The UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: Its Impact on Asia

Abstract

This article focuses on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), a landmark international document that builds on the momentum of a decade of initiatives at the international level on migration governance, and its impact on Asia from the perspective of South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, and South Korea. While none of these countries voted against the adoption of the GCM, there are significant differences in how individual countries approached the commitments made in the GCM. These perspectives were articulated in a webinar hosted by Metropolis Asia on 20 June 2018 and in governmental statements made at the UN international conference when the GCM was adopted. This article also discusses the challenges confronting the implementation of the GCM. While the Compact resulted from inclusive and intensive negotiations and many compromises, the road towards realizing its goals will be at least as challenging as the road that led to its adoption. In spite of these challenges, the GCM is a ground‐breaking representation of the first multilateral framework for migration governance. Its success rests upon the recognition that addressing the challenges and maximizing the benefits of migration require true international cooperation, renewed commitment and meaningful action on the commitments agreed to.

Migration, Health and Development in India, South Asia and China: Perspectives in the COVID-19 Era

“…The pathways to implementing these objectives are subject to the country positions spelled out in their respective statements made at the concluding multilateral forum preceding the agreement (Khadria et al, 2019). These are reflected in the statements that each of the South Asian countries and China made at the time of ratifying the gcm, presented later in this chapter.…”

Governing Migration for Development from the Global Souths

“…(objective 15), skills development and mutual recognition of qualifications, including for learning-by-doing and on-the-job training (objective 18), faster, cheaper and safer remittances (objective 20), and totalisation and portability of social security contributions and earned benefits (objective 22). The pathways to implementing these objectives are subject to the country positions spelled out in their respective statements made at the concluding multilateral forum preceding the agreement (Khadria et al, 2019). These are reflected in the statements that each of the South Asian countries and China made at the time of ratifying the gcm, presented later in this chapter.…”

Migration of high-skilled and STEM professionals from India: Addressing Global Compact for Migration objective 1

“…Given the position of India as a major origin country of high-skilled emigrants in the Global South (Khadria et al, 2019), we examine the extent of their contemporary outflow to five key destination countries, namely, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This research note aims to highlight the extent and share of Indian high-skilled and STEM professionals migrating to these destination countries to shed light on evidence-based policymaking as stated in GCM objective 1 and to contribute towards reducing global inequalities addressed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 10.4 (Adopt Fiscal and Social Policies that Promotes Equality).…”