COLOMBO PROCESS -
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
News: India assumes chair of Colombo
Process for 2024-26
What's in the news?
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India has become chair of regional grouping Colombo Process for the first time since its inception in 2003.
Colombo Process:
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The Colombo Process, established on March 19, 2003,
in Colombo, Sri Lanka, is a regional consultative initiative addressing challenges faced by migrant
workers from South and Southeast Asia.
Primary Goal:
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The Colombo Process aims to enhance the management of contractual labour migration
from Asian countries.
Focus:
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It seeks to safeguard
the rights and welfare of migrant workers while maximizing the benefits of
labour migration for both sending and receiving countries.
Legal Status:
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The Process is non-binding
and decision-making is by consensus.
Membership:
Initial Composition:
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Initially comprising 11 member countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China,
India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and
Vietnam.
Expansion:
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The Process has since expanded to include additional countries like Cambodia and
Myanmar.
Five Thematic Area
Working Groups (TAWGs):
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Skills and Qualification Recognition (chaired by
Sri Lanka)
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Fostering Ethical Recruitment (chaired by
Bangladesh)
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Pre-Departure Orientation and Empowerment (chaired
by the Philippines)
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Remittances (chaired by Pakistan)
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Labour Market Analysis (chaired by Thailand)
Key Focus Areas:
1. Policy Development:
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Addressing various aspects of labour migration,
including policy development, capacity building, data collection, and sharing
best practices.
2. Rights Protection:
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Ensuring the protection of migrant workers’ rights,
skills recognition, ethical recruitment, and combating human trafficking and
irregular migration.
Activities and
Initiatives:
1. Dialogue Platforms:
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Regular meetings, conferences, and workshops serve
as platforms for dialogue and cooperation among member countries.
2. Guidelines and
Toolkits:
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Development of guidelines, toolkits, and policy
frameworks to assist member countries in effectively managing labour migration.
3. Collaboration:
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Collaboration with international organizations such
as the International Labour Organization (ILO)
and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to implement joint initiatives and projects.