2002
Migration and the Labour Market in Asia RECENT TRENDS AND POLICIES
Migration and the Labour Market in Asia
This publication presents an analysis of recent trends in migration movements and policies in Asia. It highlights the contribution of immigration to the labour force and describes the changes that have taken place in the sectoral distribution of foreign workers. Particular attention is paid to human resource development and mobility of the highly skilled against the background of globalisation.
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RECENT TRENDS AND POLICIES Migration and the Labour Market in Asia
The book provides individual reviews of recent developments in migration trends and policies in Australia, China, Hong Kong China, Chinese Tapei, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Detailed statistics on the inflow and stocks of foreign workers and information concerning their situation on the labour market enable meaningful cross-country comparisons.
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www.oecd.org OECD Centre for Co-operation with Non-Members
ISBN 92-64-09985-9 81 2003 04 1 P
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THE JAPAN INSTITUTE OF LABOUR
2002
Migration and the Labour Market in Asia RECENT TRENDS AND POLICIES
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT Pursuant to Article 1 of the Convention signed in Paris on 14th December 1960, and which came into force on 30th September 1961, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shall promote policies designed: – to achieve the highest sustainable economic growth and employment and a rising standard of living in member countries, while maintaining financial stability, and thus to contribute to the development of the world economy; – to contribute to sound economic expansion in member as well as non-member countries in the process of economic development; and – to contribute to the expansion of world trade on a multilateral, non-discriminatory basis in accordance with international obligations. The original member countries of the OECD are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The following countries became members subsequently through accession at the dates indicated hereafter: Japan (28th April 1964), Finland (28th January 1969), Australia (7th June 1971), New Zealand (29th May 1973), Mexico (18th May 1994), the Czech Republic (21st December 1995), Hungary (7th May 1996), Poland (22nd November 1996), Korea (12th December 1996) and the Slovak Republic (14th December 2000). The Commission of the European Communities takes part in the work of the OECD (Article 13 of the OECD Convention).
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The impact of economic growth on employment opportunities in Asian labour markets and on international migration has been the general theme of a series of workshops for policymakers and experts organised by the Japan Institute of Labour (JIL), with the co-operation of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (JMHLW), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Labour Office (ILO). The eighth workshop of this series was held on 4-5 February 2002 with the aims of examining the current situation of international migration and related policies in Asian countries, and to enhance the exchange of knowledge and information between the region’s policymakers and experts. As usual, the workshop started with its special session, focusing this year on “International Migration of the Highly Skilled”. It began with the keynote speech of Prof. Yasushi Iguchi of the Kwansei Gakuin University, centered on the notions of “brain drain” and “brain exchange”. Prof. Iguchi drew attention to key points to avoid the most harmful effects of this phenomenon, and presented a number of policy options to profit from the movement of the highly skilled. This keynote report stimulated active debates in the panel that followed, composed of experts from Malaysia, Thailand and Japan (Prof. Dr. Kassim Binti Azizah, Prof. Yongyuth Chalamwong and Prof. Manami Takekuma). These debates mainly focused on three points: 1) evaluation of the experiences of each country; 2) the utilisation of the highly skilled to promote economic development and avoid the risk of brain drain; and 3) the formulation of regional policies to respond to external competition to acquire highly skilled workers. The afternoon session of the special session included reports by country experts, reflecting the differing experiences of each individual country. Overall, these reports outlined the widening gap between countries. Some have already had experiences with and measures for highly skilled workers; and have had a wide use of information technologies. Other countries are just starting in these fields. There was also reporting of the one-way migration of students towards more technically advanced countries, and the phenomenon of “brain waste” happening when these trained students are unable to find jobs back home to utilise the skills they have acquired. Reports, including of experiences in Europe, showed the importance of investment in education, and the necessity to create scientific and research centres to attract and to keep skills where they are needed. The general session, monitoring current developments in migration and migration policies, heard reports on current economic developments, the movements of foreign workers and of national workers, the situation of illegal immigration, social integration of foreign workers, data on remittances and information on employment services across borders. These reports generally discussed the slowing of economic growth in the United States, Japan and Europe, and how the economies of many countries and regions in Asia are either stagnant or decelerating. There was also discussion of how this is affecting the labour market. The issue of illegal immigration was raised, with reference also to criminal organisations, and the need for international co-operation was reaffirmed. The second part of the general session, which took place in the next morning, heard reports on policy changes, policy-making processes and competences, and possible forms of international cooperation. Comments from the floor pointed to recent trends in policymaking towards redesigning the trainees’ visa system, in order to make a more productive use of the migrant workforce, which would 3
also better match the workforce’s needs. A consensus was present on the importance of the immigration of highly skilled workers for economic development. In this regard, the linkage between economic and immigration policies was also underlined, as well as co-operation between industry and government, and between sending and receiving countries. In the closing session, all participating nations and territories agreed on the necessity to search for ways to take the maximum advantage from the movements of the highly skilled, for the economic and social development of the region. The necessity of a more regular and comprehensive exchange of information between nations and territories to address the specific issues raised in the special session was also emphasised. International co-operation was also outlined with regard to combating illegal immigration. This workshop provides an ideal forum to enhance the exchange of information and ideas among the participating nations and territories, and the ILO and the OECD. This publication is intended to provide the world at large with information and data concerning migration trends and policies in Asia. It is the product of close collaboration between the JIL, the JMHLW, the ILO, the OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs (DELSA) and the OECD Centre for Co-operation with Non-Members (CCNM), and is published on the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. Prof. Dr. Tadashi Hanami Chairman Japan Institute of Labour
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7$%/(2)&217(176 ,QWURGXFWLRQ ...................................................................................................................................... 9 E\5RQDOG6NHOGRQ Background and major recent trends .................................................................................................. 9 Highly skilled workers ...................................................................................................................... 11 A brain drain? .................................................................................................................................... 12 Unskilled workers .............................................................................................................................. 15 Undocumented workers ..................................................................................................................... 16 Migration policies .............................................................................................................................. 17 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 19
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