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Migrating to opportunity: overcoming barriers to labor mobility in Southeast Asia

The movement of people in Southeast Asia is an issue of increasing importance. Countries of the Association of Sout... Show more
The movement of people in Southeast Asia is an issue of increasing importance. Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are now the origin of 8 per cent of the world's migrants. These countries host only 4 percent of the world's migrants but intra-regional migration has turned Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand into regional migration hubs that are home to 6.5 million ASEAN migrants. However, significant international and domestic labor mobility costs limit the ability of workers to change firms, sectors, and geographies in ASEAN. This report takes an innovative approach to estimate the costs for workers to migrate internationally. Singapore and Malaysia have the lowest international labor mobility costs in ASEAN while workers migrating to Myanmar and Vietnam have the highest costs. Singapore and Malaysia's more developed migration systems are a key reason for their lower labor mobility costs. How easily workers can move to take advantage of new opportunities is important in determining how they fare under the increased economic integration planned for ASEAN. To study this question, the report simulates how worker welfare is affected by enhanced trade integration under different scenarios of labor mobility costs. Region-wide, worker welfare would be 14 per cent higher if barriers to mobility were reduced for skilled workers and an additional 29 per cent if barriers to mobility were lowered for all workers. Weaknesses in migration systems increase international labor mobility costs, but policy reforms can help. Destination countries should work toward systems that are responsive to economic needs and consistent with domestic policies. Sending countries should balance protections for migrant workers with the needs of economic development.
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Authors: Testaverde, Mauro; Moroz, Harry; Hollweg, Claire H.; Schmillen, Achim

Date: 2017

Geographic subjects: Asia; Bangladesh; Brunei ... [+] Show more Hong Kong (China)">Hong Kong (China); (South)">Korea (South); [-] Show less

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Subjects: Migration; Employment; Outcomes ... [+] Show more
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Education and skills for inclusive growth, green jobs and the greening of economies in Asia: case study summaries of India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam

This book presents an overview of the main research findings and case studies concerning education and skills for i... Show more
This book presents an overview of the main research findings and case studies concerning education and skills for inclusive growth, green jobs and the greening of economies. Focusing on India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, it discusses government and business sector responses to these issues and how technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems and institutions are addressing both the renewal of curricula in the context of green growth dynamics, and patterns of training and skills development to meet demands. In addition, the book examines cross-country issues, concerns and prospects regarding education and skills for inclusive growth and green jobs for the four countries. These include critical themes and issues in the selected industry sectors triggering a demand for green jobs in the region; how industry is responding to those demands; areas impeding the transition from traditional to green practices; the importance of skills development; the role of TVET in addressing industry needs; and reasons for the slow response of TVET to green skills.
While other studies conducted in Asia - and internationally - on the same topic have largely relied on secondary sources, this study conducted by the Asian Development Bank and the Education University of Hong Kong (ADB-EdUHK) is unique in that the findings, conclusions and recommendations reported on are based on primary data. As part of the study, TVET providers, business enterprises, policy makers and practitioners were surveyed using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. In addition, workshops were held in each of the four countries to ascertain the views of key stakeholders in government, nongovernment organisations, members of the international development community, TVET providers and members of the business sector.
Edited abstract from Asian Development Bank website.
The chapters are as follows: Overview; Introduction; Summary of main research findings: India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam; Case study of a private sector firm in Indonesia; A holistic approach to greening TVET: a case study and analysis of Bac Thang Long Economic Technical College practices in Viet Nam; Summary, conclusions, and prospects. The following information is included as appendices: list of generic green skills; project background and introduction, approach, and methodology; employers' survey instrument; TVET providers' survey instrument; employers' interview protocol; TVET providers' interview protocol. Show less

Authors: Maclean, Rupert; Jagannathan, Shanti; Panth, Brajesh

Date: 2017

Geographic subjects: India; Indonesia; Sri Lanka ... [+] Show more

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: Technical and vocational education and training: issues, concerns and prospects

Subjects: Sustainability; Skills and knowledge; Equity ... [+] Show more
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Globalization and the gender earnings gap: evidence from Sri Lanka and Cambodia

