This case study explores innovative labour mobility tools introduced by Sri Lanka and Bahrain to formalise skills and enhance employment opportunities for migrant workers. Sri Lanka’s National Skills Passport, launched in 2020, is a smart card that digitally stores a worker’s qualifications and experience, particularly targeting returnee migrants. Developed by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) in collaboration with the ILO and Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, it aims to validate informal skills, promote entrepreneurship, and facilitate reintegration into the domestic workforce. The initiative categorises returnees into skilled and semi-skilled groups, offering tailored reskilling and certification pathways.
Bahrain’s New Work Permit, introduced in 2022, replaces the Flexi Permit system. It links work authorization to verified vocational credentials, enhancing workplace safety and transparency. Both initiatives use QR-coded cards to store and share worker data efficiently.
The study highlights the potential of such systems to streamline recruitment, reduce skill mismatches, and support long-term economic planning. It also notes challenges like legal recognition across borders and procedural complexity. The paper concludes by suggesting that India could benefit from adopting similar frameworks to support its large overseas workforce and improve skill portability.
