Project background

Migration is an important economic and social factor in South Asia. The migration regime that has evolved in South Asia is largely a South-South system of temporary migration of low-skilled and semi-skilled workers on fixed term contracts primarily to the Gulf countries. While labour migration in South Asia contributes substantial benefits to both their countries of origin and destination, there are also significant problems associated with it.

Given the increasing integration of the world economy migration flows are likely to increase and become more complex in the years ahead. This poses a challenge for the international community, but also gives opportunities to step up efforts and change the way migration is approached.

Project objectives

The specific objectives include:

• provide reliable information on overseas employment opportunities and building the capacity to match qualified job seekers with foreign employers;
• reduce migration costs and abuses and increasing the protection of migrant workers in countries of origin and destination by improving recruitment services; and
• enhance training and the portability of skills for outgoing and returning migrant workers and promoting the development impact of migration.

Partners

Ministry of Labour and Employment in Nepal; the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the India Centre for Migration in India, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development in Pakistan, workers’ and employers’ organizations, private recruitment agencies, NGOs, migrant associations and diaspora organizations, embassies, banks, micro-finance institutions, researchers

Target beneficiaries

Migrant workers from India, Nepal and Pakistan

For further information please contact:

Ms Anna Engblom
Chief Technical Adviser
ILO Country Office for Nepal

Nayabato, Dhobighat, Lalitpur
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel.: +977 1 5555 777, 5550 691
Fax: +977 1 5550 714, 5531 332
Email