Disasters in Bangladesh and protests elsewhere have created an intense debate about the value, particularly to wome... Show more
Disasters in Bangladesh and protests elsewhere have created an intense debate about the value, particularly to women, of apparel employment in developing countries. This paper focuses on how the forces of globalization, specifically the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA), have affected women's wages in the apparel sector in developing countries. The paper uses household and labor force surveys from Cambodia and Sri Lanka to estimate both apparel wage premiums relative to other industries and the male-female wage gap before and after the end of the MFA. The approach builds on new models that apply traditional trade theory (e.g., the Heckscher-Ohlin and Stolper-Samuelson theorems) to analyze the effect of globalization on gender-based earnings.
The authors find large positive wage premiums and a closing of the male-female wage gap during the MFA period, but smaller premiums and a widening wage gap after the end of the MFA. The results suggest that the benefits of apparel exports for women in developing countries remain significant post-MFA. They also model an approach for studying the effects of globalization that differentiates males and females as separate factors. This may be a fruitful alternative to discrimination models or those that analyze the effects of globalization on women in terms of skill. Further research is necessary to identify the potential development effects of post-MFA apparel employment and to thoroughly compare the benefits documented in this paper with the costs that may come with apparel jobs.
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Authors: Savchenko, Yevgeniya; Acevedo, Gladys Lopez; Robertson, Raymond

Date: 2016

Geographic subjects: Sri Lanka; Cambodia; Asia

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: World Bank policy research working paper

Subjects: Gender; Globalisation; Employment ... [+] Show more
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The National Qualifications Framework for skills training reform in Sri Lanka

The National Vocational Qualifications Framework of Sri Lanka was developed in conformity with the socioeconomic mi... Show more
The National Vocational Qualifications Framework of Sri Lanka was developed in conformity with the socioeconomic milieu and the needs of the labor market with the participation of industry stakeholders. It has enhanced the role of the government in policy and regulation, and the role of the private sector in providing skills training. A unified system with seven levels covering 96 occupations at the craft level, 14 fields at the middle technician level, and four courses of study at the degree level, it has reduced the complexity and ambiguity of training and selecting competent workers. This publication describes the progress and challenges in developing, implementing, and monitoring this ambitious scheme, with lessons for developing skills qualification frameworks in other countries.
Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

Corporate authors: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Date: 2011

Geographic subjects: Sri Lanka; Asia

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Subjects: Adult and community education; Employment; Equity ... [+] Show more
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From Ghana to America: the skill content of jobs and economic development

There is a growing body of literature exploring the skill content of jobs. This paper contributes to this research ... Show more
There is a growing body of literature exploring the skill content of jobs. This paper contributes to this research by using data on the task content of occupations in developing countries, instead of U.S. data, as most existing studies do. The paper finds that indexes based on U.S. data do not provide a fair approximation of the levels, changes, and drivers of the routine cognitive and nonroutine manual skill content of jobs in developing countries. The paper also uncovers three new stylized facts. First, while developed countries tend to have jobs more intensive in nonroutine cognitive skills than developing countries, income (in growth and levels) is not associated with the skill content of jobs once the analysis accounts for other factors. Second, although adoption of information and communications technology is linked to job de-routinization, international trade is an offsetting force. Last, adoption of information and communications technology is correlated with lower employment growth in countries with a high share of occupations that are intensive in routine tasks.
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Authors: Lo Bello, Salvatore; Puerta, Maria Laura Sanchez; Winkler, Hernan

Date: 2019

Geographic subjects: Armenia; Bolivia; Colombia ... [+] Show more

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: World Bank policy research working paper

Subjects: Employment; Skills and knowledge; Income ... [+] Show more
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Challenges and opportunities in teacher education reforms

This brief draws on the outputs of Asian Development Bank (ADB) technical assistance (TA) for Teacher Quality Analy... Show more
This brief draws on the outputs of Asian Development Bank (ADB) technical assistance (TA) for Teacher Quality Analysis, implemented in 2021-2022. These outputs included a comprehensive literature review on global trends in teacher education reforms, and field studies on teacher education in four countries: Finland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. Drawing on these studies, the TA project designed and delivered online training programs on teacher education reforms for participants in Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan. This brief highlights key findings and recommendations from the studies, and identifies potential areas for future ADB support of teacher education in its developing member countries (DMCs).
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Authors: Sarvi, Jouko; Tulivuori, Jukka

Date: 2022

Geographic subjects: Finland; Singapore; Sri Lanka ... [+] Show more

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: ADB briefs

Subjects: Teaching and learning; Providers of education and training; Quality
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Global inventory of regional and national qualifications frameworks: volume two: national and regional cases

How far is the world progressing towards comprehensive qualifications frameworks? The 2015 global inventory of regi... Show more
How far is the world progressing towards comprehensive qualifications frameworks? The 2015 global inventory of regional and national qualifications frameworks was launched on 25 April in Riga, Latvia. The inventory showcases 86 countries and examines how learning outcomes of all types of learning - formal, non-formal and informal - are being integrated into regional and national qualifications frameworks. Volume two provides an inventory of 85 NQFs and seven regional frameworks. The global inventory charts progress toward NQF goals, drawing on extensive research in the field of qualifications.
Edited excerpts from publisher's website. Show less

