Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Government of Pakistan Islamabad Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report i Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report ii Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report Foreword We are delighted with the publication of the first national report on the status of labour migration from Pakistan. The surge in migration for foreign employment has brought profound changes in the socio-economic fabric of the country. Although the labour migration phenomenon has emerged as an alternative livelihood opportunity for many Pakistani households, it poses new challenges for the Government and policy-makers in managing safe migratory flows to destination countries. A strength- ening of the migration governance system is needed in the current context and that requires reliable and easily accessible data that informs the present situation and provides a basis for future interven- tions. The singing of Pakistan’s third Decent Work Country Program 2016-2020 by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, the Employers Federation of Pakistan, the Pakistan Workers Federation and the ILO in May 2016 reiterates our joint commitment to protect the rights of migrant workers and build effective institutions. This report captures trends in labour migration from Pakistan, identifies the structural gaps and sug- gests ways to move forward for the Government and stakeholders. Although various government agen- cies have maintained and published data on numerous aspects of labour migration, no one source had assembled all the pieces into one report. This report fills that gap and goes beyond to highlight the achievements of the Government as well as remaining challenges. It presents a guide for policy-makers, international agencies, local NGOs, academics, journalists and any other actors to use when investigat- ing and addressing labour migration issues, particularly when ensuring that the rights of migrants are protected at all stages of the migration cycle. This report is the outcome of a long and trusting partnership between the Ministry of Overseas Paki- stanisand Human Resource Development and the International Labour Organization. The staff of PPU and ILO have worked tirelessly to give birth to this report. We hope this report will be the first in a series of yearly reports and that all stakeholders will continue to cooperate to promote safe migration. Ingrid Christensen Khizer Hayat Khan Director Secretary ILO Country Office for Pakistan Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development iii Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report Contents Foreword iii Acknowledgements viii Abbreviations ix 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Report objectives 2 1.3 Methodology 2 1.3.1 Consultation process with informants 3 1.3.2 Capacity-building workshop 3 2. Magnitude and patterns of overseas migration from Pakistan 5 2.1 Magnitude of overseas migration 5 2.2 Origin of migrant workers 7 2.3 Destination countries 11 2.4. Skill composition of migrant workers 15 2.5 Mode of migration 17 2.6 Private overseas employment promoters 19 2.7 Irregular migration 21 2.8 Reports of deceased migrant workers 23 2.9 Female migrant workers 24 2.10 Future projection of migration 27 2.11 Cost of migration for low-skilled workers 30 3. Remittances 35 4. Institutional arrangements to promote migration 39 4.1. Institutional framework 39 4.1.1 Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment 40 4.1.2 Overseas Pakistanis Foundation 40 4.2 The recruitment process 41 4.3 Grievances and redress 43 4.3.1 Community welfare attachés 43 4.3.2 Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan 43 4.3.3 Overseas Pakistanis Foundation 43 5. Achievements, challenges and ways forward 45 5.1 Major achievements 45 5.2 Challenges and ways forward 47 5.2.1 Migration statistics 47 5.2.2 Institutional framework 48 References 51 Appendix 53 v Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report TABLES Table 1. Top 20 origin districts in Pakistan of workers going abroad for jobs, 2014 and 2015 10 Table 2. Distribution (%) of Pakistani workers, by country of destination, 1971–2015* 12 Table 3. Top country destinations, by number and share of total migration flow, 1971–2015 14 Table 4. Overseas employment promoters, by city, 2015 19 Table 5. Pakistanis deported, by deporting country, 2012–15 22 Table 6. Irregular migrant workers, since 2005 23 Table 7. Number of deaths of migrant workers in destination countries, 2005–15* 24 Table 8. Major destination countries of Pakistani women migrant workers, 2008–13 25 Table 9. Number of Pakistani women migrant workers, by job, 2008–13 26 Table 10. GDP growth rates and migration stock and migration elasticity, 2005–14 28 Table 11. Projected annual growth (%) and total Pakistan migrant workers stock, in GCC countries and Malaysia, 2014–20 29 Table 12. Migration cost estimates, by component, 2014 31 Table 13. Official charges (in PKR) for overseas migration, by recruitment channel, 2015 32 Table 14. Annual inflows of remittances to Pakistan, 2013/14 and 2014/15 