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It is now widely recognized that migration is one of the most significant global phenomena and challenges of the 21st century. This is especially relevant to Bangladesh, as a major supplier of labor to the world market. The economy of Bangladesh relies heavily on remittances, which dwarf foreign direct investment and development assistance.
In recent years, both government and civil society in Bangladesh have realized these facts and several important steps have been taken to improve the governance of migration. There remain many challenges ahead and much room for improvement. One of the most pressing problems facing migrants and the good governance of migration is widespread lack of the awareness about the complexities of migration.
It has been recognized by academic studies and in the experiences of other major migrant sending countries that initiatives to disseminate information about these issues and properly train migrant workers can significantly reduce the negative effects and enhance the positive outcomes of migration.
The twin task of wide dissemination of the information about how to process migration for those who want to migrant and training of those who are already in the process of migration are enormous. This report looks into Sri Lanka and the Philippines’ experiences in safe migration information campaigns and in the areas of pre-departure orientation training. This provides an assessment from which examples of good practice and lessons have been identified.
In Sri Lanka, information campaigns on safe migration include community-level interventions, drama, talk shows and discussion programmes in mass media and consultations with returnees which are carried out by the government, NGOs, trade unions and church groups. The role of NGOs is limited more or less to providing prospective migrants with information and finding a solution to the problems of returnees.
As far as Pre-Departure Orientation Training is concerned, the Sri Lankan Government provides two-three weeks compulsory PDOT for female housemaids combining skills training on household management, languages and general orientation. Although a public-private partnership has emerged in Sri Lanka where recruitment agents supplement some of the government’s training under the guidance and monitoring of the government, NGOs in Sri Lanka feel alienated from this system.