mettre en œuvre un régime de surveillance et de règlementation plus approprié ; et • accroitre l'efficience et la stabilité des services de paiement. Conformément aux dispositions de la loi du 17 août 1979 créant la Banque de la République d'Haïti, du décret du 14 novembre 1980 réglementant les activités bancaires et du décret de juillet 1989 sur les maisons de transfert, la présente circulaire détermine les conditions d'exécution des transferts de fonds internationaux sur Haïti (entrants et sortants). 1. Déclaration de transferts internationaux Les banques commerciales, les banques d'épargne et de logement et les maisons de transfert sont tenues de communiquer chaque lundi à la BREL sur support papier, le nombre et le montant total des transferts expédiés à l'étranger et reçus de l'étranger, quelle que soit la forme dans laquelle le bénéficiaire reçoit le transfert (espèces ou nature), conformément au formulaire de déclaration en annexe. Ces institutions sont tenues également de faire parvenir mensuellement à la BRH la copie certifiée conforme des montants déclarés aux régulateurs des territoires sur lesquels elles exercent leurs activités de transfert de fonds. Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 29 En cas de non respect de la présente section, l'institution concernée s'expose aux pénalités suivantes - Fiabilité de l'information En tout temps, les montants déclarés dans le formulaire prévu en annexe doivent être ceux apparaissant dans les livres de l'institution ainsi que les déclarations aux régulateurs susvisés. Si les montants ne concordent pas, la BRH peut, après enquête sur les circonstances et la nature de la violation, imposer une pénalité de 50% de la différence entre les montants déclarés et les montants apparaissant dans les livres, sans préjudice des frais d'utilisation dus par l'institution. En cas de récidive, la BRH appliquera des sanctions pouvant aller jusqu'au retrait de l'autorisation de fonctionnement. - Retard dans la soumission des rapports En cas de retard clans la soumission du formulaire, les institutions concernées encourent une pénalité de dix mille gourdes (HTG 10,000.00) par jour d'infraction. La période de pénalité s'étend du jour où le formulaire aurait dû être transmis à la BRH au jour où celle-ci le reçoit. Au-delà de huit (8) jours de retard, le montant de la pénalité sera doublé. Au-delà d'un (1) mois de retard, la BRH peut prendre des sanctions pouvant aller jusqu'au retrait de l'autorisation de fonctionnement. - Paiement des pénalités La BRH fera parvenir, par avis avec accusé de réception, aux institutions concernées le montant des pénalités. Les pénalités doivent être réglées par chèque de direction à l'ordre de la Banque de la République d'Haïti dans un délai de huit (8) jours à compter de la date de réception de l'avis. - Inspection Des inspections peuvent avoir lieu à tout moment dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre des présentes. 2. Utilisation et frais d'utilisation de la plateforme de paiement de la BRH Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 30 Les banques commerciales, les banques d'épargne et de logement et les maisons de transfert sont tenues d'utiliser la plateforme de paiement de la BRH pour le traitement de tous les transferts de fonds internationaux sur Haïti (entrants et sortants). Elles sont tenues également d'offrir à leur clientèle l'option de recevoir les transferts par des instruments de paiement électroniques universellement acceptés. Les mécanismes d'échange de données, d'exécution, de compensation et de règlement de la plateforme de paiement pour le traitement des transferts internationaux sur Haïti (entrants et sortants) seront édictés par la BRH. Des frais de test, de certification, d'utilisation et d'inspection de 1.50 USD seront appliqués par transaction pour les services de paiement et d'accès en différents points à travers le pays. Ces frais seront facturés mensuellement et devront être payés avant le 10 de chaque mois par chèque de direction. Par ailleurs, lesdits frais ne seront pas applicables sur les transferts effectués par les banques pour leur propre compte. Autrement dit, les transferts pour les entreprises et les particuliers sont donc visés par ces frais. 3. Interfaces avec la plateforme de la BRH La BRH fixera par voie de dispositions règlementaires la date limite pour la mise en place des interfaces avec la plateforme de paiement. La présente circulaire entre en vigueur le 1er juin 2011. Charles Castel, Gouverneur de la Banque centrale Port-au-Prince, le 20 mai 2011 Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 31 Bibliography Amuedo-Dorantes, Catalina, Annie Georges and Susan Pozo (2008), “Migration, Remittances and Children’s Schooling in Haiti”, IZA Discussion Paper No. 3657. Bauer, W. Andreas (2007), “Haiti: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix”, IMF Country Report No. 07/292. 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Simmons, Alain (2005), “The remittances sending practices of Haitians and Jamaicans in Canada”, Expert group meeting on international migration and development , Population Division, DESA, UN secretariat UN/POP/EGM-MIG/2005/01 Wooding, Bridget and Richard Moseley, “Les immigrants haïtiens et leurs descendants en République Dominicaine”, Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR) Haiti: IMRO study on migrant remittances Page 32