From India to the Gulf region: Exploring links between labour markets, skills and the migration cycle
Temporary labour migration is often touted as a triple-win: a win for labour migrant-receiving countries that can support a level of economic activity that would be impossible without foreign labourers; a win for labour migrant-sending countries because it lowers unemployment and brings in remittances and skills; and a win for the labour migrants, who can earn more income and ultimately move out of poverty. However, governments have yet to develop a system that ensures that the triple-win delivers benefits equally to all three spheres. And it is the migrants who are ending up short-changed. This publication discusses temporary labour migration looking specifically at labour demand, its relationship to skills and the impact of the recruitment process on demand and skill development. It focuses on the role of skills in India, including skills training, certification, skills matching and recruitment practices.