Growing Together: Economic Integration for an Inclusive and - escap

In order to regularize migration flows, and
maximize the benefits of labour migration
for source and destination countries, a
number of countries have concluded bilateral
agreements, usually in the form of
memoranda of understanding, which are
more effective for the management of labour
migration flows than national actions taken
unilaterally by sending or receiving countries.
They vary significantly in content, and can
cover recruitment, conditions of employment
and measures to protect migrants. Key
destination locations in Asia, such as Malaysia,
the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong,
China, Macao, China and Taiwan Province
of China, have concluded memoranda of
understanding with selected countries of
origin in South-East and South Asia.
The most extensive arrangements are between
the Republic of Korea and 15 Asian
countries of origin, namely Bangladesh,
Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan,
Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste,
Uzbekistan and Viet Nam, based on the
Employment Permit System (EPS). Initiated
in 2004, the programme establishes quotas
of foreign workers per industry and also
oversees pre-departure training of the foreign
workers, including language training. Under
the scheme, the maximum stay is three years,
after which migrants have to return and
remain in their country of origin for one year
before being eligible to re-apply. Moreover,
the programme encourages voluntary return
and encourages a network of returnees,
which again would strengthen the links with
the Republic of Korea.
Thailand has signed memoranda of understanding
with Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic
Republic and Myanmar on guidelines and
procedures for employment protection and
return of workers, but the majority of migrants
still continue to migrate through irregular
channels which are easier and cheaper. Thailand
also has a memorandum of understanding with
Taiwan Province of China, but in this case for its
own migrant workers.
Some subregions already have visa-free
regimes, though these do not always include
the right to work. In this respect, several
subregions such as Central Asia or ASEAN
are relatively well integrated. South Asian
countries, on the other hand, are relatively
poorly integrated among themselves and
with the rest of Asia.
North and Central Asia – A mutual interest
among the CIS countries has led to an
agreement on cooperation in labour migration
and on social guarantees for migrant workers
(1994), the agreement between the CIS
countries on cooperation in preventing
irregular migration (1998) and the EurAsEc
Agreement in visa-free trips (2005). There
are also a number of bilateral agreements on
labour migration, such as between the Russian
Federation and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. 21
The Russian Federation allows visa-free entry
to migrant workers, while Kazakhstan allows
migrants from CIS countries 90 days to search
for work. 22
ASEAN – ASEAN foresees a free flow of skilled
labour by 2020 and is working to facilitate
the issue of visas and employment passes for
ASEAN professionals and skilled labour. As a
first step, the Association has signed mutual
recognition agreements for nurses, dental
and medical practitioners, engineering and
architectural services, surveying professionals
and accountancy services. However, these
agreements do not extend to low-skilled
workers. In addition, there is the ASEAN
Declaration on the Protection and Promotion
of the Rights of Migrant Workers. Signed in
January 2007, the Declaration acknowledges
the “need to adopt appropriate and comprehensive
migration policies on migrant workers”
and “to address cases of abuse and
violence”.
Pacific – As a result of their historic ties to
Australia, New Zealand or the United States
of America, traditionally it has been easier
for migrants from several Polynesian and
Micronesian economies to access those
countries than for migrants from Melanesia. 23
Australia and New Zealand have recently
started opening up to seasonal agricultural
labour from several Pacific countries through
the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme
(Australia) and the Recognized Seasonal
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