From August 17 to 21, an 11-member delegation from Telangana, comprising MLAs and subject experts, will visit the Philippines to examine the country’s migration and labour policies. The team aims to adapt similar protections for Telangana’s large workforce employed in West Asia. NRI Advisory Committee member Swadesh Karpakpandla explained that the visit will focus on the Philippines’ welfare programmes, institutional systems, and best practices for protecting migrant workers in the Gulf.
The delegation’s schedule includes meetings with experts and officials, as well as visits to the Indian Embassy in Manila, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and the Department of Migrant Workers. They will also interact with representatives of the Migrant Forum in Asia and the Building and Wood Workers’ International to discuss issues facing migrant labour. According to NRIAC vice-chairman M Bheem Reddy, the Philippines’ approach stands out for its institutional depth, with strong migration policies, labour attaches, welfare officers, and dedicated arrangements within its foreign missions across the Gulf.
Reddy highlighted the country’s pre-departure orientation programmes and skilling and upskilling schemes, which enable the Philippine government to negotiate better wages for its workers abroad through bilateral agreements with Gulf nations. Despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Reddy believes there is still scope for skilled worker migration to the region, citing Saudi Arabia’s confirmation as host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup as a development that may open up more opportunities for skilled workers in the coming years.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf