What is Colombo Process ? About Colombo Process :

Why in News?  India has become chair of the Colombo Process for the first time since its inception in 2003.

• The Colombo Process is a regional forum for Asian countries that send migrant workers abroad. It provides a platform for these countries to:
• Share experiences and best practices on managing overseas employment and contractual labor.
• Discuss issues faced by migrant workers and both sending and receiving countries.
• Develop solutions to improve the well-being of migrant workers, especially vulnerable ones.

About the Colombo Process:

• India has been a member of the Colombo Process since its inception in 2003.

Membership:

• The Colombo Process comprises 12 member states from Asia, all considered origin countries for migrant workers. These include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 Functioning:

• The Colombo Process is a non-binding consultative process, meaning there are no enforced rules or regulations. Decisions are made through consensus among member states.
• The International Organization for Migration (IOM) acts as the Secretariat of the Colombo Process, providing logistical and technical support.
• Ministerial Consultations are the key decision-making events, where member states’ ministers discuss and adopt recommendations and action plans.
• Senior Officials Meetings are held between Ministerial Consultations to prepare for them and ensure recommendations are finalized for adoption.

Thematic Focus:

• Skills and Qualification Recognition Processes: Ensuring migrant workers’ qualifications are recognized in destination countries.
• Fostering Ethical Recruitment Practices: Protecting migrant workers from exploitation during the recruitment process.
• Pre-departure Orientation and Empowerment: Equipping migrant workers with knowledge and skills before they go abroad.
• Promoting Cheaper, Faster, and Safer Transfer of Remittances: Making it easier and cheaper for migrant workers to send money back home.
• Labor Market Analysis: Understanding labor market trends in destination countries to better prepare migrant workers.

Other key facts:

• The Colombo Process also integrates four cross-cutting themes into its work: gender equality, social protection, good governance, and data collection and utilization.
• Since its inception in 2003, the Colombo Process has expanded to include observer states, primarily destination countries for migrant workers in the Gulf region.
• The Colombo Process plays a significant role in advocating for the well-being of migrant workers from Asian countries. It provides a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing to ensure migrant workers are protected and empowered.