Working Group on Pre-Departure Orientation and Empowerment concludes

The Colombo Process’s (CP) Thematic Area Working Group (TAWG) on Pre-Departure Orientation and Empowerment concluded its 6th meeting on 17th August 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting highlighted the critical importance of collaborative efforts in promoting pre-departure orientation and empowerment as key drivers for ensuring decent work and safe migration across South, East, and Southeast Asia.

The Colombo Process is a twelve-country regional consultative process supporting its member countries to manage labour migration in a safe, orderly, and dignified way for the benefit of individual migrants, their families and wider society, allowing collaboration, knowledge exchange and the development of new policies and practices for implementation at the national level.

The hybrid meeting brought together representatives from CP Member States, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The gathering also included participants from civil society organizations, trade unions, the private sector, and UN agencies.

The discussions centered on the need for policy development and implementation to address the vulnerabilities faced by female and male migrant workers. The Republic of the Philippines chaired the meeting with the support of the Colombo Process Technical Support Unit (CPTSU).

“IOM’s Colombo Process Technical Support Unit is grateful to the Member States for coming together to share best practices and to highlight the progress made in ensuring good pre departure orientation for aspiring migrant workers and in taking steps to increase the empowerment of migrant workers and their families.” Shared Andrew Gray, the Deputy Chief of Mission of IOM Sri Lanka and Maldives.

During the 6th PDOE TAWG meeting, Member States provided updates on their national progress and deliberated on advancements made in alignment with the four-year work plan developed through discussions during the 5th PDOE TAWG meeting held in Manila in March 2023. They also discussed research gaps and priorities on labour migration.

In her closing remarks, Sarah Arriola, IOM Regional Director for Asia, and the Pacific, stated, “This event has served as a platform for us to enhance regional cooperation and partnerships. I commend the commitment of Colombo Process Member States, non-state actors, and other development partners in addressing the challenges and potential risks associated with migration collaboratively. IOM stands ready to continue supporting the achievement of the milestones set in this agenda through strengthened coordination, information sharing, and policy dialogue.”

The event also featured a strategic discussion regarding the future direction of TAWGs. The TAWG meeting garnered participation from over 40 attendees, representing Colombo Process Member States, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), partnering UN Agencies including ILO and UN Women, IOM CREST, the private sector, and regional and local observers from Migrant Forum Asia, as well as the South Asia Centre for Labour Mobility and Migrants.