Corporate authors: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) ... [+] Show more

Date: 2015

Geographic subjects: Africa; Botswana; Egypt ... [+] Show more

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: Global inventory of regional and national qualifications frameworks

Subjects: Qualifications; Policy; Pathways ... [+] Show more
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Innovative strategies for accelerated human resource development in South Asia: information and communication technology for education: special focus on Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka

Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to revolutionize education equity, quality, and ef... Show more
Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to revolutionize education equity, quality, and efficiency. South Asia's governments have recognized this potential and invested in ICT-focused education initiatives and projects. While these efforts helped to introduce ICT-enabled teaching and learning practices, they may not be sufficient for widespread sustainable adoption within their countries. The stage of implementation and impact of investments also vary significantly from country to country in South Asia. This paper examines the existing state and gaps of ICT in education of three South Asian countries - Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka - and suggests strategies to address these gaps.
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Corporate authors: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Date: 2017

Geographic subjects: Bangladesh; Nepal; Sri Lanka ... [+] Show more

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: Innovative strategies in TVET and HE for accelerated HRD in South Asia

Subjects: Technology; Providers of education and training; Equity ... [+] Show more
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Enhancing STEM education and careers in Sri Lanka

In recent decades, the Sri Lankan government has introduced reforms aimed at enhancing education access and quality... Show more
In recent decades, the Sri Lankan government has introduced reforms aimed at enhancing education access and quality, as well as emphasizing the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), which are crucial fields for economic development and social inclusion. This report examines how access to STEM education can affect enrollments at various levels (lower, upper secondary, higher education, and technical and vocational training) and careers in the labor market. The report also analyzes STEM education status by gender at the central, provincial, and district levels, and it highlights factors that enable and hinder the achievement of desired outcomes.
The report offers a wide range of interventions to boost student access and teacher training, including developing digital learning materials and technology-based tools to broaden service delivery, facilitate learning, and support an inclusive public education system. In addition, it proposes policy options at the central and provincial levels. The findings and recommendations can be used to guide policy and investments to achieve the country's potential to expand human capital, foster inclusion, contribute to economic development and competitiveness, promote recovery from the economic crisis, and build resilience.
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Authors: Subasinghe, Shalika; Sosale, Shobhana; Aturupane, Harsha

Date: 2023

Geographic subjects: Sri Lanka; Asia

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: International development in focus

Subjects: Industry; Participation; Secondary education ... [+] Show more
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Human resource development systems for customer care services management in telecommunications companies: a comparative analysis of Sri Lanka and Japan

This research explores predominantly what specific soft technologies or soft management practices that Nippon Teleg... Show more
This research explores predominantly what specific soft technologies or soft management practices that Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Communications Corporation (NTT Com) in Japan has transferred to SLT [Sri Lanka Telecom] in the sphere of customer service, human resource management and HRD [human resource development] and how such technologies contribute to SLT's delivering better customer service. Taking two one-stop shops, i.e., Teleshops of SLT and 116 call centers of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (NTT East) in Japan, as the units of analysis, a comparison between the two was achieved with particular reference to organization of customer service function, employee classification system, job structure, staffing system, performance evaluation, compensation system and HRD system as they are applied to front-line customer service employees. The data in this study were collected using mainly the field role of observer-as-participant and semi-structured in-depth personal interviews with front-line customer service employees and various levels of management in firms and union leaders of SLT. The significant reliance placed on the observer-as-participant method in this study contrasts with the approach in much of the case study research in human resource management and HRD. The comparison between two units found many similarities and differences in terms of organization of customer service function in each unit and their internal work organization. Amongst them, the highest degree of transferability is evident in the manner in which jobs are defined broadly and its implications for skill formation of front-line customer service employees. Thus front-line customer service employees of Teleshops perform a wide range of front-line and back office functions with regular job rotation schedules decided by the manager of each Teleshop. This broad definition of jobs has resulted in these employees perceiving themselves to be generalists capable of handling many interrelated tasks. From the perspective of the customer, broadly skilled customer service employees could minimize the time and cost of searching for information on new products and services as they are able to attend to a variety of customer needs and requests. This study also found the high possibility of transferring certain soft management practices from NTT to SLT with appropriate reconfiguration of human resource management and HRD practices.
Excerpt from 'Highlights' reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

Authors: Dassanayake, Mudiyanselage Saman; Hori, Haruhiko

Date: 2005

Geographic subjects: Asia; Japan; Sri Lanka

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Subjects: Career development; Skills and knowledge; Research ... [+] Show more

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