roshini jayaweera research officer, institute of policy studies of sri lanka
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Mainstreaming Migration into the Development
Agenda: Sri Lanka
Roshini Jayaweera Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
Outline of Presentation
Introduction Objective
Why should
migration be a main concern ?
Policies and
ProposalsConclusion
Benefits of Mainstreaming Migration into Development
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 framework
s
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 migra tion 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?
Sri Lanka has a large stock of migrants.
This stock comprises of both men and women.
Departures for Foreign Employment, by Gender (%), (1986-2011)
Source: Annual Statistics Handbook of Foreign Employment, 2011, SLBFE.
Majority of Sri Lankan migrant workers are young.
Departures for Foreign Employment by Age Group (2007-2011)
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 (1994-2010)
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.
Non p
aym
ent o
f agr
eed
wage
Lack
of c
omm
unicat
ion
Sick
ness
Haras
smen
t (Ph
ysica
l and
sex
ual)
Death
- nat
ural
deat
h -a
ccid
entia
l
deat
h- h
omicid
e
deat
h su
icid
e
not s
ent b
ack
afte
r com
plet
ion
of con
tract
Lack
of r
ecep
tion
on a
rriva
l
Prob
lem
at h
ome
(Sri
Lank
a)
Breac
h of
em
ploy
men
t con
tract
Stra
nded
with
out e
mpl
oym
ent
Prem
atur
e te
rmin
atio
n
Illeg
al m
oney
tran
sact
ion
Other
(Dom
estic
sec
tor)
Other
(non
dom
estic
sect
or)
Other
s
Tota
l 0
102030405060708090
100
male female Total
Nature of Complaints
% o
f com
pla
ints
Nature of Complaints, by Gender (%), 2011
Source: Annual Statistics Handbook of Foreign Employment, 2011, SLBFE.
Trends in Remittance Inflows (% of GDP)- 1990-2010
There are sizeable financial transfers from Sri Lankan migrants………..
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
%
of
GDP
Year
US
$
Mn
Remittances As a % of GDP
Source: Central Bank Annual Report, Various Issues.
Remittances Inflows to Sri Lanka by Region (2005-2011)
% of GDP 1991-1994
1995-1999 2000-2004
2005-2010
Domestic Savings
16.5 17.3 16 17.2
National Savings
20.5 21.4 21 22.6
Total Investment
19.9 25.4 23.7 27.1
Contribution of Remittances to National Savings
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka, various issues.
Domestic Demand for Carpenters/Masons
Shortages of Carpenters
12% increase in nominal wages
Labour Market Impacts
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka , Annual Report, 2011
Micro Level Impact….
Higher expenditure on food, non-food, education, health, durable goods, and housing
Return is lower
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
0
50
100
% of HHs receiving remittances Remittances as a % of Total HH income
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
National Migration Policy in Sri Lanka Signing of MOUs bilateral and agreements Welfare programmes for migrant workers Human Resource Development
Policies and proposals related to recruitment…….
Well-developed financial system
MFEPW introduced special debit cards for migrant workers
Bilateral agreements/MoUs
Policies related to remittances….
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
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