1. Who We Are
Events

South Asia Labor Mobility Conference

May 20-21, 2025

Thimphu, Bhutan

South Asia Labor Mobility Conference

Organized by the World Bank Social Protection and Labor (SPL) South Asia, SPL Global Unit, and South Asia Office of the Chief Economist, in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB), this two-day conference seeks to provide a platform for cross-country sharing of best practices, solutions, and learning as well as to promote collaboration among high-level government officials and experts from both migrant sending countries and host countries.

«
»

  • The state of labor mobility in South Asia presents both opportunities and challenges. Tens of millions of people from the region emigrate to key destinations, such as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, East Asia, North America, and Europe. Three of the world’s ten largest remittance recipients are in South Asia: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In some countries, like Nepal, remittances constitute a significant portion of the economy. These financial transfers have been shown to increase household incomes, foster entrepreneurship, and help reduce gender gaps and inequality. However, the costs of migration are high in certain corridors, particularly to the GCC, and brain drain remains a major risk that needs to be addressed. Meanwhile, return migration and reintegration are emerging as critical policy priorities, especially for Bhutan.

    Skills development plays a crucial role in enhancing prospects for higher-quality, higher-paying jobs both domestically and internationally, while also helping workers become less vulnerable to exploitation. Skilled workers bring added benefits to their home countries beyond remittances, including accumulated human, financial capital, and social networks. Skilled workers are also able work in a wider range of destinations, including Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. Upon returning home, their skills facilitate reintegration through employment opportunities and entrepreneurship. Therefore, upskilling should go hand in hand with strengthened labor market intermediation to improve outcomes for both workers and countries of origin. Additionally, artificial intelligence and digital technologies can enhance the match between skills supply and demand, improving the overall efficiency of labor markets.

  • DAY 1 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025

    8:30 AM

    REGISTRATION

    9:00 AM

    OPENING ADDRESS

    · Lyonchhoen Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister, Royal Government of Bhutan

    · Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations, World Bank

    9:15 AM

    FRAMING PRESENTATION

    · Syud Amer Ahmed, Program Leader for Human Development, Bangladesh and Bhutan and Lead Economist, World Bank

    9:30 AM

    SESSION 1: SKILLS PARTNERSHIPS
    This session explores how skills partnerships such as the Global Skill Partnership (GSP) model embed skills development to meet labor shortages for international labor mobility and domestic employment as well.

     

    OVERALL FRAMEWORK: GLOBAL SKILL PARTNERSHIP REPORT
    · Pablo Acosta, Global Lead for Migration and Lead Economist, World Bank
    · Limon Bade Rodriguez, Economist (Consultant), World Bank

     

    SESSION KEYNOTE
    · Young-bum Park, Professor, Hansung University; Former President, Human Resources Development, Korea

     

    CASE: INDIA
    · Liju George, Lead, Triple Win Program in India, GIZ

     

    CASE: MOROCCO
    · Halima Salak, Head of Partnership and Cooperation Division, Morocco National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Competencies (ANAPEC)

    11:00 AMCOFFEE BREAK
    11:15 AM

    PANEL DISCUSSION I: HOST COUNTRIES
    This panel presents perspectives from migrant host countries around the world and identify priorities and policy options for better skills partnership and support to migrants.

     

    · Maciej Duszczyk, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Poland


    · Stefania Congia, Director General for Migration and Integration Policies, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Italy


    · Steven Biddle, Minister Counsellor, Department of Home Affairs and Regional Director South Asia, Australia


    · Franziska Ohnsorge, Chief Economist for South Asia, World Bank

     

    Moderator
    · Martin Raiser, Vice President for South Asia, World Bank

    12:15 PM

    LUNCH

    1:30 PM

    SESSION 2: SUPPORT TO PROSPECTIVE MIGRANTS
    This session explores how governments and partners can better support migrants before departure, while overseas, and after their return.

     

    OVERALL FRAMEWORK
    · Cem Mete, Practice Manager, South Asia Social Protection and Labor, World Bank

     

    SESSION KEYNOTE
    · Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan, Undersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines

     

    CASE: SRI LANKA
    · Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Sri Lanka

     

    CASE: KOSOVO
    · Besa Kabashi-Ramaj, Executive Advisor, Heimerer Healthcare and Wellbeing Eco-Village, Kosovo

    3:00 PM

    COFFEE BREAK

    3:15 PM

    SESSION 3: MIGRATION IN SMALL STATES & ISLAND COUNTRIES
    This session focuses on the unique migration challenges and opportunities faced by small states and island countries.

     

    OVERALL FRAMEWORK
    · Zoe Leiyu Xie, Senior Economist, Chief Economist Office for South Asia, World Bank


    SESSION KEYNOTE
    · Dasho Tashi Wangmo, Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan


    CASE: PAPUA NEW GUINEA
    · Hakaua Susan Harry, Director, Labour Mobility Unit, Department of Treasury, Papua New Guinea


    CASE: MALDIVES
    · Ali Haidar Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education, Labor and Skills Development, Maldives


    CASE: JAMAICA
    · Antonette Richards, Director, Social Policy, Planning and Research Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica

  • DAY 2 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025

    8:30 AM

    CHECK-IN

    9:00 AM

    RECAP OF DAY 1

    · Kunzang Lhamu, Director General, Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan

    9:15 AM

    SESSION 4: REMITTANCES & DIASPORA
    This session explores the impact of remittances and the role of diasporas in supporting development, with a focus on how countries can harness these financial flows for sustainable growth.

