“Governance of Labour Migration in South and South-East Asia (GOALS)” is a Joint Regional Programme between the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the overall programme goal is that labour migration is safe, orderly and regular for all women and men from Colombo Process Member States through strengthened collaboration and effective migration governance.

The participating UN organisations (PUNOs), ILO, IOM and UN Women come together while partnering with other relevant stakeholders, including migrant workers and their representatives, civil society organisations, private sector including employers’ organisations, trade unions, recruitment agencies, and academia and policy think tanks to support the implementation of this regional project.

The programme is built on three inter-linked and inter-related outcomes –

Colombo Process Member States develop and progress actionable commitments for strengthened labour migration governance and policy coherence through multilateral dialogue;

Selected members states in South Asia have improved labour migration policies and practices, in particular on skills development and qualifications recognition, fostering fair and ethical recruitment, and sustainable reintegration; and

(3) The evidence base on labour migration is strengthened to inform knowledge, dialogue, policy making and action.

The programme incorporates key thematic priorities placing specific focus on improved skills recognition, fair and ethical recruitment and sustainable reintegration. The programme also ensures that all interventions identify and address the barriers facing gender-equitable labour migration not only at the regional level, but also for the improvement of the overall governance of labour migration at the national level.

Amish Karki

karkia@ilo.org