Strengthening Labour Migration Governance through Regional Cooperation in Colombo Process Countries

Envisioned as 4-year project, the IOM regional project on ‘Strengthening Labour Migration Governance through Regional Cooperation in Colombo Process Countries’ aims to support the Colombo Process (CP) to fully deliver its objectives.

The project will contribute to strengthened labour migration governance across CP Member States (CPMS) through regional cooperation and increased policy coherence by achieving the following outcomes:

Increased adherence to global ethical recruitment standards and practices by governments and recruitment intermediaries among CPMS;

• Promote regulatory harmonization of recruitment intermediaries in CPMS through symposiums, studies and technical support for CPMS.
•  Strengthen recruitment monitoring practices and complaints mechanisms in CPMS through a mapping exercise, creation of an e-compendium to share best practices, and trainings for consulate and emigration officials.
• Strengthen engagement with the recruitment industry in CPMS through partnerships with the Overseas Employment Service Providers – Alliance of Asian Associations (OESP – AAA) through a regional conference, working group meetings and consultations.

 Improved Pre-Departure Orientation to enhance migrants’ welfare in countries of destination;

• Develop and roll out a regional guide for the PDO as well as its programme management system in response to the Philippines’ initiatives for a Comprehensive Information and Orientation Programme (CIOP) for migrant workers which covers migrant orientation at pre-employment, pre-departure, post-arrival and return.
• Strengthen the function of Migration Resource Centres (MRCs) in CPMS, in particular complaints handling and equality of access for all genders through assessments of existing complaints mechanisms in CPMS, training and sharing of best practices.
• Policy makers are able to better plan skills enhancement and placement schemes for migrant workers in destination countries

Policy makers are able to better plan skills enhancement and placement schemes for migrant workers in destination countries

• Pilot the enhancement of skills assessment and recognition frameworks for migrant workers in the construction sector in partnership with selected CODs.

The project will contribute to regional and global initiatives that highlight the current priorities in labour migration governance. It seeks to build on the existing initiatives undertaken by CPMS, IOM, ILO, UN Women and other development partners.