A panel discussion on the Objective 18 of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), ‘Invest in Skills Development and Facilitate Mutual Recognition of Skills, Qualifications, and Competences’, was jointly organized by Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT), Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), Cross-Regional Center for Refugees and Migrants (CCRM), and Civil Society Action Committee (CSAC), on 26th January 2021.
The moderator, Mr. William Gois, Regional Coordinator, Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), initiated the conversation by highlighting the need of equipping individuals with skills in the current era. He also raised the question: “Will acquiring skills solve all the problems of migrants and migration?” If we make skills a larger phenomenon in migration discourse, then we also need to deconstruct who will be benefited, Mr. Gois pointed out.
Need to Create Awareness Regarding Skills Training
Ms. Roni Pradhan Dhaubhadel, Coordinator for SaMi project, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, Nepal, framing a point of view from the perspectives of Nepali labor migration, stated that Nepal is the labour sending country and is known for its low skill laborers. However, potential migrants of Nepal are not interested in skills training as they feel investing time and energy in it, is not worth it. They believe in earning more money by migrating as soon as possible and hence refrain from skills training programs.
“So, the discourse of migration and skills training needs to be taken at ground level to sensitize them (migrant workers) and create awareness. The skills training program gives migrant worker negotiation powers”: Ms. Roni Pradhan Dhaubhadel
Necessity of Mutual Cooperation
Mr. L.K. Ruhunage, Former Additional General Manager, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), highlighted the importance of bilateral agreements, Memorandum of Understandings, and regional processes in enabling cooperation between countries to ensure compatible and efficient skills development amongst migrant workers. “These instruments are considered as key sources of developing mutual interest and cooperation in skills development and skills recognition of migrant workers from sending and receiving countries,” Mr. Ruhunage pointed out. According to him, the certification has become important as many countries, before hiring, ask whether they are certified workers or not, for instance, as in the case of domestic workers. Migrant workers are often categorized as non-trained, low skills and trained workers, with trained workers being in a better bargaining position than others.
Mr. Ruhunage, referring to a 2015 survey in Africa and Europe by International Labour Organization (ILO), highlighted that out of over 151 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Bilateral Agreements (BLAs) signed between countries, very few looked into skills certification. In the case of Asia, Mr. Ruhunage found 1660 MOUs and BLAs out of which only 7 had provisions on skills development and recognition.
“It is a rare condition when welfare and the protection aspects related to migrant workers are considered in MOUs. One among them is an MOU between Sri Lanka and Italy which provides (Skills) training. This was a joint collaboration in which they authorized centers and appointed trainers. Another one is Korean BLAs”: Mr. L.K. Ruhunage.
Mr. Ruhunage concluded by ascertaining the need of incorporating skills training of migrant workers in the bilateral agreements forged between states.
Skills Certification Provides Negotiation Powers
Ms. Raquel Bracero, President, Board of Directors, Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) said, “We at PASEI ensure that workers are highly paid. For that, we prefer to invest in skills training.” She underscored the necessity of skills development in facilitating overseas recruitment of workers. Ms. Bracero further stated that they have coordinated with the government through collaboration with the Technical Educational and Skill Development Authority (TESDA) in training potential migrants.
“Currently we are in the process of forging a memorandum of agreement wherein the purpose is to help our workers get highly paid for their updated skills”, she stated, adding that they are also framing modules in collaboration with the host countries, such as Care Industry modules with Austria and Farming, Poultry modules with Poland. Furthermore, they are focusing on the reintegration of repatriated workers, as during the pandemic over 400 people came back. The organization is also active in recommending policies to the government.
“We are pitching for the highest salary that employers can give, and for that, we look into minimum wages of the host country and accordingly negotiate the salary. This at least provides equal rights in terms of income”: Ms. Raquel Bracero.
Ms. Maria Susan P. Dela Rama, Executive Director, Certification Office, TESDA, agreeing with Ms. Bracero, shed light on the importance of imparting technical education to medium level workers, which can improve their job prospects manifold. She highlighted various measures taken by the TESDA to provide technical education to middle-level manpower in the Philippines, including the implementation of quality assured competency-based framework of skills training. Also, the provision of assessment programs and scholarship programs, both for overseas and within the home country, is enabled to benefit migrant workers.
Progressive Learning Key to Better Work Opportunities
Mr. Salar Khan, Researcher in Progressive Education, Qatar Foundation, elaborated on the notion of skills certification from the progressive education perspective. He also traced why migrants cannot sustain themselves back at home after working decades at foreign lands, and detailed four areas that can help migrant workers to sustain themselves back home or in the host country.
First is ‘Life Long Learning’ which includes specific skills as well as financial literacy. Financial literacy will help them make better decisions and avoid migration back and forth. The second is access to ICT education. A developed country such as Qatar does not yet have room for ICT skills. However, organizations such as ‘Reach Out to Asia’ have better connection programs where they use the ‘Train the Trainer Model’ to teach or train the workers acquiring ICT skills. The next is ‘Literacy and Numeracy’; it will help migrants to grab better opportunities. The last is ‘How to identify legal knowledge as a skill’. This refers to the importance of legal knowledge and up to what extent migrants should know legalities so as to not get exploited at the hands of their employers.
Mr. Salar Khan, citing an example, elaborated how the government can create better opportunities and reintegrate migrant workers through skills programs. “The implementation of certain programs by the government has better value than private sectors,” Mr. Khan stated.
An example of this is the ‘Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy’ which is in charge of organizing the FIFAWorld Cup 2022. Through their skill development programs, they are empowering workers working on constructing the stadium. This is done with the intention that after the completion of their work at the stadium, the workers can proceed further with an additional set of skills at their disposal, which might help them to secure a job.
Mr. William Gois concluded the session by pointing out the need for cooperation between the host country and the origin country of migrant workers in securing skills development. The host country needs to recognize that these skills coming into their market are contributing to the development of the country, and hence facilitate the transaction of skills amongst migrant workers. For the source country, this shall be a great way to empower and monetize its demography as well. The discourse of skills training and recognition must be driven by concepts of partnership, cooperation, and interdependence. One needs to understand that skill certification is not merely a point of entry to a destination country. It is more than that since skills traverse the whole landscape of the migrant worker’s existence as a lifelong asset.
Snehal is a Pune based journalist doing her little and loves to read books, finds her peace in food. Her areas of interest are gender studies, international migration, and social issues. She wants to be a pantomath who loves to explore and travel the world. She loves to express herself in the form of creative writing and digital art.