On 18 May 2021 and on the 1st of February 2022, we hosted our Regional Thematic Meetings on diaspora engagement, covering the South Asian, South-East Asian and Pacific regions. First, we joined forces with the Migrant Forum in Asia and the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism for a public discussion on the potential of labour migration schemes for development in countries of origin. The public webinar was followed by a government-only roundtable focused on diaspora skill transfer. Read on for the toplines from the two events….
Diaspora engagement though a labour migration lens
Despite heterogeneity of countries, diaspora engagement for development in the two regions is intrinsically linked to labour migration, as illustrated by the fact that many countries in these three regions approach diaspora engagement from the perspective of safe labour migration laws and rights. The result is that diaspora engagement in Asia and the Pacific is often about supporting and protecting migrant workers abroad, as well as providing incentives to return and facilitating reintegration. For instance, Myanmar and Bangladesh supported migrant workers by informing them about labour rights and established labour attachés in countries of destination to help protect workers on the ground. The focus on returnees is also a central part of skills transfer programmes, aiming at attracting migrants back home to employ their diverse set of skills, from high-skilled to low-skilled labour migrants.
Return and reintegration are pillars of diaspora engagement
Countries of origin in Asia and the Pacific have increased efforts in recent years to facilitate the reintegration of returning labour migrants into both the labour market and society. The government Malaysia implemented a flat tax rate and tax exemption for highly skilled migrant workers as well as an international school system guarantee for their children. Vietnam has made it easier for its diaspora to obtain visas or access property whilst Sri Lanka’s policy for reintegration for migrant workers covers health, social, psychological and economic empowerment of returnees. Governments are not the only ones active in this regard: grassroots organisations such as WARBE in Bangladesh have set up reintegration programmes to support returnees back in their country of origin.
The impact of Covid-19 on labour migration and skills transfer
The ongoing pandemic has forced Asian and Pacific countries of origin to adapt their diaspora engagement efforts to tackle the repatriation of migrant workers who lost their jobs and the employment of returning migrants in key sectors for the post-pandemic recovery. One positive result has been an increase in services offered digitally. For example, the Indian government has registered the skills of Indians returning to the country on a platform to facilitate their employment. Another good practice is from the government of Indonesia holding informal focus groups with members of the diaspora who wish to virtually contribute to the country with short-terms skills transfer.
Skills transfer – a buffet of options
Countries in the regions offer a variety of skills transfer programmes tailored to returning migrants. The government of the Philippines is particularly active in this regard by capitalising on the skills of returning migrants to bridge the gaps between skills needed and skills available in sectors such as science, engineering, construction and agriculture. The Build Build Build Program, a major government infrastructure initiative, increases the country’s need for workers with technical skills in the construction sector. It believes that the skills of Filipinos returnees could fill this gap. The Balik Scientist Program targets scientists and technologists living abroad and is an example of a medium to long-term skill transfer initiative. The programme attracts professionals to share their expertise and contribute to the scientific, agro-industrial, and economic development of the Philippines. Finally, through the SPIMS Program, qualified Filipinos employed in low-skilled sectors in their country of destination are encouraged to return back home and work within the Ministry of Education. Overall, the plethora of skill transfer initiatives appeals to different needs of Filipinos returnees, from those who desire to return for a short-medium term to those who wish to employ their skills back home for a sustained period.
Digital skills to the fore in the diaspora and at home
Skills transfer in the field of technology and programmes upskilling the digital skills of labour migrants are becoming central. For instance, the Philippines Labour Office (PLO) in Berlin has provided digital literacy training to low-skilled Filipinos. PLOs in the Middle East advance the upskilling and re-training of Filipino workers to equip them with skills to find employment in sectors beyond domestic work. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology recently established a Network of Overseas Intellectual Associations Supporting Technological Innovation and Commercialisation to support the innovation of the Tech sector in the country. Hence, the diaspora is perceived as a key partner to advance the digital transformation of countries of origin and support the post-pandemic recovery.
Mapping, the skills transfer launch-pad…
In order to fill skills gaps in a country with those in the diaspora, it is essential to identify priority needs and, crucially, to know the diaspora. Governments in the regions recognise the importance of mapping and profiling exercises to understand the diaspora landscape, both in terms of skills available, as well as the interests and needs from the diaspora to motivate skills transfer. Mapping exercises provide vital insights based on which governments can tailor their policies and programmes appropriately. Mapping, along with other options, involves creating a comprehensive database reflecting the diversity in types and level of skills of the diaspora.
How do we look at diaspora and labour migration in a more comprehensive manner?
Following the public consultation and government roundtable, as well as reflecting on the trends in Asia and the Pacific identified during our initial mapping of diaspora engagement, EUDiF sees two core elements to build into future conversations and actions in the regions: the diversity of legal migration corridors and integration of diaspora and labour migrants.
Firstly, rapidly emerging legal migration corridors, such as student mobility pathways, are becoming increasingly relevant to issues of labour migration for development. Issues of student mobility and labour migration tend to be increasingly interconnected due to a tendency for students to stay in destination countries after graduation in order to work, combined with a general increase in the number of study permits granted, including in certain EU Member States such as Germany, the Netherlands or France. These related forms of legal migration would benefit from being included in the discussions surrounding the diaspora-labour migration nexus to encourage the development of inclusive and comprehensive agreements between countries of origin and destination.
Secondly, the issue of the integration of labour migrants in countries of destination is too often left aside when discussing the potential of labour migration schemes for development. However, the contributions of the diaspora depend on this, and with the right conditions in place, the diaspora will be able to maximise its contribution to the development of countries of origin
Overall, continuous collaboration with diverse stakeholders can advance diaspora engagement in the regions and create further opportunities for skills transfer schemes, supported by diaspora networks, regional and international organisations. Such frameworks and activities are crucial to ensure a sustainable, multi-stakeholder and whole-of-society approach to labour migration for development.