Your Excellency, Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Dr. Abdul Maal Abdul Munith MP, Minister of Finance

Engr. Khandker Mosharraf Hossain MP, Minister of Expatriates'
Welfare and Overseas Employment

Dr. Dipu Moni MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Heads of Delegations, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a great honor to be in Dhaka to take part in the Fourth
Ministerial Conference of the Colombo Process.

The theme of this conference – Migration with
Dignity – could not be more fitting as a basis for
discussing the myriad opportunities and challenges associated with
global migration.

Today, one billion people are on the move at any time – a
figure unsurpassed in recorded history, comprising a seventh of
humanity. A variety of elements – not least the information
and communications revolutions – are fueling this
unprecedented movement of people.

This human mobility is not only massive but is also increasingly
more complex. The different categories of migrants in "mixed flows"
share a common objective of a search for a better life – one
with employment and dignity.

Last year, the total number of people who left Colombo Process
countries to work abroad is about 44 million; this represents a 42
per cent increase since 2005. The overwhelming majority of these
people are migrant workers - persons who leave their families and
homes behind to work temporarily in the Middle East, the Gulf, and
elsewhere.

In doing so, these migrants contribute significantly to the
socio-economic growth and development in both countries of origin
and destination. In economic terms, for example, last year migrant
workers sent at least US $173 billion dollars in remittances to
Colombo Process countries. This represents more than one-third of
total worldwide remittances.

In countries of destination, migrant workers – skilled and
less skilled – are needed in some measure for knowledge and
innovation, but in far greater numbers to do the jobs for which
there are simply not enough people in these countries.

But far too often, migrant workers take on dirty, dangerous and
difficult work – the "three Ds" – to make a living.
Susceptible to exploitation, severe physical and mental strain,
migrant workers are often vulnerable and their dignity and human
rights threatened.

The ongoing crisis in Libya and the humanitarian evacuation of
hundreds of thousands migrant workers and Third Country Nationals
underscores this vulnerability.

Since the beginning of this crisis, IOM has worked in
partnership with UNHCR and concerned governments to facilitate the
movement home of more than 200,000 labour migrants, many of whose
countries are represented here today. These operations represent
the largest migrant evacuation exercise since the first Gulf
War.

The ongoing crisis in Libya also provides a poignant example of
the global reach of labour migration. IOM has facilitated the
actual movements of nationals from 38 countries, but registered
nationals from at least a dozen other countries on Libya's borders
with Egypt and Tunisia. We estimated that before the conflict there
were at least 1 million migrant workers in the country.

As many of you will know, labour migration is the way of the
future. Projections indicate that we can expect current migration
levels to continue well into this millennium, influenced by
demographic and labour market factors as well as the widening
disparities between and within regions.

The decline of populations in the world's industrialized
countries – expected to drop by nearly 25 per cent by 2050
(according to UN estimates) – will significantly increase the
demand for migrant workers. This includes European countries,
Canada, the United States, Japan, Korea, and China.

Likewise on the supply side, most of the world's expected
population growth will be concentrated in today's poorest and
youngest countries, which equates with surplus labour seeking out
too few employment opportunities at home. Would-be workers will be
increasingly attracted to the labour markets of the aging and
population deficient developed countries of Europe, North America,
and Northeast Asia with negative birth-rates.

The critical question for states therefore is how to manage
migration more effectively, and in a manner that on the one hand,
respects national sovereignty and a State's expectation that
migrants will respect host country culture and laws; and on the
other hand facilitates and respects people's age-old desire to
migrate to improve their lives – humankind's oldest poverty
reduction strategy – and people's expectation that their
rights will be upheld in their country of destination.

Governments across the world are coming to understand that they
cannot address migration as a national issue or on their own, that
a workable compromise is best accomplished through dialogue and
partnerships between and among nations of origin, transit and
destination.

Governments are also paying greater attention to Regional
Consultative Processes on Migration (RCPs) such as your own, the
Colombo Process. The efforts by the Colombo Process to engage with
the broadest array of stakeholders possible, underscores the point
that migration is a matter of shared concern.

