Regional Model on

Inclusive and
Sustainable
Reintegration for
South Asian Migrant
Workers

© International Organization for Migration 2021.

© International Organization for Migration 2021.

Context of Labour
Migration in South Asia

Migration has been recognized as a core element

in achieving the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable To systematically,
Development Goals (SDG). A prominent livelihood
strategy for social mobility and poverty alleviation.
strategically, and
sustainably
Globally, the South Asian region has the highest support returnee
proportion of migrant workers with about 43 labour migrants
Million people living outside their Country of Origin
(CoO). Among these, 36.8% of the migrants are reintegrate within
women. the country of
origin, it is
South Asia receives over 20 percent of the essential to have
global remittances highlighting the significant
contribution of migrants to the economy of the an inclusive and
CoO. Migrants play an instrumental role in sustainable
improving household consumption,
macroeconomic stability and growth. reintegration
framework
Despite their contribution to the economies of the adopting a gender-
host countries as well as the country of origin, responsive, whole
migrants are subjected to increased vulnerability
such as exploitation and abuse by employers, of government and
recruitment agents, and localities. Women whole of society
migrants are at higher risk of experiencing gender-
based violence and harassment. This might lead
approach.
several migrant workers to return and reintegrate.
 The regional reintegration model provides
guidelines to address gendered social,
psychosocial, and economic challenges
of returning migrant workers. It must be
contextualized to the specific needs and
socio-cultural norms of five South Asian
Colombo Process Member countries:
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and
Sri Lanka.
The model considers the skills and the
strengths of the migrant workers and links
them with opportunities in open markets in
CoO, while ensuring key psychosocial
stressors are alleviated.
The model is structured around the
migrant life cycle (MLC); and measures are
proposed across three levels of
implementation: individual, community and
structural:

Value- addition of a Regional Reintegration Model

Improved cross-border migration management through policy coherence and

collaboration between regional and national level

Regional oversight and endorsement for policy dialogue on migrant friendly

movement

Improved knowledge sharing and targeting to support gender-responsive and

migrant inclusive policy and programming.

Gender responsive skills and experience mapping that supports returnee migrants
and employers in identifying relevant opportunities and candidates
 Key Needs of Migrants across the
Migrant Life Cycle
Key challenges
• Inaccurate information about rights and
services, work requirements, culture at the
CoD, and from CoO
Pre-departure
• Lack of peer social networks
(Aspirant) migrant decides
movement to CoD • Lodging and healthcare support at CoD
• Limited access to skill recognition and
work experience certification services in
CoD
• Absence of financial support for safe and
dignified return
• Increased risk of GBV/ IPV/
Pre-Return
discrimination/ human rights abuse;
Migrant in CoD and plans
to returns to CoO Absence of adequate psychosocial services
• Absence of social networks upon return from
CoD
• Negative social norms and traditional roles
for women resulting in low family support
• Limited access to skill recognition and work
experience certification services
Post-return
• Absence of collateral-free loans or other
Sustainable reintegration
within CoO financial support
• Limited access to justice, social security, and
psychosocial rehabilitation centres
Returnees make informed choices ||Returnees access essential services|| Returnees
lead safe and dignified lives
Men and women returning migrant workers face unique gendered challenges when reintegrating into their communities. A gender-
responsive approach has to be applied when developing and implementing reintegration to and address gender-specific challenges in a
targeted manner.
What will aid the Migrant in the
Journey?
• Pre-departure orientation sessions to
ease integration in CoD
• Support to access travel and work
documentation
• Connectivity with peer network and
migrant associations in CoD
• Transit support: Credible
information, connectivity with
organizations supporting migrants in
need
• Psychosocial rehabilitation support
and legal referrals for migrants in
need
• Documentation support: Application,
collection
• Market and transfer
linkages, skill assessment and
recognition, and employment support
• Linkages with social security
programmes and schemes
• Case management and regular
monitoring of reintegration status
Reintegration assistance should be made available to
returning migrant workers, their families and communities
• Psychosocial rehabilitation support and
legal referrals for migrants in need and
their families
• Programmes for community reintegration
 Key Considerations for Sustainable and Inclusive Reintegration
Need analysis vis-à-vis the stages of
the MLC
(i) Pre-departure (PD): wherein an aspirant individual
plans and prepares to migrate for work
(ii) Pre-return (PR): wherein a migrant worker either
plans to or has been asked to return to their country
of origin, and
(iii) Post-return (PoR): wherein the migrant worker has
returned to and is reintegrating within their country Migrant Life
Streamlined gender-
of origin cycle
responsive reintegration
service categories
(i) Economic reintegration support:
Needs of Assistance that allows returnee
the migrants to re-enter the labour
returnee market, and achieve sustainable
Service
Implementation livelihoods
Categories
Text
level (ii) Social reintegration support:
Assistance that supports returnee
migrant’s access to public services
and infrastructure
(iii) Psychosocial reintegration support:
Assistance that supports networks,
re-engaging with civil society
structures and the culture of the
Focus on levels of implementation country of origin

