THEMATIC RESEARCH ON MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL PROTECTION AND RIGHTS ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE CHANGE WORK AND DISASTER WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT AND SKILL MISMATCH FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL COSTS THEMATIC RESEARCH ON MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT Prepared By: Human Development Research Centre (HDRC) Commissioned By: International Organization for Migration (IOM) This publication has been produced under IOM-UNDP Global Joint Programme on ‘Mainstreaming Migration into National Development Strategies’, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The opinions and recommendations expressed in the report are those of the authors and persons interviewed during the course of the research and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM or the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. This report has been prepared by the Human Development Research Centre (HDRC) for the global programme on “Mainstreaming Migration into National Development Strategies”, supported by SDC. The contents of this publication can in no way be taken to reflect the views of IOM or SDC. Publisher: International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladesh House # 13A, Road # 136, Gulshan – 1, Dhaka 1212 Tel: +880-2-55044811 to 13 Fax: +880-2-55044818, +880-2-55044819 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.iom.org.bd © 2017 International Organization for Migration (IOM). Photo Credit: International Organization for Migration (IOM). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Design and Print: PATHWAY/www.pathway.com.bd Message For centuries, migration has had a transformative impact on the lives of the people; affecting their well- being, socioeconomic conditions and overall development. According to the UN, the number of international migrants worldwide has continued to rise over the past, reaching 244 million in 2015 from 222 million in 2010. There has been a growing recognition of migration as an enabler of development in global policy frameworks like the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). Bangladesh has also advanced in strengthening migration governance through the formulation of the Seventh Five Year Plan, Overseas Employment and Migrants Act 2013, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Policy, 2016 and the National Skills Development Policy 2011. While the development advances as a result of migration cannot be refuted, it is also a fact that structural factors driving migration like poverty, demographic imbalances, skills shortages and climate change will persist, which on the other hand needs to be addressed through strengthening migration governance. To strengthen the governance of labour mobility, it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of the drivers and dynamics of migration. In that light, four thematic researches on Financial and Social Costs of Migration; Work, Workplace, and Skills Mismatch; Social Protection and Rights; and Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management have been conducted through the IOM-UNDP Global Programme on Mainstreaming Migration into National Development Strategies, supported by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). As the Co-Chair of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs), I believe that the studies will provide robust knowledge and empirical evidence for designing appropriate strategies to mainstream migration into sectoral planning. I thank the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladesh for initiating this research and working in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh to take forward the agenda of mainstreaming migration. I express my heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated efforts of the research team at the Human Development Research Centre (HDRC) who have completed this research under the guidance of Prof Abul Barkat. It was encouraging to see the active participation of a wide range of experts in various consultations which has further enriched the studies. I believe this research would contribute to translating the nexus between migration and development into concrete policy measures designed to maximize the positive effects of migration for development and minimize potential negative consequences. Azharul Huq Additional Secretary Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Government of Bangladesh Message The rapidly evolving world today has led to a transformative change to the development sector. Human mobility is playing a significant role in shaping the lives of individuals and their families as well as impacting the society as a whole. Migration, whether desirable or forced, effects geopolitical, economic and social aspects. On the other hand, geopolitical, social, climatic and economic scenarios also impact mobility – either as a cause, or as an effect. More and more people are adopting migration as an adaptation strategy with the drivers ranging from climate change and disaster to conflict. Bangladesh with the prominent presence in the global development arena, has been a strong advocate for inclusion of migration in global and national policy frameworks. While global frameworks have acknowledged migration as a contributor to development, the national migration governance has also been strengthened through its reflection in the Seventh Five Year Plan in Bangladesh. Experts and practitioners see it contributing towards development, among other by bringing in remittances and foreign exchange earnings, manifold new knowledge, experience and skill that reduce household poverty and add much needed impetus towards economic growth of the country. With the intensifying role of migration in the development sector, it becomes crucial to consider a wide- lens perspective ensuring that various cross-sectoral issues are taken into account for policy priorities. Given this backdrop, the Global Programme on ‘Mainstreaming Migration into National Development Strategies’, supported by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has been working towards inclusion of migration in national and sectoral plans since 2014. As a step forward, I am pleased to see that four thematic researches on Financial and Social Costs of Migration; Work, Workplace, and Skills Mismatch; Social Protection and Rights; and Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management have been initiated through this programme. I appreciate the role that the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladesh have played in complementing the interventions undertaken by the Government to support the mainstreaming migration agenda. As the Co-Chair of the thematic Technical Working Groups (TWGs), I believe this thematic research will provide a strong foundation to formulate strategy papers to support relevant ministries to incorporate migration into sectoral plans and ensure that these are further translated into concrete actions. I appreciate the dedicated research team of the Human Development Research Centre (HDRC) and the experts who have contributed to the research. Nahida Sobhan Director General (Multilateral Economic Affairs) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of Bangladesh Foreword Migration has long been an integral part of human lives and a strategy for improving livelihoods. In recent times, migration’s contribution to socioeconomic development has been receiving increased recognition from the international community. Many of the development frameworks at the global level, like the 2030 Agenda and at the national level, like Bangladesh’s Seventh Five Year Plan, has acknowledged migration’s positive impact on inclusive growth and sustainable development. Migration’s multidimensional facet calls for the need to assess its linkage with other broader themes like human rights and social protection; climate change and environment; poverty and equity; and human resource planning and management. Given this backdrop, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladesh undertook this thematic research to support policy makers to design programmatic interventions. The four thematic research papers on (a) Work, Workplace and Skill Mismatch in Migration; (b) Migration, Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management; (c) International Migration, Social Protection and Rights; and (d) Financial and Social Costs of International Migration, aim to identify the pertinent issues and delineate recommendations to address the various challenges. As the leading UN migration agency, IOM strives towards strengthening empirical evidence for policies and practices. The studies provide a strong foundation to develop strategy papers, which will be instrumental