Social Protection for Unskilled Migrant Workers in Sri Lanka: Legal Aspects, National Policies, and Social Protection Programmes (Contemporary South Asian Studies)

This book is about the social protection of lower-skilled migrants from Sri Lanka. It reasons out the importance of protecting Sri Lankan migrant workers considering the significant economic contribution of lower-skilled migrant workers and their higher level of exposure to risks at all stages of international migration: pre-departure, on the job, and after returnee reintegration. The book explores social protection programmes for low-skilled immigrants from three perspectives: legal aspects, national policies, and programmes. The chapter on legal background for protecting migrant workers focuses on declarations and on labour laws on the national and international level. Policies and programmes identify national level labour policies and other related policies that apply to migrant workers, as well as available social protection programmes for Sri Lankan migrant workers. In turn, the solutions for minimizing the related risks faced by Sri Lankan migrant workers. Highlighting the economic contribution of migrant workers and their vulnerability at all stages of migration, this book offers a timely and important contribution for policy makers and practitioners as well as scholars of migration studies, public policy and related fields. Foreword Acknowledgments Contents Editors and Contributors Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Introduction 1 International Migration 2 Social Protection 3 Chapter Overview References Background 1 Introduction 2 Migrant Workers in Sri Lanka 2.1 First Era Between 1950 and 1970 2.2 Between the Late 1970s and the 1980s 2.3 Between the Early 1990s and Year 2000 2.4 Between 2001 and 2019 2.5 Era After 2020 (After COVID-19) 3 Demographic Characteristics of Current Sri Lankan Migrants 3.1 Migrant Workers by Gender 3.2 Migrant Workers According to Manpower Levels 3.3 Migrant Workers by Age Group 3.4 Top Destination Countries 4 Support Systems for Sri Lankan Migrant Workers 5 Workers’ Remittances 5.1 Remittance Infrastructure in Sri Lanka References Economic Contributions by Migrant Workers 1 Introduction 2 The Theoretical Context of Migration and Development 3 Labour Market Impacts of Migration and Remittances 3.1 Employment Creation 3.2 Skills acquisitions 3.3 Foreign Exchange Acquisition and Exchange Rates (Macroeconomic Impacts) 3.4 Economic Growth 3.5 Relationship between Remittances Inflows, Foreign Exchange Acquisition and Foreign Exchange Rates 3.6 Other Impacts of Migration and Remittances 3.7 Savings and Investments 3.8 Impact of Remittances on Consumption and Poverty Reduction 4 Conclusion Appendix References Risks and Well-Being Among Migrant Workers 1 Introduction 1.1 Migration and Its Benefits 1.2 The Dark Side of Migration 2 Literature Review 2.1 The Notion of Risk in Migration Theories 2.2 Empirical Evidence 3 Social Issues and Well-Being of Sri Lankan Migrants 3.1 Social Issues 4 Well-Being of Migrant Workers 4.1 Domestic Workers 4.2 Construction Workers 5 Workers in South Korea 6 Conclusions References Social Protection for Migrant Workers: A Legal Perspective 1 Introduction 2 Migrant workers and Their Rights 3 Social Protection 4 Migration Law 5 Migration Law and Social Protection 6 Legal Principles Applicable 7 Limitations in Legal Systems 8 Recommendations 9 Global Compact for Migration 10 Conclusion Appendix 1 References Social Protection for Migrant Workers: The Case of Sri Lanka 1 Introduction 2 Social Protection for Migrant Workers 2.1 Definition of Social Protection 2.2 Institutional Background of Social Protection for Migrant Workers 3 Social Protection Frameworks for Migrant Workers 3.1 Bilateral Agreements 3.2 Provision of Information 3.3 Training Programmes 3.4 Insurance Facilities 3.5 Loan Facilities for Migrant Workers 3.6 Sahana Housing Project for Disabled Migrant Workers 3.7 Social Protection for Migrant Workers’ Children 3.8 Return and Reintegration Programmes 4 Problems Encountered by Migrant Workers 5 The Way Forward References Conclusion 1 Summary 2 Policy Implications