Policies and Regulations for Repatriation and Sustainable Reintegration in the ASEAN Region

Abstract

One of the important human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families is the right to citizenship. The process of repatriation of migrants and their reintegration into the community at home is of increasing interest to policy researchers as this process is closely related to the link between migration and development. The temporary migration cycle of a worker always includes three important steps: departure, working and living abroad, and repatriation. Sending countries have also made great efforts in supporting migrant workers to return home, implementing repatriation support programs and especially community reintegration programs after returning home. The basis of this paper is to present definitions of reintegration programs for repatriated migrants. From this basis, the research objective of the article was formed to mention the general principles and conditions for support programs for repatriated workers. To accomplish this research objective, the author presents the success and limitations of some programs in ASEAN. The novelty of the research results is to give some recommendations to improve the programs on supporting migrant workers returning home and re-integrating into the community in the coming time.