Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers With Special Focus on ASEAN Member States

Abstract

The right of citizens to return to their home countries is a human right recognized in international human rights instruments. Return and reintegration assume special relevance in a temporary migration cycle when migrants return to countries of origin within short periods on completion of their contracts. Return migration is one of the key pillars of the migration–development nexus as return migrants bring back financial, human and social capital which can promote home country development. However, few countries monitor the return of migrant workers or maintain databases of returnees. The paper focuses on return and reintegration issues, challenges and policies in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It was prepared as the background document for the ASEAN Workshop on Reintegration Programmes for Returning Migrant Workers (27–28 August 2019) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, organized by the Ministry of Manpower, Government of Indonesia, and the International Labour Organization (ILO). It has been revised in the light of feedback received at the workshop. This paper first deals with definitional issues, and the rationale for reintegration programmes. It highlights different types of return: voluntary or forced, timing of return (long or short stay) and motives for return (retirement, end of contracts or forced) and their implications. Next it discusses general principles that should underpin all effective return and reintegration programmes: coverage of the full migration cycle; respect for migrant rights; addressing diversity of returnees; gender responsiveness; shared responsibility between destination and origin countries; and good evidence base. The paper next highlights issues and challenges which stand in the way of effective return and reintegration in ASEAN countries. This is followed by a discussion of good practice examples drawn from ASEAN and international experiences. The final section offers several suggestions and recommendations on the way forward. Reintegration policies should be developed within the framework of overall national development, employment, and migration strategies and policies. They need to be based on consultative and participatory processes with returned workers, local communities, central and local administrations, social partners, the private sector, diaspora communities and other concerned stakeholders. Reintegration strategies must address the diverse needs of returning migrants and their families. Gender considerations must be mainstreamed in such policies and programmes. All ASEAN member countries should collect information on return migrants and their profiles.