Colombo Process

• 05 Jun 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, India has become chair of the regional grouping Colombo Process for the first time since its inception in 2003.

• India would lead the grouping for the period 2024-26.

What is the Colombo Process?

• About:
  • The Colombo Process comprises 12 Asian member states and serves as a regional consultative forum. It aims to promote the sharing of best practices related to overseas employment for countries in South and Southeast Asia that send migrant workers abroad.
  • The 12 member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
    • The founding states include Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
    • In the past, it has been chaired by Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
  • The decisions under Colombo Process are made by consensus and are non-binding.
• Objectives:
  • Share experiences, lessons learned and best practices.
  • Consult on issues faced by overseas workers, and offer practical solutions.
  • Optimise development benefits from organised overseas employment.
  • Review and monitor the implementation of the ministerial recommendations.
• Secretariat: The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) provides technical and administrative support to the Colombo Process.
  • The Colombo Process Technical Support Unit (CPTSU), based in Sri Lanka, provides technical support to the Colombo Process in its thematic areas of focus.
• Five Thematic Priority Areas:
  • Skills and Qualification Recognition Processes
  • Fostering Ethical Recruitment Practices
  • Pre-departure Orientation and Empowerment
  • Promote Cheaper, Faster and Safer Transfer of Remittances
  • Labor Market Analysis
• Achievements:
  • A regional workshop for employment agencies in Asia on placing workers in Europe and ethical recruitment was held in Manila (2006).
  • A feasibility study to establish an Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) in one of the contractual labour destination countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has been completed.
  • Organised the first "Asia-EU Consultation on Labour Migration" held in Brussels in 2008 attended by Colombo Process countries and 16 EU member states.

International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

• It is part of the United Nations System as the leading inter-governmental organisation promoting since 1951 humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, with 175 member states and a presence in 171 countries.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q. India is a member of which of the following? (2008)

1. Asian Development Bank

2. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

3. Colombo Plan

4. Organization for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD)

Select the correct answer using the code given below Code:

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (a)