Reintegration of Migrant Workers:
Policy experience from the region
22 December 2016
Why reintegration support?
It has been argued that migrants are the ‘lucky ones’ who have had access to
better jobs and higher incomes – so why do they need assistance with return and
reintegration?
1. Migrants have savings, skills and experience that can benefit themselves and
their families, but it can also have a multiplier effect in the economy.
2. Years spent working abroad can lead to changes in values, attitudes and
behaviours (in migrants and their family members), and so support is needed in
re-adjusting to family life and working at home.
3. Migrants that have suffered distress, disability, exploitation and abuse may be
worse off than before they migrated.
Untapped potential
In the Declaration on the 2030 Agenda, the UN General Assembly recognized “the
positive contribution of migrants for inclusive growth and sustainable
development”.
Despite such recognition, their reintegration suffers from a lack of research, policy
and programmes.
Instead, migration is too often seen as a source of remittances and a ‘safety valve’
to release pressures stemming from a lack of decent work opportunities. There has
been inadequate investment in creating an environment in which migrants (and
diaspora) can apply their ‘earning and learning’ from abroad
How are remittances used in Nepal? (Study by State Bank)
Daily
consumption,
23.90%
Savings, 28%
Social affairs,
3.50%
Others, 5.50%
Health and
education, Business and
enterprise,
9.70%
1.10%
Personal
property, 3%
Loan
repayment,
25%
Case Study - Philippines
National Reintegration Centre for OFWs (NRCO)
MISSION: Enabling Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families to work and live
with entrepreneurial mindset primarily through the creation of awareness on the value
of savings, and empowering them to plan for investment, business, or local employment
upon their return, while responding to the needs of displaced OFWs and OFWs in
distressful situations.
Established in 2009, the main programmes and services of the NRCO include:
• Small Business Management Training and Financial Awareness Seminar
• Livelihood Development Assistance Program
• Balik Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program (self-employment programme with priority
given to women OFWs who are displaced by conflicts, victims of trafficking, and
other distressed and displaced women household service workers.)
• Advocacy to promote a culture of savings for investment or entrepreneurship.
• Skills upgrading and certification to reduce pressure to re-migrate
Case Study - Philippines
OWWA Act No. 10801 (May 2016)
This Act calls for the NRCO to be re-attached to the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) for purposes of policy and program coordination.
The Act states that “the OWWA shall provide gender-responsive reintegration
programs, repatriation assistance, loan and credit assistance, on-site workers
assistance, death and disability benefits, health care benefits, education and skills
training, social services, family welfare assistance, programs and services for
women migrant workers and other appropriate programs that provide timely social
and economic services.”
“To be able to sustain the viability of [the reintegration] program, not less than ten
percent (10%) of OWWA’s collection of contribution for the immediately preceding
year shall be allocated annually for the reintegration program.”
The Government will organize a Reintegration Summit in 2017
Case Study:
Sri Lanka Sub-Policy on Return and Reintegration
In 2015, following research and broad consultation, the Government of Sri Lanka
adopted a Reintegration Policy with five strategic areas:
1) Social reintegration
2) Economic reintegration
3) Physical and psychosocial wellbeing of migrants and family members
4) Empowerment of returnee migrants
5) Effective management of the return and reintegration process
• Specialised Reintegration Unit under the Bureau of Foreign Employment
• Guided by an inter-ministerial Coordination Committee
• Investment in data and capacity building of staff to deliver expanded services
• Ongoing monitoring and quarterly reporting against a 2016-2018 action plan
Sri Lanka Policy:
Social reintegration
a) Expanded services pre-departure, on-site and on return.
b) Build a positive image of migrant workers and their considerable contribution.
c) Social security scheme for migrant returnees.
d) Welfare and protection of family members of migrant workers with special focus on
the children.
e) Skills development and career counselling for migrant workers’ children.
Sri Lanka Policy:
Economic Reintegration
a) Quality standardization and certification of skills of migrant workers at predeparture and upon return.
b) Promote savings, investments and financial management among migrant workers.
c) Promote entrepreneurship among migrant returnees and family members.
d) Secure local employment for returnees through public - private partnerships.
Sri Lanka Policy:
Physical and Psychosocial Wellbeing
a) Ensure accessibility to health (primary, secondary and tertiary) services stipulated
under the Sri Lanka National Migration Health Policy – for migrants and family
members.
b) Development of a psycho-social support programme for migrant workers and family
members.
Mobilization and Empowerment of Migrant Returnees
a) Empowerment of migrant worker through rights awareness.
b) Legal empowerment of migrant workers in destination countries and upon return.
c) Promote safety and protection of migrant workers.
Note of caution on enterprise development training
Nepal: A World Bank assessment, drawing on a survey of 303 youth returnees
among other sources, indicates that the respondents were more interested in
seeking paid work rather than in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship was viewed
as a necessity than an opportunity to make use of skills acquired overseas.
Philippines: An evaluation of a programme on self-employment revealed that
returning migrants are not necessarily more entrepreneurial than other people,
and that successful small business is possible under a favourable economic,
political and social climate created by appropriate macro-level policy instruments
and social infrastructure. Access to financing is critical, and a financial education on
sustainable management of loans and financing should be offered, and
complemented by other professional skills, contacts and experiences.
Recommendations
Collect better administrative data on return
migrants
Conduct research to build a profile of returning
migrants (what are their plans, aspirations,
needs, when has reintegration worked well, and
when has it not, etc.)
Exchange experience and tools on reintegration
with other countries in the region
• Entrepreneurship, employment services,
creating networks, financial products for
migrants, diaspora bonds, etc.
Recommendations
Work towards the development of a labour migration policy and action plan with a
specific component on return and reintegration
Among others, the policy should:
• Be based on evidence and broad consultation
• Adopt a holistic approach to reintegration – social, economic and psychosocial
• Align with national employment and development policies and strategies
• Be adequately resourced and receive inter-ministerial support
• More specifically, it should include specific measures for migrants that have suffered
from exploitation, disability, etc.; and integrate return and reintegration strategies
even prior to departure (migrants must plan ahead).
Establish necessary institutions to support diaspora for returning and reintegration in
national economy
Thank you