Labour shortages, foreign migrant recruitment and the portability of qualifications in East and South-East Asia
English
ILO
The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org
Migrant workers
According to the ILO global estimates on migrant workers, there were around 164 million migrant workers in 2017.
Migrant workers contribute to growth and development in their countries of destination, while countries of origin greatly benefit from their remittances and the skills acquired during their migration experience. Yet, many migrant workers face challenges in accessing quality training and decent jobs including under-utilization of skills, a lack of employment or training opportunities, lack of information, and exploitation of low-skilled workers.
To address these challenges, countries need to strengthen skills anticipation systems to inform migration policies, increase access to education and training, and establish bilateral or multilateral recognition of qualifications and skills.
Research papers
Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues.
The paper examines labour shortages, admission of foreign workers and the portability of qualifications in Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand. Rapid economic growth and the rapid transformation of economies in these countries in recent decades, usually towards a more skill-intensive context, led to labour shortages. It has increased pressure to admit foreign workers, mainly from labour-rich but poorer neighbouring countries.
The five countries included in this study differ in their capacity and in the way they assess and address labour shortages. Linking labour migration policy to the domestic labour market remains a complex task. The admission policies of the five countries differ in the amount of planning involved, the level of government and private sector involvement, the sectors in which foreign workers are admitted and in the rights and entitlements afforded to foreign workers. The study concludes that there are still significant differences among the receiving countries as to their readiness to recognize foreign worker skills. Without a workable qualifications framework, the recognition of skills across countries is rendered difficult, hindering the mobility of workers and possibly preventing a more efficient allocation of labour resources.
Labour migration
Migrant workers
Migration policy
Skills recognition
Asia and the Pacific
