1. Labour Migration in Asia: trends and developments
8th ADBI-OECD-ILO Roundtable on Labour Migration in Asia: Building partnerships for effectively managing labour migration: lessons from Asian countries for the UN Global Compact on Migration
Jointly organized by: Asian Development Bank Institute,
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
International Labour Organization
Hosted by: Human Resource Development (HRD) Korea
30-31 January 2018
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Nilim Baruah
Senior Migration Specialist
DWT/Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

2. Outflows from selected Asian countries
Overall labour migration flows declined in 2016, from 5.41 million workers (2015) to 4.98 million – 8% decrease
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continued to receive most of the flows – 66% in 2016 (but a decline from previous year)
Decrease in flows in 2016 – All except Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Bangladesh
Countries of origin vary significantly in the proportion of women deployed million migrant domestic workers in SE Asia and Pacific
Asia is an important source region for movements to OECD countries (5 countries in top 10 in 2015)
Refugee flows – around 680,000 arrivals in Bangladesh from Rakhine State

3. Outflows of workers from selected Asian countries, 2007-2016
Note: Total of nine countries. Philippines estimates are based on the change in stock 2015/2016 applied to 2015 flows.
Source: ADBI-OECD-ILO, 2018

4. Outflows of workers from selected Asian countries, 2007-2016
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2015/16 % change
Philippines
716
870
991
1 124
1 319
1 435
1 469
1 431
1 438
1 328*
-8%*
Pakistan
282
425
396
358
453
635
620
752
947
839
-11%
Bangladesh
820
875
475
391
568
608
409
426
556
788
42%
India
809
849
610
641
627
747
817
805
781
521
-33%
PRC
372
427
395
411
452
512
527
562
530
494
-7%
Nepal
205
249
220
294
355
385
451
520
500
419
-16%
Sri Lanka
218
250
247
268
263
293
301
243
-8%
Indonesia
690
636
630
567
594
460
469
430
276
235
-15%
Viet Nam 64 87 73 86 88 80
107
116
126 9%
Note: PRC = People’s Republic of China.
* Philippines estimates are based on the change in stock 2015/2016 applied to 2015 flows.
Source: ADBI-OECD-ILO, 2018.

5. Average monthly earnings in destination country (US$)
Recruitment context
Migration costs are high in Asia/GCC and differ according to corridor
 Destination
 Origin
 Total migration costs
Average monthly earnings in destination country (US$)
Average (US$)
In months of earnings in destination (averages)
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
4,395
9.4
469
Qatar
India
1,149
1.9
592
Philippines
480
1.0
Nepal
1,054
3.1
339
Kuwait
Bangladesh
3,136
9.0
347
1,248
2.5
494
UAE
2,351
6.0
394
Spain
Bulgaria
201
0.2
1,300
Ecuador
1,032
0.8
Morocco
333
0.3
Malaysia
Vietnam
1,382
3.9
353
Source: KNOMAD World Bank / ILO Surveys

6. ASEAN trends

7. ASEAN trends

8. ASEAN trends
Employment by broad economic activity for the total, nationals, and migrant populations in selected ASEAN Member States, latest year (per cent)
ILMS, 2017 (forthcoming)

9. Average monthly wages of the total employed and migrant workers in Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, latest year (local currency)
Source: International Labour Migration Statistics Database (ILMS)

10. Republic of Korea
Source: Ministry of Employment and Labour, Republic of Korea

11. Pre-Migration Experience
Completed Skills Training – at Origin and Destination
Type of training
CAM
n=457
(%)
LAO
n=450
MYR
n=451
VTN
Origin
Dest
Foreign language 5 4 - 12 31 1
General literacy or numeracy 3 8 11 2
Vocational training
Non-formal skills training 14
On-the-job training 15 65 24 55
Other
None 94 84 96 34 78 52
Source: ILO-IOM Risks and rewards: Outcomes of labour migration in South-East Asia

12. Pre-Migration Experience
Attended Pre-Departure Orientation
Profile
CAM
n=457
(%)
LAO
n=450
MYR
n=451
VTN
Men 37 2 14 8
Women 35 5 7 6
Domestic Work 52 -
Fisheries 21
Agriculture 26 9 20
Manufacturing 61 12
Construction 23 4 10
Hospitality and Food Services 17 1 3
Regular 48 11
Irregular
Thailand 33
Malaysia 73 15
Source: ILO-IOM Risks and rewards: Outcomes of labour migration in South-East Asia

13. Migration Process Migration Channel Used Cambodia Lao PDR Myanmar
Vietnam
Channel used
CAM
n=457
(%)
LAO
n=450
MYR
n=451
VTN
Government agency -
< 1 5
Licensed recruitment agency 26 10 52
Direct recruitment by employer 3
Unlicensed broker 1 47
Friends or family 27 44 21 12
Independently 16 51 6 33
Other 7
Source: ILO-IOM Risks and rewards: Outcomes of labour migration in South-East Asia

14. Migration Process Effectiveness of Migration Channels
Source: ILO-IOM Risks and rewards: Outcomes of labour migration in South-East Asia

