Labour migration
New recommendations for reintegrating returning migrants
Migrants returning to their home countries need more comprehensive help to reintegrate successfully in their communities.
18 September 2014
Migrants returning to their home countries need more comprehensive help if they are to reintegrate successfully in their communities, according to the conclusions of a workshop organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Women.
The workshop, “Regional Workshop on Effective Social and Economic Reintegration of Women Migrant Workers,” drew up a series of recommendations to assist returning migrants, particularly women workers.
“48 per cent of the total number of labour migrants are women,” said Manuel Imson, Senior Programme Officer/Project Coordinator, Tripartite Action to Protect Migrants from Labour Exploitation (ASEAN TRIANGLE). “More and more women migrant workers return home; they should be reintegrated effectively with the maximum use made of their new or acquired skills for their local community development”.
Recommendations included developing legislation, policies and programmes on return and reintegration in countries of origin and destination, through active consultation with tripartite partners and civil society; better on-site training for migrant workers on savings, investments and business development before their return; skills assessment and recognition for returning migrant workers using regional model competency standards; and more research into remittance patterns and the financial resources available to migrant communities.
The three-day joint regional workshop, held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 19-21 August, was attended by ministers from 10 ASEAN and South Asian countries, as well as representatives from regional trade unions, employers’ associations and civil society. It was supported by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC). KA
The recommendations will become a guidelines for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to develop and improve programmes to support the return of women and men migrant workers. The meeting was part of the effort to ensure better facilitation of the return and reintegration of migrant workers, who make important contributions to the economic and social development of their home countries, through the remittances and enhanced skills and knowledge they bring back with them.
The recommendations can be found on the ASEAN TRIANGLE webpages.
Mr Manuel Imson, Senior Programme Officer/Project Coordinator
Tripartite Action to Protect Migrants from Labour Exploitation (ASEAN TRIANGLE)
Email
Tel.:+662 288 2243
Ms Sophy Fisher
Senior Communication Officer & Public Information Officer
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok
Email
Tel.: +668 989 50 921
The workshop, “Regional Workshop on Effective Social and Economic Reintegration of Women Migrant Workers,” drew up a series of recommendations to assist returning migrants, particularly women workers.
“48 per cent of the total number of labour migrants are women,” said Manuel Imson, Senior Programme Officer/Project Coordinator, Tripartite Action to Protect Migrants from Labour Exploitation (ASEAN TRIANGLE). “More and more women migrant workers return home; they should be reintegrated effectively with the maximum use made of their new or acquired skills for their local community development”.
Recommendations included developing legislation, policies and programmes on return and reintegration in countries of origin and destination, through active consultation with tripartite partners and civil society; better on-site training for migrant workers on savings, investments and business development before their return; skills assessment and recognition for returning migrant workers using regional model competency standards; and more research into remittance patterns and the financial resources available to migrant communities.
The three-day joint regional workshop, held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 19-21 August, was attended by ministers from 10 ASEAN and South Asian countries, as well as representatives from regional trade unions, employers’ associations and civil society. It was supported by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC). KA
The recommendations will become a guidelines for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to develop and improve programmes to support the return of women and men migrant workers. The meeting was part of the effort to ensure better facilitation of the return and reintegration of migrant workers, who make important contributions to the economic and social development of their home countries, through the remittances and enhanced skills and knowledge they bring back with them.
The specific concerns of women migrant workers must be taken into consideration in the formation of national and international policy and normative frameworks related to migration, development and human rights. When governments actively work towards the successful reintegration of women migrant workers, they also give them recognition for their contributions to the development of the economies and societies they work and live in."
Jose Assalino, Country Director of the ILO Country Office for Nepal
The recommendations can be found on the ASEAN TRIANGLE webpages.
For more information please contact:
Mr Manuel Imson, Senior Programme Officer/Project Coordinator
Tripartite Action to Protect Migrants from Labour Exploitation (ASEAN TRIANGLE)
Tel.:+662 288 2243
Ms Sophy Fisher
Senior Communication Officer & Public Information Officer
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok
Tel.: +668 989 50 921