Amman, Jordan
Running in Circles: Progress and Challenges in Regulating Recruitment of Filipino and Sri Lankan Labor Migrants to Jordan
Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, MPI Policy Analyst and IOM Regional Research Officer
His Excellency, Dr. Khleif Al Khawaldeh, Secretary General, Ministry of Labor in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Linda Al-Kalash, Human Rights Programs Manager, Tamkeen Center for Legal Aid
His Excellency Julius D. Torres, Ambassador, Embassy of the Philippines in Amman, Jordan
His Excellency A.W . Mohottala, Ambassador, Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Amman, Jordan
Tauhid Pasha, Program Manager, International Organization for Migration
Unskilled and semi-skilled migrant workers from the Arab region have been filling labor shortages in Jordan for decades, shaping its labor market and sustaining its economy. However, non-Arab migrants from Asia have increased in Jordan in recent years, with a significant proportion of this new migration flow coming from Sri Lanka and the Philippines. A look at the three countries’ regulatory systems suggests that each country has developed a comprehensive set of laws and guidelines regarding their recruitment. Still, despite these legal protections, Sri Lankan and Filipino workers migrating to Jordan remain vulnerable to abuse and exploitation suggesting that there are still gaps in the current system, which unscrupulous recruiters and employers are more than willing to exploit. Migration Policy Institute and the International Organization for Migration analysts discuss these critical issues and MPI's report, Running in Circles: Progress and Challenges in Regulating Recruitment of Filipino and Sri Lankan Labor Migrants to Jordan, which addresses the progress, challenges, and potential solutions surrounding recruitment of Filipinos and Sri Lankans to Jordan. Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, the report's author, presents key findings of the report while discussants reflect on their experiences and share their insights.