15. Migration Process Assistance with Migration Problems Sought assistance
CAM
n=321
(%)
LAO
n=78
MYR
n=185
VTN
n=219 27 36 58 5
Did not seek assistance 73 64 42 95
Source of assistance
Friends or family 13 32 40 4
Broker -
Recruitment agency 8 3 1
Community leader
Labour authorities
Police
NGO
Trade union
Other 9
Resolution
Resolved problem 7 15 23
Did not resolve problem 93 85 77 99
Source: ILO-IOM Risks and rewards: Outcomes of labour migration in South-East Asia

16. Type of Employment Contract
Migration Process
Employment Contracts and Substitution
Type of Employment Contract
Cambodia
Lao PDR
Myanmar
Vietnam
Job turned out to be different to what was agreed in the employment contract
Written 33%
Verbal
21%
Written 12%
11%
Written 43%
17%
Written 5% 9%
Source: ILO-IOM Risks and rewards: Outcomes of labour migration in South-East Asia

17. Employment Conditions
Assistance with Labour Rights Violations
Sought assistance
CAM
n=365
(%)
LAO
n=136
MYR
n=223
VTN
n=340 24 25 39 4
Did not seek assistance 76 75 61 96
Sources of assistance
Friends or family 9 7 22 1
Employer or manager 11 19 15 3
Embassy or consulate - 2
Recruitment agency 5
Community leader
Labour authorities
Police
NGO
Trade union
Other
Resolution
Resolved problem 6 13
Did not resolve problem 94 87 89 98
Source: ILO-IOM Risks and rewards: Outcomes of labour migration in South-East Asia

18. Recent policy developments
A. National and bilateral
Thailand – Draft Royal Ordinance on Management of Employment of FWs, 2018
Bans worker paid recruitment fee but stipulates that costs for passport, health-check up, work permit and similar may be borne by migrant workers
Increases severity of employer sanctions – administrative and/or penal for repeat offenses
Makes written employment contract a requirement
Establishes a Management of FW Fund in lieu of Repatriation Fund
Indonesia – Law on Protection of Indonesian MWs, 2017
Malaysia
Payments of government levies for recruiting migrant workers shifted from workers to employers, starting Jan 2018
Malaysia-Cambodia MOU on migrant domestic workers signed Dec 2017

19. Recent policy developments
A. National and bilateral
4. Philippines
MOU with UAE on the recruitment and employment of domestic workers, Sept 2017
5. Singapore (Source: Fragomen Global LLP and Affiliates)
Post arrival orientation
New work-permit holders required to attend mandatory Settling-In Programme starting mid-2018.
Employers responsible for registration and course fees
Admission
Employment pass applications require additional information/justification
6. Nepal-Jordan MOU (October 2017) – no recruitment fees/costs to MW; standard employment contracts (DW and other)

20. Policy developments B. Regional
The ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of MWs was adopted by ASEAN MS in November Some key features are:
The instrument covers migrant workers who are documented and “those who become undocumented through no fault of their own.”
Contains key chapters on Rights of MWs and Family members, Obligations of sending and receiving States
The instrument does not add to the rights of family members (compared to the Cebu Declaration) other than adding visitation
Caveat - applicable national laws is used quite often
Encourages collaboration with Dialogue Partners and international organizations
ACMW will develop action-plan and establish mechanism for reviewing progress

21. Policy developments Global
Decent work and well managed migration in SDGs (Goal 8 & 10) – methodology development
Target 8.8 Protect labour rights and secure working environments for all workers
Indicator Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries by sex and migrant status – Tier 2
Indicator Increase in national compliance of labour rights by sex and migrant status – Tier 3
Proposed methodology will be presented at the 20th ICLS, October 2018
Target 10.7 Facilitate orderly, safe and responsible migration and mobility of people
Indicator Recruitment cost borne by employee as proportion of yearly income earned in destination countries
Proposed methodology to be presented at 20th ICLS

22. Policy developments Global
ILO Fair Recruitment Principles and Operational Guidelines – definition of fees and costs
No recruitment fees or related costs should be charged to, or otherwise borne by, workers or jobseekers. (7)
Recruitment fees or related costs – incurred in the recruitment process in order for workers to secure employment or placement
Global comparative study on definition and application of fees and costs
Tripartite experts meeting (November 2018)
Intergovernmental negotiations on a Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration (adoption planned for December 2018)

23. Concluding remarks
Labour migration flows in Asia (9 countries) saw a decline in 2016
Flows mainly to GCC countries and SE Asia. East Asia - important destination. Asia is significant source region for movements to OECD
Issues around migration cost and recruitment highlighted
Employment and working conditions of MWs continue to need attention
Avenues for regular migration need to be less cumbersome
New labour migration laws enacted in Thailand and Indonesia
ASEAN Consensus adopted with work-plan to follow
Intergovernmental process on a Global Compact on Migration launched.

24. Thank you
Nilim Baruah
Senior Migration Specialist Decent Work Team/ Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific