S.D. Gamini Jayasooriya
PhD Candidate, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS)
Global Skill Partnerships (GSPs) align Sri Lankan workforce development with international standards, enhancing local capabilities. This prepares individuals for high-demand jobs locally and globally, boosting productivity, fostering innovation, and driving overall economic growth.
By strategically leveraging Global Skills Partnerships (GSPs), Sri Lanka is creating a “triple-win”: destination countries gain a reliable stream of skilled talent; Sri Lankan workers access better jobs with protection; and Sri Lanka itself transforms potential “brain drain” into a strategic asset that boosts remittances and domestic workforce development.
Sri Lanka is strategically prioritizing skilled migration to counter “brain drain” and boost remittances. This approach is demonstrated by 2024 data showing skilled workers constitute nearly 72% of migrants—a result of targeted training initiatives that secure higher wages and enhance the vital remittances essential for national economic stability.
02.Sri Lankan migration and economic effect.
Overseas employment is a vital pillar of Sri Lanka’s economy, significantly alleviating domestic unemployment. In 2022 alone, over 311,000 citizens sought work abroad, generating remittances that constituted nearly 8% of the GDP. This financial inflow remains crucial, with approximately $1.6 billion sent home in the first half of 2024, providing essential support amid the nation’s economic challenges.
Sri Lanka’s updated National Labor Migration Policy (2023-2027) aims to expand global opportunities and protect its workforce, largely employed in the Middle East. Key accomplishments include support centers and pre-departure programs. This framework is vital for managing the sector, which provides crucial foreign exchange, with remittances reaching USD 3.8 billion in 2022.
The “Triple Win” Framework: An Overview of Global Skills Partnerships
Global Skills Partnerships (GSP), a “triple win” concept by Michael Clemens, create mutually beneficial skills development for origin countries, destination countries, and migrants. This flexible, bilateral model focuses on sharing training costs and enhancing skill mobility, ensuring all parties benefit from the creation and circulation of a skilled workforce.
Global Skills Partnerships (GSP), under the Global Compact for Migration, aim to invest in skills development and facilitate their mutual recognition. By strengthening training capacities, GSP ensures workers from origin countries are equipped with employable skills that meet the demands of both domestic and international labor markets.
The GSP’s “dual track” model trains potential migrants in their home country before departure, featuring separate “home” and “away” tracks. This ensures migration is managed effectively, creating a skilled workforce that benefits both the country of origin and the destination country.
The GSP Framework for Effective Skilled Migration
Global Skill Partnerships offer policymakers a fifth option, creating a bilateral framework for sharing the benefits of training and employing skilled workers. This approach ensures a “quadruple win” for origin countries, destination countries, migrants, and the global community while preserving the fundamental freedom of movement.
A Global Skills Partnership (GSP) is a bilateral initiative that trains potential migrants in their home countries, creating a skilled workforce for both origin and destination countries. While promising for addressing global labor shortages and aligning with SDGs, its success depends on ensuring revenue reinvestment and protecting migrant rights.
summary, while skilled migration refers to the general movement of skilled workers, Global Skills Partnerships (GSPs) represent a specific, structured model based on formal agreements. This managed approach is often viewed as more advantageous, ensuring mutual benefits for both sending and receiving countries.
The Case for Worldwide Skills Partnerships
The Global Skills Partnership (GSP) aims to develop and recognize the skills of migrant workers, particularly women and youth, to achieve sustainable labor market outcomes in both origin and destination countries. By fostering regular migration through bilateral arrangements and quality training, it seeks to enhance worker productivity, retention, and overall economic performance
Multilateral Strategies for Skills Partnership
Several key international organizations, including the ILO, IOM, and UNESCO, are collaborating to establish the Global Skills Partnership (GSP). This initiative will mobilize resources and expertise to create platforms aimed at supporting national and migrant workers, particularly those with low to medium skills, through multi-level partnerships.
Global Skill Partnerships (GSPs) play a significant role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing challenges related to employment, education, inequality, and migration.
The 2030 Agenda envisions inclusive economic growth achieved through sustainable practices and enhanced international cooperation on skills development, creating opportunities for all.
The Global Skill Partnership (GSP) model, backed by organizations like the OECD and ILO, trains potential migrants in their home countries with skills needed abroad. This approach effectively addresses global skill shortages while creating mutual benefits for both origin and destination countries.
Mapping Sri Lanka’s Global Partnership Network
Sri Lanka has established key skills partnerships with countries like Australia, Qatar, Japan, South Korea, and Germany. These bilateral agreements focus on developing skills in sectors such as tourism, construction, and manufacturing through targeted training programs. The initiatives create mutual benefits by preparing Sri Lankan workers for employment both domestically and abroad, while addressing specific labor needs in destination countries.
GSP have been successfully piloted in various forms. Examples include Germany’s construction sector training in Kosovo, the Australia-Pacific Technical College’s “away track” for Pacific islanders, and Belgium’s PALIM project which trained Moroccan ICT workers, demonstrating the model’s practical application across different sectors and regions.
GSPs as a Tool for Stabilizing Sri Lanka’s Migration Economy
Global Skills Partnerships present a transformative opportunity for Sri Lanka, enabling it to build a knowledge-driven economy by aligning workforce skills with global standards. These partnerships directly address domestic skill shortages in key sectors, create meaningful youth employment, and diversify remittance streams through higher-skilled migration. By strengthening bilateral relations and fostering social mobility, GSPs can drive sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty, positioning Sri Lanka for long-term prosperity.
