INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MAINSTREAMING MIGRATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA: SOUTH ASIAN EXPERIENCE Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, June 2013

* Net Labour importing country * Different set of problems compared to the rest of the countries in the region * Emanates from the small and highly distributed population of the country * Total population 336,224 persons estimated 2013

* Total population aged 15 and over: 213,872 * Total employed: 98,393 * Unemployment rate: * Total: 11.7 * age group: 35.2 * age group: 21.6

* Emergence of the tourism industry in 1972 * Economic growth that followed and the growth of construction industry, trade and services sectors and the general improvements in household levels of income * Lack of demand from Maldivians for unskilled occupations and lack of trained Maldivians for highly skilled jobs in the private sector.

Bangladesh

Occupation Total Agriculture and Forestry Fishing Manufacturing Electricity, Gas & Water Construction Education Wholesale & Retail Trade Hotels & Restaurants Tourism Transport, Storage and Communication Financing, insurance, business and real estate Community, social and personal services Total79, ,1032, ,2602,1142,1944,59513,4882,0046,8609,949 Legislators, Senior Officials & Managers1, Professionals5, , ,208 Technicians & Associate Professionals3, , ,301 Clerical & Related Workers Service Workers 9, ,5474, Skilled Agricultural & Fisheries Workers Craft & related Trade Workers20, ,094216, ,35652 Plant, Machine Operators Assemblers1, Elementary Occupations37, , ,483511, , ,1636,773

Strengthen regulation for the recruitment and management of expatriate workers in the country Strengthen enforcement of regulation Identify the human resources needs of the country in the medium and longer terms and involve the private sector in training Maldivian youth for the requirements of the job market Make the necessary curriculum changes to encourage less academically inclined youth to take up vocational education and provide such opportunities

Thank you!