     

    OVERALL FRAMEWORK
    · Franziska Ohnsorge, Chief Economist for South Asia, World Bank


    SESSION KEYNOTE
    · Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Minister, Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan


    CASE: NEPAL
    · Krishna Pushkar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Nepal


    CASE: MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
    · Roberta Gatti, Chief Economist for Middle East and North Africa, World Bank


    CASE: PHILIPPINES
    · Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan, Undersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines

    11:00 AMCOFFEE BREAK
    11:15 AM

    PANEL DISCUSSION II: SENDING COUNTRIES
    This panel explores how migrant sending countries can better leverage the economic potential of diasporas while supporting the reintegration of return migrants.

     

    · Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Minister, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan

     

    · Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Bangladesh


    · Maciej Duszczyk, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Poland


    · Roberta Gatti, Chief Economist for Middle East and North Africa, World Bank


    Moderator
    · Stefano Paternostro, Acting Regional Director for People, South Asia Region, World Bank

    12:15 PM

    LUNCH

    1:15 PM

    SESSION 5: RETURN & REINTEGRATION
    This session focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with the return and reintegration of migrant workers, examining how governments can support their economic and social reintegration.

     

    OVERALL FRAMEWORK
    · Soonhwa Yi, Senior Economist, East Asia and Pacific Social Protection and Labor, World Bank


    CASE: INDIA
    · Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister and Head of Special Task Force on Distress Migration, State Government of Odisha, India


    CASE: BANGLADESH
    · A.T.M. Mahbub-ul Karim, Project Director and Joint Secretary, Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB), Bangladesh


    CASE: BHUTAN
    · Kunzang Lhamu, Director General, Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan


    CASE: PHILIPPINES
    · Francis Ron de Guzman, Assistant Secretary for Reintegration Services, Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines

    3:00 PM

    CLOSING REMARK

    · Dasho Kesang Deki, Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Royal Government of Bhutan

  • REMARKS

    Male in traditional attire

    Lyonchhoen Dasho Tshering Tobgay

    Prime Minister, Royal Government of Bhutan
    Female in formal attire

    Anna Bjerde

    Managing Director of Operations, World Bank
    Male in formal attire

    Syud Amer Ahmed

    Program Leader for Human Development, Bangladesh and Bhutan and Lead Economist, World Bank
    Female in formal attire

    Kunzang Lhamu

    Director General, Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan
    Female in formal attire

    Dasho Kesang Deki

    Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Royal Government of Bhutan

    PANELISTS

    Male in formal attire

    Martin Raiser

    Vice President for the South Asia Region, World Bank
    Male in formal attire

    Maciej Duszczyk

    Undersecretary of State, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Poland
    Female in formal attire

    Stefania Congia

    Director General for Migration and Integration Policies, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Italy
    Male in formal attire

    Steven Biddle

    Minister Counsellor, Department of Home Affairs and Regional Director South Asia, Australia
    Female in formal attire

    Franziska Ohnsorge

    Chief Economist for South Asia, World Bank
    Male in formal attire

    Stefano Paternostro

    Acting Regional Director for People, South Asia Region, World Bank
    Male in traditional attire

    Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji

    Minister, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan
    Male in formal attire

    Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan

    Senior Secretary, Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Bangladesh
    Female in formal attire

    Roberta Gatti

    Chief Economist for the Middle East and North Africa Region, World Bank

    PRESENTERS

    Male in formal attire

    Pablo Acosta

    Global Lead for Migration and Lead Economist, Social Protection and Labor Global Unit, World Bank
    Male in formal attire

    Limon Bade Rodriguez

    Economist (Consultant), Social Protection and Labor Global Unit, World Bank
    Male in formal attire

    Young-bum Park

    Professor, Hansung University; Former President, Human Resources Development, Korea
    Male in formal attire

    Liju George

    Lead, Triple Win Program in India, GIZ
    Female smiling

    Halima Salak

    Head of Partnership and Cooperation Division, Morocco National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Competencies (ANAPEC)
    Male in formal attire

    Cem Mete

    Practice Manager, South Asia Social Protection and Labor, World Bank
    Female in traditional attire

    Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan

    Undersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers, the PhilippinesUndersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines
    Male in formal attire

    Anil Jayantha Fernando

    Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Sri Lanka
    Female in formal attire

    Besa Kabashi-Ramaj

    Executive Advisor, Heimerer Healthcare and Wellbeing Eco-Village, Kosovo
    Female in formal attire

    Zoe Leiyu Xie

    Senior Economist, Chief Economist Office for South Asia, World Bank
    Female in traditional attire

    Dasho Tashi Wangmo

    Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan
    Female in formal attire

    Hakaua Susan Harry

    Director, Labour Mobility Unit, Department of Treasury, Papua New Guinea
    Male in formal attire

    Ali Haidar Ahmed

    Minister of Higher Education, Labor and Skills Development, Maldives
    Male in formal attire

    Antonette Richards

    Director, Social Policy, Planning and Research Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica
    Male in traditional attire

    Lyonpo Lekey Dorji

    Minister, Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan
    Male in formal attire

    Krishna Pushkar

    Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Nepal
    Female in formal attire

    Soonhwa Yi

    Senior Economist, East Asia and Pacific Social Protection and Labor, World Bank
    Male smiling

    Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo

    Deputy Chief Minister and Head of Special Task Force on Distress Migration, State Government of Odisha, India
    Male in formal attire

    A.T.M. Mahbub-ul Karim

    Project Director and Joint Secretary, Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB), Bangladesh
    Male in traditional attire

    Francis Ron de Guzman

    Assistant Secretary for Reintegration Services, Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines

DETAILS

  • DAY 1: Tuesday, May 20 (9:00am-5:00pm BTT)
  • DAY 2: Wednesday, May 21 (9:00am-3:15pm BTT)
  • CONTACT: Office of the Chief Economist in South Asia 
  • sarchiefeconomistoffice@worldbank.org

RELATED