Roshini Jayaweera Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

Introduction Objective Why should migration be a main concern ? Policies and Proposals Conclusion

Process of assessing the implications of migration in any goal planned in development and poverty reduction strategy  Mainstreaming Migration into Development Broader development strategy Funding and technical assistance Gaps in existing legislative and policy frameworks Coordination among different institutions

The outflow of Sri Lankan workers has shown an increasing trend A surge in inflows of remittances There is a significant impact of migration and remittances on development ‘Migration policies’ and ‘development policies’ have been treated separately

Migration needs to be mainstreamed into Development Agenda Answer 6 Questions Global Migration Group (2010), Mainstreaming Migration into Development Planning: A Handbook for Policy Makers and practitioners, IOM

Is there political will/interest in harnessing migra­tion for development? Is migration a prominent issue in public or political debates? Are there any possible effects, positive or negative, of these migration trends? Are there sizeable financial transfers or remittances from migrants? What sorts of experiences are migrants having? Does the country have large stocks of migrants?/What have recent patterns of migration been?

 To what extent, migration has already been incorporated into Sri Lankan development agenda

 Sri Lanka has a large stock of migrants.  This stock comprises of both men and women. Departures for Foreign Employment, by Gender (%), ( ) Source: Annual Statistics Handbook of Foreign Employment, 2011, SLBFE.

Majority of Sri Lankan migrant workers are young. Departures for Foreign Employment by Age Group ( ) Source: Annual Statistics Handbook of Foreign Employment, 2011, SLBFE.

 The major market for Sri Lankan labour is the Middle East.  Unskilled labour migration is a prominent feature relevant to Sri Lankan out-migration. Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Groups ( ) Source: Annual Statistics Handbook of Foreign Employment, 2010, SLBFE.

 Malaysia, Jordan, and K.S.A, can be identified as riskier countries   Migration experience does not affect men and women in the same way. ◦ In 2011, more than 9000 complaints. ◦ Nonpayment of agreed wage and the breach of employment contract. ◦ Of both, the majority of complaints came from female migrant workers. ◦ Nonpayment of agreed wage - almost 80 % of complaints from female migrant workers ◦ Breach of contracts - 58 % from female. ◦ Another considerable percentage (15 per cent) of complaints is about physical and sexual harassment, and 96 per cent of total complaints are from female migrant workers.

Source: Annual Statistics Handbook of Foreign Employment, 2011, SLBFE.

Trends in Remittance Inflows (% of GDP) Source: Central Bank Annual Report, Various Issues. Remittances Inflows to Sri Lanka by Region ( )

Inflow of Remittances> FDI & ODALess VolatilityCounter-Cyclical Role

% of GDP Domestic Savings National Savings Total Investment Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka, various issues.

Number of Migrants Unemployment

Domestic Demand for Carpenters/ Masons Shortages of Carpenters 12% increase in nominal wages Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Annual Report, 2011

 Higher expenditure on food, non-food, education, health, durable goods, and housing  Return is lower Distribution of Remittance Receiving Households by Expenditure Deciles Source: MFEPW (2011)

 There is a political will and interest in harnessing migration for development  Establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare

Policies and Proposals Recruitment ReturnReintegration Return Reintegration Remittances

 National Migration Policy in Sri Lanka  Signing of MOUs bilateral and agreements  Welfare programmes for migrant workers  Human Resource Development

 Well-developed financial system  MFEPW introduced special debit cards for migrant workers  Bilateral agreements/MoUs

?

 Migration was identified as an important development issue when the ‘Mahinda Chintana: Vision for the Future’. It aims ◦ increase male migration by 50 per cent. ◦ to secure more than 50,000 employment opportunities in several countries including Korea, Japan, and Libya; ◦ to expand the opportunities for those with skills in specialized fields such as nursing, nautical services, accountancy, IT, banking, and engineering to enter the international labour market; ◦ to maintain a foreign employment provident fund for all migrant workers. ◦ It suggests improvement in the level of diaspora engagement in development activities and returnee reintegration. ◦ to establish a dedicated bureau in order to identify and resolve problems faced by Sri Lankans living in abroad and create a conducive environment in Sri Lanka for them to live upon their return to Sri Lanka ◦ to create an attractive bonus scheme for Sri Lankans who send their foreign exchange to Sri Lanka.

 There are sufficient policies that have been implemented by the government ◦ to increase the number of migrants ◦ to increase the volume of remittance ◦ to protect migrant workers  However, there are some aspects of migration which have been neglected by these polices. ◦ stimulation of investment of remittance ◦ stimulation of sound remittance management ◦ returnee reintegration

Stimulate Invetment Introduction of SME programmes Microfinance facilities to start self-employment tax breaks on imports of capital goods Remittance Management financial education

Thank You