The Future of Migration in South Asia

MIGRATION PLENARY
The Future Migration in South Asia

DAY 2 | 21 March
09:00-10:30 GMT+5:45

Background

When taking place in conditions that respect, protect and fulfil human rights, migration can be a powerful engine of sustainable development for migrants, their communities, and the countries between which they move. Migration fills labour market gaps, develops and transfers skills, and brings financial empowerment through remittances. While labour migration is a key phenomenon in South Asia, people in the region also cross borders to be united with their families, study, seek safety, or due to slow- and sudden-onset effects of climate change, among other reasons. The complexity of migration in the region requires all stakeholders, especially governments and businesses, to continue and strengthen their efforts to monitor changes and opportunities and respond to human rights risks.

Session Description

This session intends to explore the shifting dynamics of migration in South Asia, identify the drivers behind these economic, social, technological, and environmental trends and changes, analyze how risks and vulnerabilities faced by migrants have evolved in parallel, and recommend measures to protect their human rights. The session will explore policy options for migration that is safe, dignified and sustainable and protects the human rights of migrants.

Session Objectives

To understand the human rights risks, including labour rights risks, that migrants facing in South Asia context; and how these could jeopardize migration’s positive outcoms;
To explore practical and actionable solutions that governments and businesse can take to create a inclusive future for migrants;
To recommend roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholder groups in promoting safe, dignified and sustainable migration in a rights-based manner.

Speakers

Neill Wilkins

Neill Wilkins is responsible for all aspects of the IHRB Migrant Workers programme and in 2011 helped oversee the development of the Dhaka Principles for Migration With Dignity - a set of human rights based principles that offer a clear framework for understanding the recruitment and employment of migrant workers worldwide. More recently Neill has led IHRB’s work around responsible recruitment and the promotion of recruitment models based on the Employer Pays Principle which prohibit the charging of recruitment fees to workers.

Geertrui Lanneau

Geertrui Lanneau is a Senior Specialist on Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion at the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Based at the organization’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, she coordinates IOM programming and provides policy guidance on labour migration, migrant inclusion and the linkages between migration and development.

Geertrui has over 15 years of professional experience in migration and human rights. She has served among others at the IOM Regional Office for the EU in Brussels and the IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa in Dakar. Prior to joining the IOM, she worked as a Human Rights Specialist for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uganda and as Adjunct Advisor for the Belgian Federal Ministry of Justice. She holds a Masters in Law from the University of Leuven.

Rajeev Pokharel

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security with over 27 years in civil service of the Government of Nepal.

Ramachandra Khuntia

Dr. Ramachandra Khuntia, Ex-MP, Ex-MLA and Ex Chief Whip of Odisha Government. The National Vice President of INTUC, President, INTUC of Odisha Branch, President of Indian National Building Construction Forest and Wood Workers Federation (INBCWF) and also President of 5 National Federation, World Board Member of Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), Chairman, BWI Migrant Workers Group and Vice Chair of BWI Asia Pacific Region, President of Indian National Migrant Workers Federation, Ex Member Congress Working Committee

Asif Ayub

Asif Ayub, with a professional experience of more than 22 years in various industry sectors as well as in a diplomatic mission, is currently serving the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF) as the
Joint Secretary-General. Prior joining BEF, Asif was engaged with International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), an UN Agency as its Portfolio Support Specialist in Dhaka. As a former employee of the U.S. Department of State, Asif was assigned as the Economic & Commercial Specialist under the Political and Economic Section at
the Embassy of the United States of America in Dhaka, Bangladesh for more than five years. He is the focal point for BEF to all national and international migration related issues. Asif has expertise on Renewable Energy; Migration Issues; Entrepreneurship and Skills Development; Environment & Climate Change; and Project Management. Asif holds a Business Management Degree under the Indian Government scholarship program from the Bangalore University, India with major in Economics and Marketing.

Joyce Chau

Ms Joyce Chau joined amfori as the Country Representative of the organization in Greater China in
June 2011. Her role is to promote responsible trade through sustainability services including business
social compliance (amfori BSCI), environmental performance (amfori BEPI), quality management
capability (amfori QMI) and responsible trade policy along the global supply chains.
Since Jan 2019, Ms Chau has been promoted to Director Asia Pacific and leads the APAC team to
drive open and sustainable trade in the region with direct presence in Australia, Greater China,
Bangladesh, India and Turkey.
In around 30 years, Ms Chau’s major expertise is in public affairs, stakeholder and media relations crisis
and issues management related to sustainability, CSR, and supply chain management. Prior to amfori,
she was the Senior Vice President of the HSBC Corporate Sustainability APAC Office, Dell China’s
Corporate Communications Director and she also worked for HKSAR Government’ Innovation and
Technology Commission, HK Airport Authority and GS1. She possesses a BSoSc in Communications
and a Master of Arts in Translation

MIGRATION PLENARY The Future Migration in South Asia