Colombo Process Revived

Quezon City, Philippines - Civil society organizations (CSOs) from countries across Asia convened to discuss their involvement in the upcoming Regional Consultative Process on the Management of Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origins in Asia, popularly known as the Colombo Process, which will be held in October this year in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The process is traditionally seen as an intergovernmental meeting held by both “labor sending” and “destination” countries. The discussion was organized by the Solidarity Center, Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), and Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA).

The two-day meeting provided an environment for Asian CSOs to openly discuss their involvement in migrant workers’ concerns. Several issues, some of which are in line with GN-Asia’s thrust, were identified as areas for reform as the participants discuss their respective experiences in engaging the problems that confront their migrant workers. The Colombo Process is seen as the most appropriate venue where governments of labor sending countries can negotiate on, on behalf of their migrant workers, the problems experienced in working overseas. These problems include the issue of fair labor treatment and the provision of protection to migrant workers, remittances flow, among others.

For more information, please contact the following persons:

CJ Castillo, LEARN Research Staff, meagon_cj@yahoo.com

Glenn Rivera, LEARN Research Staff, deanaure_riviere@yahoo.com

or visit the Labor Education and Research Network’s website