DataSense worked with the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE) and conducted a rapid assessment to understand the impact of COVID-19 on labour migration governance, recruitment practices, and migrant workers. A research paper has been developed identifying the key socio-economic challenges brought about by the pandemic on the various stakeholders involved in the labour migration process. The study recommended measures that need to be taken in the short, medium, and long term to address the impact of COVID 19 on migrant workers.
Project timeline:
Jan, 2021 – Mar, 2021
Partners:
International Labour Organization (ILO), Bangladesh
Project objective:
Conduct a rapid assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on labour migration governance, recruitment practices, and migrant workers.
This assessment aims to:
- Identify key socio-economic challenges faced by migrant workers, employers’ organizations, and recruitment practices due to the pandemic.
- Evaluate existing government policies in response to COVID-19’s impact on migrant workers.
- Pinpoint emerging needs and challenges for stakeholders and partners.
- Develop concrete recommendations for short, medium, and long-term measures to address the crisis and inform the reorientation of ILO activities related to labour migration.
Project outcome:
- Identified Socio-economic Challenges: A comprehensive understanding of the key socio-economic challenges brought about by the pandemic on labour migration governance, workers’ and employer’s organizations, migrant workers, and recruitment practices (e.g., working conditions, protection issues, job loss, challenges for returning migrants and their reintegration).
- Assessment of Government Policies: A clear evaluation of policies implemented by governments to address COVID-19 impacts on migrant workers, including their alignment with existing policy frameworks.
- Mapping of Stakeholder Needs and Challenges: A documented understanding of the key emerging needs and challenges faced by relevant stakeholders and partners (e.g., government authorities, workers’ and employers’ organizations, private recruitment agencies, migrant workers).
- Documented Migrant Worker Experiences: Insights into migrant workers’ access to healthcare and protection measures, impacts on recruitment trends and practices, effects on prospective migrants (especially those who incurred costs), and the ability to send and receive remittances.
- Analysis of Returnee Aspirations and National Capacities: Documentation of the return process for migrant workers, their future aspirations, and the capacity of national economies and labor markets to absorb returnees.
- Identified Recruitment Industry Impact: An understanding of the impact of the pandemic on the recruitment industry, particularly their ability to facilitate overseas job placements.
- Mapped Policy and Programmatic Responses: Compilation of examples of policy and programmatic responses implemented to safeguard migrant workers’ rights, protect their income, and ensure safety precautions.
- Documented Promising Practices: Identification of initiatives by Private Recruitment Agencies (PRAs) to adapt their business models and documentation of promising practices.
- Practical Recommendations for Action: A set of practical recommendations to address the identified needs and challenges, aligned with ILO standards and emerging global practices.
- Identified Areas for ILO Intervention: Specific areas for ILO Development Cooperation project action or re-orientation of ongoing activities are identified.
- Rapid Assessment Tool and Questionnaire Developed: A modular rapid assessment tool and questionnaire are developed for use by ILO staff, external collaborators, and partners to collect data.
- Desk Review and Primary Data Collection Conducted: The rapid assessment is conducted through a desk review of available literature and primary data collection via interviews and surveys.
Impact:
- Improved Crisis Management Mechanisms: Countries of origin and destination develop more effective mechanisms to deal with ongoing crises related to labour migration.
- Enhanced Protection of Migrant Workers’ Rights: Policy responses are implemented that better support the protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families.
- Targeted ILO Support: ILO and its partners are able to develop appropriate guidance for national stakeholders and effectively reorient their support to address the new realities of labour migration in a post-COVID-19 context.
- Informed Policy Development: Findings from the assessment inform the development of more effective and responsive labour migration policies and legislations.
- Strengthened Stakeholder Capacities: Increased capacity of constituents (governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations) to address labour migration governance and recruitment-related challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.
- Reduced Vulnerabilities of Migrant Workers: Monitoring and targeted interventions lead to a reduction in the specific vulnerabilities of migrant workers, safeguarding their rights and well-being.
- Support for Labor Market Needs: Monitoring efforts help to support meeting labor market needs in both the short and longer term by understanding demand shifts for migrant workers.
- More Ethical and Fair Recruitment Practices: The assessment contributes to ensuring that worker mobility, when it occurs, is organized in a way that respects the rights of all involved, taking into account the legitimate needs of employers and recruiters.