NEWS – India Assumes Chair of Colombo Process for 2024-26

HIGHLIGHTS

Colombo Process

• Definition: A regional consultative forum for managing overseas employment and contractual labor
• Purpose: Provides a platform for the exchange of best practices on overseas employment

Membership

• Total Members: 12 member states of Asia
• Member Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
• India’s Membership: Since inception in 2003

Objectives

• Experience Sharing: Share experiences, lessons learned, and best practices in labor migration management
• Consultations: Address issues faced by migrants and propose practical solutions for their well-being
• Development Benefits: Optimize benefits from organized overseas employment and enhance dialogue with destination countries
• Implementation Monitoring: Review and monitor the implementation of recommendations and identify further steps of action

Governance and Coordination

• Decision-Making: Non-binding, consensus-based
• Coordination: Through the Permanent Missions of Member States at the United Nations in Geneva
• Ministerial Consultations: Recommendations and action plans discussed and adopted by Ministers
• Technical Support: Provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), serving as Secretariat

Thematic Area Working Groups (TAWGs)

1. Skills and Qualification Recognition – Chair: Sri Lanka
2. Fostering Ethical Recruitment – Chair: Bangladesh
3. Pre-Departure Orientation and Empowerment – Chair: Philippines
4. Remittances – Chair: Pakistan
5. Labour Market Analysis – Chair: Thailand