This presentation was given at the 5th ADBI-OECD-ILO Roundtable on Labor Migration in Asia: Building Effective Structures and Institutions for Migration Governance which was held in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China on 28-30 January 2015.
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Guntur Sugiyarto Senior Economist, Development Economics and Indicators Division Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB 27-31 January 2015, Shanghai, PRC *) The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the ADB. The views expressed in this presentation are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Directors, or the governments they represent. ADBI does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequences of their use. Terminology used may not necessarily be consistent with ADB official terms.
Transcript
Guntur Sugiyarto Senior Economist, Development Economics and Indicators Division
Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB 27-31 January 2015, Shanghai, PRC
*) The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the ADB.
The views expressed in this presentation are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Directors, or the governments they represent. ADBI does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequences of their use. Terminology used may not necessarily be consistent with ADB official terms.
Outline 1. Understanding the context 2. Migration aspirations 3. Characteristics of the migration 4. Nature of cooperation 5. Adopting the right approach
ASEAN Countries.. Very Diverse,
Dynamics and Dependent on each other…(3Ds)
In economics and other factors BRUNEI
DARUSSALAM
LAO PDR
VIET NAM
The third most dynamic in the world (after PRC and India).
Size of economy: 75% of the Japan and 32% of PRC. Among the most open economy in the world: exports
60% of GDP or 7.5% of global exports. Intra-ASEAN FDI: 30% of total and growing… Intensified in line with the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC) by 2015 and beyond
ASEAN Region…
ASEAN Role in Global Economy GDP growth (y-axis) and level (bubble size) in billion PPP dollars
2010 ASEAN Trading Partners 2010 (%)
Source: AEC Chartbook 2011
PRC,
PRC
Key Development Challenges… The region has very diverse and dynamic socio-
economic base and development progress. Experience significant changes in the
socioeconomic and demographic conditions. Economic, demographic and other gaps making
people move across areas and countries. Intra-Asean and International Migrations have
become very common (Internal migration too). Challenge for governing the migrations that
require Policy Coordination.
Basic Key Indicators of Countries in the SEA Region
(Number of persons aged <15 and ≥ 65 to Number of persons aged 15–64 years,
%)
The region is aspired to become “One Economic Union….. “ ASEAN Economic Community (ASEAN Vision 2020)
How ? Transforming the region into a single
market and production base characterized by, among other things, a free flow of skilled labor… Implemented through the Mutual
Recognition Agreements (MRAs) based on Qualification Frameworks at National and Regional (ASEAN) levels.
Commitments among ASEAN Countries … ASEAN Declaration on the protection and promotion of the
rights of migrant workers (Cebu 2007) To “create a single market and production base that is stable,
prosperous, highly competitive and economically integrated with an effective facilitation for trade and investment in which there are free flow of goods, services and investment, as well as freer movement of skilled labor” (ASEAN, 2012).
The Mutual Recognition Agreements(MRAs) have been signed for 8 occupations: Engineer, Nursing, Architect, Surveyor, Accountant, Medical Practitioners, Dental Practitioners and Tourism Professionals.
These agreements must be implemented but the progress so far is too slow and uneven due to complexities of the issue, regulations and institutional arrangements.
Intra-ASEAN Migration.. A common phenomenon Strong historical links Similarities among the neighboring countries Involving low educated, the poor, and women… The number and coverage are increasing
Key Facts on Intra-Asean Migration… 1. Historical Links: among neighbouring countries 2. Increasing in scale and magnitude. 3. Destination changes: following the dynamics in the destination countries
and in the world. 4. Mostly semi and unskilled workers: casual jobs in construction,
manufacturing, service and domestic workers. 5. Low education: primary and secondary levels 6. Increasing temporary contract: on fixed and short term basis. 7. Irregularity: significant number of illegal migrants vulnerable to abuse
and exploitation (e.g. Thailand and Malaysia). 8. Feminization: increasing number of women. 9. Commercialization: recruiters also act as employer causing malpractice
and irregular migration (e.g. “fly now, pay later”, no formal/clear contract).
10. More complex: involving diaspora and other private networks.
Strong Call for Policy Coordination!!!
Notes: Very Important to have Agreement, Policy
Coordination, and Institutionalization…
Adopting the right approach to the implementation..
Win-win-win solution
Policy Concerns in each stage of migration cycle Policy Cooperation on: Recruitment Deployment Stage During the Migration Returning Home Integration
Main Issue: -Migrants are prone to abuse and exploitation in each stage of migration process… (By recruiter, employer, officer, and others in the host and home countries…)
Consider the key facts…
Consider other countries response…
Example: Minimum Wage Policy for the Philippine Domestic Worker
Clarity in the Coverage and Content Consistency in the policy and regulation Consider other country response
Key Areas for Policy Coordination… Facilitating labor migration as a choice
Lowering migration overall costs (economic and non-economic costs)
Lowering Remittance Fee (“5 by 5 in 5……”)
Facilitating the productive use of remittances ..(but please don’t expect migrant to be entrepreneur too!).
Facilitate financial and real investments of remittances (…Diaspora Bond, Matching remittance investment etc).
Protect the welfare and the rights of migrants, especially women by mainstreaming gender policies in the migration .
