Reintegration of returned domestic workers in Sri Lanka: from challenges to opportunities within the community

Abstract

The reintegration of returnee migrant workers in Sri Lanka is a highly challenging process. The overall reintegration program requires strong national and local capacities to deliver services and to harness the development impact of return migration. Therefore, any ad-hoc attempt to do the reintegration may create scepticism among returnees. Programmes should consider satisfaction of migrants' needs in each of the phases (pre-departure, departures, on-arrival and in-service) of their return process, as well as the needs and potentials of communities after return. Reintegration has two interrelated aspects, namely socio-cultural and the economic. Without socio-cultural reintegration, the economic reintegration will be a nightmare. Sociocultural learning that migrant workers espoused at the countries that they were working may change the behaviour and lifestyle of them.