To help implement key recommendations of the Ministerial Consultations, some follow up activities have been initiated. These are aimed at the various stakeholders involved in labour migration management including governments, private sector stakeholders and migrants. The activities, developed under the framework of the Colombo Process, have been implemented through a programmatic approach in each member state, particularly in countries of origin. Activities undertaken so far include:

Specialized training programmes

To enhance national capacity in managing migration, specialized training programmes has been developed and implemented regionally. Apart from enhancing capacity at the national levels, these programmes have created linkages and networks among the various stakeholders in countries of origin.

The Trainings completed so far include:

• Labour Attaché Training Course, 18-20 December 2004, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Click for details.
• Labour Administrators Training Course, 1-4 March 2005, Bangkok, Thailand. Click for details.
• Administering an Overseas Employment Programme: The role of marketing and labour migration opportunities in EU member states, 17-20 July 2006, Islamabad, Pakistan. Click for details.
• Placing Workers in Asia and Europe: Fostering collaboration among employment agencies in Asia and Europe and ethical recruitment, 6-8 February 2007, Manila, Philippines. Click for details.
• Organizing the Association of Employment Agencies in Asia: Moving Forward to Action on Ethical Recruitment', Manila, Philippines, April 3-4, 2008. Click for details.

Better understanding and sharing of good practices

A number of research studies have been commissioned under the framework of the Colombo Process to enhance understanding of various migration issues specific to Asia. These have been designed to identify trends, issues and challenges faced by migrants; to examine policy responses in countries of origin; and to assess and identify best practices relating to the protection of migrant workers, support services and development benefits accrued. More recently, research has also focused on skills profiles in specific countries, their relevance in meeting foreign demand, and the quality of education and certification in those countries.
Click here to see reports and publications

Overseas employment market research units

To progress the Colombo Process recommendations, various activities have been undertaken to facilitate the establishment or enhancement of labour market research units at the national level. The units are labour market monitoring entities responsible for gathering and sharing information on projected labour migration requirements in major labour receiving countries in order to meet demand with matching skills. Other initiatives have generated regional networking among market research focal points.

Dialogue with Destination

The Colombo Process promotes and facilitates dialogue with destination countries of overseas workers with aims to enhance cooperation in the areas of workers protection and labour market access.

Since the Bali Ministerial (2005), destination countries have been invited to take part in the Colombo Process Ministerial Consultations as observers.

In addition, the following regional forums have been held:

• Abu Dhabi Dialogue, January 21-22 2008: Abu Dhabi, UAE (Colombo Process + GCC)
• Asia-EU Consultation Meeting on Labour Migration, 29-30 Apri, 2008: Brussels, Belgium (Colombo Process + EU/EC)

Migrant Resource Centres and information campaigns

The Colombo Process has supported the establishment of Migrant Resource Centres to improve migrants' access to information. The centres aim to provide migrants with direct assistance in terms of information and referral. To date, the setting up of the four centres has been initiated in coordination with selected governments. They will provide potential migrants with information about safe migration opportunities and procedures.

The centres will also raise public awareness about problems associated with irregular migration and the risks of recruitment-related abuse, complementing public information campaigns.

Facilitating migration to European Union

The need to expand labour migration opportunities and reduce irregular migration to the European Union has resulted in an initiative to develop pre-departure training packages for the main EU destination countries. Pilot initiatives have also been launched to place migrants from Asian countries of origin in EU countries. Efforts have also been made to improve collaboration between recruiting agencies in Asian countries of origin and employers in EU destination countries.