35 Table 15. Pakistan’s ranking in migration and remittance flows, 2015 37 Table 16. Key points of the 1979 Emigration Ordinance 40 Table 17. Protector of Emigrants Offices and their area (districts) of jurisdiction 40 FIGURES Figure 1. Magnitude of migration, 2005–15 6 Figure 2. Growth rate in overseas migration and GDP growth rate of Pakistan, 2001–14 7 Figure 3. Distribution of migrant workers across provinces and regions, 1981–2015 9 Figure 4. Share (%) of provinces or regions in the total population and overseas migration flow, 1981–2015 9 Figure 5. Skill composition of workers who went overseas for employment, 2015 15 Figure 6. Skill composition (%) of migrant workers going abroad for employment, by decade, 1971–2015 16 Figure 7. Top categories of migrant workers going abroad for employment, by job, 2005–15 17 Figure 8. Distribution (%) of Pakistani workers going abroad for employment, by mode of recruitment, 1971–2015 18 Figure 9. Migrant workers going abroad for employment, by mode of recruitment, 1981–2015 18 Figure 10. Overseas employment agency licenses issued, by year, 2005–15 19 vi Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report Figure 11. Number of overseas employment agency licenses cancelled, 2011–16 20 Figure 12. Total number of Pakistanis deported per year, 2007–15 21 Figure 13. Number of female workers going abroad through the Overseas Employment Corporation, January 2004–September 2015 26 Figure 14: Projected migrant workers for 2020 in GCC countries and Malaysia (millions), based on actual migrant workers since 1970 30 Figure 15. Remittances inflow, 1992/93 to 2014/15 36 MAPS Map 1. Distribution of foreign migrant workers’ homes at the provincial and region levels,1981–2015 8 Map 2. Distribution of foreign migrant workers’ homes in Pakistan at the district level, 1981–2015 11 APPENDIX TABLES Table A1. Workers registered for overseas employment by the BEOE, by province, 1981–2015 53 Table A2. Workers registered for overseas employment by the BEOE, by district, 1981–2015 54 Table A3. Workers registered for overseas employment by the BEOE, by province or protectorate, 1981–2015 58 Table A4. Skill level among migrant workers, 1971–2015 59 Table A5. Workers registered for overseas employment by the BEOE, by country of destination, 1971–2015 60 Table A6. Number of persons processed for foreign employment by the Overseas Employment Corporation, 1976–2016 62 Table A7. Number of persons sent abroad for employment through the Overseas Employment Corporation, by sex, 2004–15 64 Table A8. Number of female workers sent abroad for employment through Overseas Employment Corporation, January 2004–September 2015 64 Table A9. Number of overseas employment agency licences cancelled 65 Table A10. Number of irregular migrant workers deported back to Pakistan, 2005/06–2014/15 66 Table A11. Number of deaths of migrant workers in destination countries, 2005/06–2014/15 66 Table A12. Number of migrant workers stranded, deported or detained in jail and monitoring visits 67 vii Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report Acknowledgements This report was commissioned by the International Labour Organization. I am particularly thankful to Anna Engblom, Chief Technical Adviser, and Sadia Hameed, National Programme Officer of the South Asia Labour Migration Governance project for their support at every stage of the study. I am also thankful to the Policy Planning Unit team, especially Unit Chief Fayyaz Malik, for their valuable inputs. I extend deep gratitude to all of them. I also acknowledge the contribution of all institutions cited, especially the Overseas Employment Corporation and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, and individuals who were kind enough to help us during the collection of data and information. I thank Muhammad Javid for his continuous support in data collection and organizing the capacity-building workshop. Nasir Iqbal Director Research Benazir Income Support Programme viii Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report Abbreviations BEOE Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment GCC Gulf Cooperation Council GDP gross domestic product ILO International Labour Organization KNOMAD Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development OEC Overseas Employment Corporation UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ix Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report x Labour migration from Pakistan: 2015 status report 1. Introduction 1.1 Background The world faces immense challenges of sustainable development. Billions of people continue to live in poverty and are deprived of a life of dignity. Unemployment, particularly youth un- employment, is a major concern. Like other developing countries, Pakistan is confronted with problems of massive poverty and unemployment due to a rapid increase in its population and labour force. With such a huge working-age population in Pakistan, an increasing number of workers have moved to other countries for employment; after India, Pakistan annually sends abroad the sec- ond-largest grouping of workers in South Asia, mainly to the Gulf region.