Circular migration benefits India

Source: The post Circular migration benefits India has been created, based on the article “How circular migration can help meet global skill shortage and lift Indians out of poverty” published in “Indian Express” on 5th October is 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-growth, development and employment.

Context: The article discusses circular migration, where Indian workers, trained through government programs, go abroad for skilled jobs and return with enhanced expertise. This process benefits both India and countries facing skill shortages, such as Israel, Japan, and Germany.

For detailed information on Circular migration read this article here

What is Circular Migration and How is it different from Brain Drain?

1. Circular Migration involves workers going abroad temporarily and returning with enhanced skills, benefiting both India and the host countries.

• Example: 997 skilled youth from Maharashtra are working in Israel for five years, earning Rs 1.37 lakh per month. They will return with advanced construction skills.

2. Brain Drain is the permanent migration of highly qualified individuals, leading to a loss of talent for the home country.

• Example: Until 2000, many doctors and engineers, educated in subsidized Indian institutions, permanently settled abroad, contributing to brain drain.

3. Key Difference: Circular migration leads to skill transfer back to India, while brain drain results in a permanent loss of talent, with limited economic returns like remittances.

How Does Circular Migration Benefit India?

1. Circular migration allows Indian workers to gain international experience and return with advanced skills, benefiting India’s industries.
2. Over 40% of India’s remittances come from manual workers in the Middle East, highlighting the economic benefits of migration.
3. Initiatives by MITRA and NSDC ensure workers are trained to meet global skill standards, improving job opportunities abroad.

What are the government initiatives to facilitate Circular Migration?

Matching skills to international standards requires specialized training. Language barriers, legal compliances, and exact skill-matching are challenges.

To address these, the government has initiated several steps:

1. Labor Mobility Agreements: India has signed agreements with countries like Israel, Japan, and Germany to fill skill shortages. For example, Israel needs over 100,000 workers, offering salaries of Rs 1.3 lakh per month.
2. Skill Development Programs: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) offers booster training to upgrade skills. Maharashtra’s MITRA and NSDC trained 997 workers for jobs in Israel, focusing on construction trades like plastering and bar bending.
3. Language and Skill Matching: Training includes English and skills required by foreign countries. Workers are also offered training in languages like Japanese, German, or French.
4. Infrastructure Support: ITI Pune developed bar-bending machines to meet Israeli requirements, ensuring workers passed the required tests for international placements.

Way forward

India should expand circular migration to countries like Japan and Germany with ageing populations. With targeted skill development, language training, and government support, India can fill global skill gaps while benefiting from returning experienced workers.

Question for practice:

Discuss how circular migration benefits both India and the host countries and how the Indian government is facilitating this process.