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A podcast of this seminar is now available. 


Many low-income countries and development organisations are calling for greater liberalisation of labour immigration policies in high-income countries. At the same time, human rights organisations and migrant rights advocates are demanding more equal rights for migrant workers. In his new book The Price of Rights (Princeton University Press), Dr Martin Ruhs shows why we cannot always have both.

Dr Ruhs analyses how high-income countries restrict the rights of migrant workers as part of their labour immigration policies and discusses the implications for global debates about regulating labour migration and protecting migrants. The analysis comprehensively looks at the tensions between human rights and citizenship rights, the agency and interests of migrants and states, and the determinants and ethics of labour immigration policy.

In his talk at the Refugee Studies Centre, Dr Ruhs will discuss the main findings and arguments of the book and explore the implications for debates about policies for admitting asylum seekers and refugees.

Refreshments will be provided after the event.

About the speaker

Dr Martin Ruhs is University Lecturer in Political Economy and Senior Researcher at the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) at the University of Oxford.

Contact

If you require special access or for any enquiries about this event, please contact:

Email: rsc@qeh.ox.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 281707

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The Annual Harrell-Bond Lecture is named in honour of Dr Barbara Harrell-Bond, the founding Director of the Refugee Studies Centre. It is held each year in Michaelmas term.

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Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 5pm to 6pm @ Seminar Room 1, Oxford Department of International Development, 3 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TB

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