(i) Structural: Interventions that support governance and creation of a conducive

environment for migration and return through gender-responsive policymaking and
engagement with local and national authorities
(ii) Community: Interventions that are delivered through the community and has the
capacity to build community networks and address tensions between returnees and
local communities
(iii) Individual: Interventions that are tailored to individual reintegration needs based on
migration experiences, capacities, and vulnerability factors, and is delivered directly
to the individual returnees and their families

Needs of the returning migrant workers are underpinned as the core guiding principle
 Key enablers proposed in the model
Communication and
coordination

Private sector
partnership

One-stop service
delivery Monitoring and
Evaluation

Private sector Communication and One-stop service Monitoring and

partnership coordination delivery Evaluation

Evidence based
planning

Tech-enabled
solutions

Community involvement
in service provision

Evidence based Tech-enabled Community involvement

planning solutions in service provision

Key outcomes of the model

Across the Migration Life Cycle

Labour Market
Economic and

Returning migrant workers are able to leverage their knowledge, skills, and
experience towards establishing economic self-sufficiency at their country of
origin
Intervention categories

Social

Returning migrant workers are able to achieve a safe and dignified through
access to essential services, safety and protection
Psychosocial

Returning migrant workers are successfully rehabilitated mentally and

socially within their family and community networks

Key Implementation levels

Interventions targeted to Extending support through Governance and system level

individuals and his/ her family community-based interventions interventions
 Gender-
responsive
Recognise specific challenges faced by women
and men migrant workers when reintegrating into
their communities

programmin
g to ensure
Involve women returning migrant workers in
decision-making processes related to
reintegration in order to ensure that policies and
inclusive
programmes respond to their needs
reintegration
Include measures to prevent and address
gender-based violence and discrimination (in
reintegration interventions) and ensure adequate
support services and protections to address
these matters

Ensure access to gender-sensitive essential

services including health care, social services,
access to justice, economic support. Women
returning migrant workers may require access to
reproductive health services or childcare
support to reintegrate successfully

Enhance coordination and build capacity of

stakeholders across levels to provide gender-
sensitive services and support, including training
on gender issues and support for the
development of gender-responsive policies and
programmes
 Next steps
towards Collect and analyse data on country specific
migration and return trends
building
national Evaluate existing policies and develop new

reintegration ones to facilitate a migration positive

ecosystem in the country

plans
Assess existing capacity of the State vis-à-
vis anticipated interventions, and identify
avenues for resource augmentation

Develop an Action Plan adapting from the

Regional Model by identifying a menu of
measures the state aims to provide

Identify relevant stakeholders for

implementation through a whole of society
approach and develop adequate service
networks

Support implementation of services through

adequate and consistent technical support
and funding

Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation of

services and their impact on reintegration

The Model aims to provide a guiding framework to policymakers and practitioners involved in
reintegration assistance provision. The framework should be contextualised to the needs of individual
countries.
The Governance of Labour
Migration in South and South-East
Asia (GOALS) Programme aims to
ensure that labour migration is safe,
orderly and regular for all women and
men from the Columbo Process
Member States through strengthened
collaboration and effective labour
migration governance.

Supported by the Swiss Agency for

Development and Cooperation
(SDC), GOALS is a Joint Regional
Programme running from August
2020 to January 2024 implemented
by International Organisation for
Migration (IOM), International Labour
Organisation (ILO), and The United
Nations Entity for Gender Equality
and the Empowerment of Women
(UN Women)

© UN Women 2021.
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details:
Request UN Women and IOM to add
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media links

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