Since 2011, the Government of Sri Lanka has been looking to shift its migrant worker population from a mainly low skilled work force to more of a skilled work force to ensure better conditions of employment and higher wages overseas, and recognition and employability upon return to Sri Lanka.
ASEAN Members States (AMS) aim to realize the free flow of skilled labour within ASEAN by 2015 as embodied in the Economic Blueprint, one of the three blueprints adopted for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
Thus far, a Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) Framework has been formalized among AMS for the mutual recognition of education and experiences obtained in seven priority sectors
The Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment have made it mandatory for female migrant domestic workers to be trained as housekeeping assistants with National Vocational Qualification Level 3 certification. These workers will be categorised as housekeeping assistants, a level above their former occupational classification as ‘house maids'. Their minimum wage also will be raised – for example the minimum wage for those migrating to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be raised to Saudi Riyal 900 (Lkr.
As well as providing vocational training for Thai workforce, the Department of Skills Development of the Thai Ministry of Labour (DSD) also provides foreign language and cultural training courses for Thai overseas job seekers who register with employment services centers and the Department of Employment.
In addition, the DSD also provides special language training such as for the EPS programme in cooperation with Korean Government and IM Japan programme in cooperation with the Japanese government.
This language training programme improves the possibilities of migrants to enter the labour market and to work in profession that fit their educational background. In many parts of Sweden, language courses, or so called SFX educations – “Swedish for professionals” are organised at municipality level aiming at migrants with different professional backgrounds. The teaching of the Swedish language focuses on the development of the professional language.
This practice comprises initiatives with the aim of integrating individuals with foreign degrees into the Swedish higher education system and labour market. For instance, the Government has allocated resources for complementary education, aimed at immigrants with higher education qualifications and degrees in law, medicine, nursing, dentistry and teacher education from a third country who need complementary education so as to engage in professional activities in Sweden.
The Swiss Federal Office for Vocational Training (OFFT) and the Switzerland-India Chamber of Commerce launched a pilot project for technical training based on the initial polymechanic vocational training provided by Swissmem in 2008. The certificate of "Multiple Skilled Production Technician" was awarded to the first 18 professionals who followed a two years training program in the industrial sector.
Three years after the beginning of the „Arab Spring“, transformation processes are still under way in Northern African states. High unemployment rates prevail and especially young and highly qualified Tunisians suffer from a lack of professional perspectives.
Planning to dispatch Thai workers to work overseas, the Department of Employment has improved and developed policies and strategic plans which will be instruction procedures for Thai workers who wish to work overseas and will notify themselves at provincial employment offices where most Thai workers are dispatched from.
Moreover, the Department of Employment conducted activities to train languages to Thai workers in accordance with the employers’ country where Thai workers will be employed.