This brings me to the first of my three brief points:

I. CONSOLIDATING THE GAINS OF THE COLOMBO
PROCESS

The first is to acknowledge the significant progress achieved by
the Colombo Process since its inception in 2003:

• The establishment of Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) in
  Bangladesh, India, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka for migrant
  workers and their families;
• Capacity building training for labour attachés and
  administrators including joint training courses in Bangladesh,
  China, Kuwait, Pakistan and Thailand since 2004;
• Policy studies carried out in Colombo Process countries with
  the support of different donors, such as DFID and the European
  Commission, including the review of recruitment monitoring
  mechanisms in Bangladesh, a review of grievance redress mechanisms
  in India, as well as on remittance channeling and utilization in
  Bangladesh; and
• A Regional Dialogue on the Health Challenges for Asian Labour
  Migrants organized by IOM, UNAIDS, UNDP and WHO brought together
  representatives from 13 South and South East Asian countries last
  year in Bangkok. The resulting Joint Recommendations recognized
  that health is a critical component in the social protection of
  migrant workers and families left behind, and that dialogue and
  cooperation between countries of origin and destination is critical
  to addressing the health needs of both migrants and societies.

I would also recognize the efforts of the Colombo Process in
initiating and sustaining dialogue on labour migration matters with
countries of destination. The second Asia-EU Dialogue held last
February is testament to the utility of this inter-regional
dialogue in bringing together Asian and European countries. Similar
engagement has been established through the Abu Dhabi Dialogue with
the GCC members.

To consolidate these gains, we believe it would be prudent for
the Colombo Process to enhance the regularity and predictability in
which the Colombo Process members are able to get together to
deliberate, plan, and monitor the implementation of agreed
follow-up actions. In this regard, IOM stands ready to continue to
work with the Colombo Process Member States in making this an even
more vibrant forum.

II. ENHANCING DIGNITY THROUGH MIGRATION
MANAGEMENT

My second point concerns the enhancement of migrant's dignity
through migration management.

In this regard, I would take the opportunity to reiterate IOM's
commitment to work with Colombo Process governments in two key
areas for more dignified migration of your citizens as an integral
component of a comprehensive migration management regime.

First, in the area of capacity enhancement at the national and
regional level to enable the Colombo Process to develop more
effective and evidence-based responses to migration challenges.

Here, we acknowledge the range of initiatives undertaken by many
of your countries aimed at tackling issues such as:

(a) health and wellbeing of migrants in countries of origin and
destination;

(b) regulatory frameworks for recruitment of migrant workers;

(c) minimum standard employment contracts and minimum wages; and,

(d) strengthened measures to protect migrants' rights.

Second, in terms of enhanced policy research, there is need to
continue to identify and develop strategies to address data gaps;
monitor, gather and share information on labour migration
requirements, and, incorporate monitoring and evaluation into
policies and programmes. In so doing, especially if undertaken
through collective action, the Colombo Process will be in a
stronger position to promote dignified migration for migrants
through more comprehensive and effective migration management
measures.

III. FORGING MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS

This brings me to the third and final point that, regular
dialogue within the Colombo Process - as well as with other RCPs
and inter-regional fora - provides a platform for the sharing of
good practices and data, and the forging of meaningful
partnerships.

As is set out in the Colombo Process Study on Labour
Migration from Colombo Process Countries: Good Practices,
Challenges and Ways Forward – the study that was the
basis of the deliberations of your Senior Officials meeting
yesterday – the challenges of labour migration are
transnational, and as such, require transnational solutions.

Bilateral and multilateral agreements and Memoranda of
Understanding signed between the Colombo Process and destination
countries, as well as amongst Colombo Process Member States,
represent an important means of forging partnerships.

In order to give full effect to these formal agreements, it
would be useful to put in place mutually established protocols and
operational guidelines in consultation with all who have a stake
labour migration.

Through the collective action of the Colombo Process –
representing as it does eleven countries in Asia and South East
Asia – it is indeed possible to make important strides in the
realization of labour migration that maximizes the positive
benefits of migration without undermining the dignity of migrant
workers.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, allow me to summarize my three main points:

One: IOM is proud of its association with the Colombo Process,
congratulates Member States on the significant progress achieved
since its birth in 2003, and urges the Colombo Process to
consolidate the gains made thus far in promoting regular migration
for purposes of labour from this region.

Two: IOM views the promotion of migration with dignity as an
essential component of any comprehensive migration management
regime, and therefore stands ready to support the Colombo Process
Member States in this objective.

Three: Forging partnerships at multiple levels can most
effectively be achieved through regular dialogue and the exchange
of information, data and good practices.

In summary, IOM is committed to supporting you as you seek to
rise to these challenges.

Let me end by thanking the Government of Bangladesh for hosting
the Fourth Ministerial Consultations of the Colombo Process, and
for providing firm leadership in reinvigorating the forum.
Honourable Prime Minister, your presence this morning is indeed a
source of encouragement for everyone present.

I congratulate the Colombo Process membership as a whole for
recommitting themselves to the founding principles of this forum to
ensure 'migration with dignity' for the benefit of all – the
migrants, the home and host countries.

I thank you for your kind attention, Excellencies and
Distinguished Delegates.