RETURN MIGRATION POLICIES & PROGRAMS IN THE PHILIPPINES: A WORK IN PROGRESS

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MIGRATION IN AFRICA

Cape Town, South Africa, 3 December 2014Maruja M.B. Asis – Scalabrini Migration Center

Outline of presentation

Return migration in the Philippines: overview of research findings and knowledge gaps

Highlights of major policy developments & key programs in facilitating the return and reintegration of Filipino migrants

Return migration and development in the Philippines

Concluding reflections

PRELUDE: THE PHILIPPINES, A COUNTRY OF MIGRANTS

Large-scale, persisting international migration since the 1970s

The Filipino diaspora◦10.4 million overseas Filipinos ◦Present in all regions, but largely in the Americas◦Diverse occupational profile, with concentrations in

nursing, maritime & domestic work

Country Migration Report: The Philippines (2013) - http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_7&products_id=971

Distribution of Overseas Filipinos by World Region : Stock Estimate (Dec 2012)

Region Permanent Temporary Irregular TOTAL

WORLD 492579747%

422104140.2%

134279012.8%

10489628

Africa 4641 47992 8240 60873

Asia- E&S 266627 798510 514215 1599352

Asia-W 7478 2449583 378475 2835536

Europe 392195 219896 156315 768326

Americas & Trust Terr.

3875930 240827 279595 4396352

Oceania

358926 97448 5950 462324

Seabased workers

366865 366865

International labor migration has contributed to transforming the Philippines into a country of migrants.

Remittances show an upward trend (USD118 million in 1974; USD24 billion in 2013); PH ranked 3rd after China and India in remittances received in 2013.

PRELUDE: THE PHILIPPINES, A COUNTRY OF MIGRANTS

Return migration is structural in temporary labor migration in Asia◦Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are focus of

return migration policies & programs◦Tendency of OFWs to renew their contracts or re-

migrate to other destinations◦Retirement migration: end of migration?

Permanent migrants are engaging in temporary returns◦Reflects transnationalism among migrants◦Retirement migration as return migration

RETURN MIGRATION: KEY FINDINGS & GAPS

Data on return migration lacking; scale and profile of return migration are not known

An estimated 3.5-4.5 million overseas Filipino workers have permanently returned since 1974

Studies on reintegration point to economic concerns as the primary concern of return migrants

Few returnees return home for good◦ Temporary overseas employment becomes the

“permanent” employment◦ Family needs urge returnees to go abroad again

In general, return migrants have little knowledge about return & reintegration programs & services

No study on the return of permanent emigrants?

RETURN MIGRATION: KEY KINDINGS & GAPS

Emergency or unscheduled return due to conflict, economic crisis, or natural disasters

Return migrants are not well-informed about return and reintegration programs

RETURN MIGRATION: POLICY DEVELOPMENTS

Return of return migration policies in Asia in connection with diasporas & their potentials as development partners (Xiang, 2014)

Recent turn in return migration policies in the EU linked to policies on unauthorized migration (Cassarino,2014)

Return migration in the Philippine, a policy concern since the early years of the overseas employment program

Underlying assumption, return migration is the end of temporary labor migration

To date, return and reintegration programs are still a work in progress compared to interventions in the pre-migration and migration phases

RETURN MIGRATION: POLICY DEVELOPMENTS

Sec 18 of RA 8042 as amended by RA 10022 defines the functions of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO):◦ Develop and support programs and projects for livelihood,

entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy for returning Filipino migrant workers and their families . . .

◦ Coordinate with appropriate stakeholders, service providers and relevant international organizations . . .

◦ Institute, in cooperation with other government agencies concerned, a computer-based information system on returning Filipino migrant workers. . .

◦ Provide a periodic study and assessment of job opportunities for returning Filipino migrant workers

◦ Maintain an internet-based communication system for on-line registration and interaction with clients, and maintain and upgrade computer-based service capabilities of the NRCO

◦ Develop capacity-building programs for returning overseas Filipino workers and their families, implementers, service providers, and stakeholders; and

◦ Conduct research for policy recommendations and program development.

RETURN MIGRATION: POLICY DEVELOPMENTS

Return & reintegration programs were under the purview of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment)◦ Livelihood assistance; entrepreneurship◦ Psycho-social support for migrants and their families

RA 10022 (2010), which amended the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, defined the functions of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO)

NRCO established in 2007, but resources (staff, funds) were provided from 2010

www.nrco.dole.gov.ph

Derived from Battistella (2004: 212-229)

RETURN

Decision

Time

VOLUNTARY INVOLUNTARY

END OF CONTRACT

Achievement

Entrepreneurship

Completion

EconomicReintegration

DEVELOPMENT

BEFORE END OF CONTRACT

Setback

ReintegrationRedeployment

Crisis

Emergencyinitiatives

ASSISTANCE

INDIRECT DIRECT Type Action POLICIES

RETURN MIGRATION: POLICY DEVELOPMENTS

NRCO’s programs and services◦Scaling up of existing businesses; jobs-generating

businesses (facility for larger loans)◦Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay (Filipina returning home, back

to employment)◦10K livelihood financial assistance to distressed overseas

Filipino workersRecent experiences: crisis-related return migration

(e.g., global economic crisis, MENA crisis, civil war in Syria)◦The Philippines has developed mechanisms to deal with

mass evacuation and emergency assistance◦The challenge: post-repatriation employment

RETURN MIGRATION: POLICY DEVELOPMENTS

Recent approaches to support return & reintegration programs◦Financial education for migrants & their families◦Integration of planning for return early on (e.g.,

pre-departure orientation seminars have a module on financial planning)

◦Involving local governments ◦Involving the cooperation of destination

countries (e.g., South Korea’s “happy return” program)

RETURN MIGRATION: POLICY DEVELOPMENTS

Assessments and recent national consultations find problematic issues◦Lack of data on number and profiles of returnees◦Lack of knowledge about return & reintegration

programs◦ Information on programs, requirements & benefits

not clear◦Reconsideration of the large loanable amounts◦OFWs tend to view loans as grants, hence

repayment is problematic◦Reestablishing life in the Philippines vs. re-migration

RETURN MIGRATION & DEVELOPMENT

Myrna Padilla was a domestic worker for 20 years (Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong)

Founded a BPO company in Davao City, Philippines –

http://myndconsulting.com/

Advocate of migrant protection –

http://www.ofwwatch.com/

RETURN MIGRATION & DEVELOPMENT

Rista, an Indonesian, worked in Singapore for 10 years. She was amazed at the many books that her 2-year old ward has read. This inspired her to open a library for children in her village.

RETURN MIGRATION & DEVELOPMENT

The children’s library ,“Ceria,” which means happiness, opened in July 2013Source: https://www.facebook.com/readingacrossworlds

http://www.balinkbayan.gov.ph/

Information on starting a business/investment, donation/volunteering, government services, and interactive maps

INSIGHTS FROM THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE

Caveats ◦ the different context & degree of

institutionalization of international migration from the Philippines

◦ initiatives are in the pilot stage ◦ importance of learning from each other (e.g.,

insights from the MIDA program)

It takes a village to realize the development potentials of return migration.