Technical Experts Meeting on South Asia Qualifications Reference Framework (SAQRF)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) organised a sub-regional technical meeting ‘South Asia Qualifications Reference Framework’ (SAQRF) on 26 and 27 June 2023. The meeting provided an opportunity for representatives of countries in South Asian, social partners, and civil society to come together and finalise a regional qualifications referencing framework that intends to facilitate the recognition of skills and qualifications of migrant workers and students in the region. Participants also discussed the governance structure of the SAQRF and its implementation and sustainability plan.

“The meeting provides a remarkable platform for experts and representatives from each South Asian country to come together, exchange knowledge, and collaboratively shape a framework that will facilitate the seamless recognition and mobility of qualifications within our region,” stated Mr M.N. Ranasinghe, Secretary of Ministry of Education, Government of Sri Lanka, expressed in his address.

The experts meeting highlighted that the endorsement of SAQRF would strengthen common understanding and cooperation in the region. Ms Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, highlighted that the expectation is to develop a regional qualifications framework to compare the qualifications and skills of existing and future migrant workers, aimed at bringing equal opportunities and fairness in the recruitment process.

Once the SAQRF is formally endorsed and referencing reports drafted by Member States, the framework will enable employers in countries of destination to compare qualifications of the workers across several countries of origin in South Asia. A regional framework will also contribute to a more level playing field that is based on the competency of the workers.

At different regional forums and meetings, countries in the South Asia region had expressed interest in the establishment of a qualifications referencing framework.

At the first technical meeting of the SAQRF held virtually on 15 – 16 February 2022, government representatives established the following objectives for the framework:

• To facilitate regional cooperation and recognition of qualifications;
• To facilitate worker and learner mobility within and outside the region through transparency and trust in National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs);
• To promote the strengthening of the quality and effectiveness of national qualifications systems.

Government representatives concluded the regional experts meeting committing to have further discussions at the national-level and make recommendation to the respective ministries for endorsement of the SAQRF.

The meeting was organised by the ILO under the joint ILO-IOM-UN Women programme “Governance of Labour Migration in South and South-East Asia” (GOALS) supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

For further information please contact:
Amish Karki, ILO Decent Work Technical Team for South Asia and Country Office for India
Email: [email protected]