Reinventing Mutual Recognition Arrangements

Lessons from International Experiences and Insights for the ASEAN Region

Dovelyn Rannveig Mendoza, Demetrios Demetrios, Maria Vincenza Desiderio, Brian Salant, Kate Hooper, Taylor Elwood

• Publisher: Asian Development Bank
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9789292577339
• eBook ISBN: 9789292577346
• Topic: Law
• Subtopic: Labour & Employment Law
• Index: Law

Governments and nonstate actors around the world have signed mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs), but while most of them share the goals of streamlining the recognition of foreign workers' qualifications and boosting labor mobility, the MRAs vary considerably. Implementation challenges faced in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe offer lessons for Asian policymakers seeking to operationalize the MRAs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This report is the latest in a project by the Asian Development Bank and the Migration Policy Institute to improve understanding of the barriers to the free movement of professionals within ASEAN and to support the development of strategies to overcome these hurdles. The report draws on insights of nearly 400 ASEAN and member state officials, private sector employers, training directors, and others who participated in focus group discussions, meetings, and surveys.

Appendixes

Appendix 1: Methodology

A total of 387 individuals from the ASEAN region and beyond directly contributed to the findings of this report. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) consulted with officials in all ministries in the 10 ASEAN Member States directly responsible for Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) implementation, as well as with private-sector employers, academics, training directors, members of MRA monitoring committees, and current and former ASEAN Secretariat officials.

The research employed a three-pronged approach:

First, in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), MPI convened 12 full days of focus group discussions and meetings between May and September 2015. These forums engaged regional and international experts on mutual recognition and professional mobility, and featured specific presentations on progress and challenges to MRA implementation at national and regional levels. More than 100 MRA stakeholders and experts, including a former Secretary-General of ASEAN, Chair of the ASEAN Business Council, and officials from key ministries in MRA development across ASEAN, attended the convenings. Appendix 2 lists the names and affiliations of all participants in the formal meetings and interviews.

Second, MPI administered a qualitative survey on the development and implementation of MRAs in each Member State The survey examined the specific context of MRA implementation, including evolving bottlenecks to completion. Between August 2015 and February 2016, MPI, working with local researchers in the 10 Member States, received responses from 311 individuals from relevant government ministries, the private sector, professional associations, educational institutions, and the human resources field. Appendix 3 lists the affiliations of all stakeholders who completed the MRA implementation survey (Note: Several respondents chose to omit their names in order to answer more openly).

Third, MPI reviewed key documents and presentations relating to the conclusion and implementation of the ASEAN MRAs on professional services. These included guides and reviews published by ASEAN; handbooks on implementation progress; and studies conducted by the International Labour Organization, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, and ASEAN-Australian Development Cooperation Program Phase II.

Appendix 2: List of Participants in Formal M...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Tables, Figures, and Boxes
• Abbreviations
• Acknowledgments
• Executive Summary
• I. Introduction
• II. After 100 Years, Three Insights on Mutual Recognition Arrangements Worldwide
• III. Three Routes to the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications
• IV. A Horizontal Approach: Inclusive Mutual Recognition Arrangements Covering Virtually All Occupations
• V. A Vertical Approach: Narrow Mutual Recognition Arrangements Limited to Specific Occupations and Sectors
• VI. Umbrella-Agreement Approach: Detailed Guidelines for Future Mutual Recognition Arrangements
• VII. Five Key Lessons for the ASEAN Region
• Appendixes
• References
• Back Cover