2.1. Scope of the study

The parameters of the study were largely determined by the Terms of Reference (ToR) issued by the ILO’s EQUIP Programme. The study itself adopted a qualitative approach, largely in response to the lack of literature and data on this subject matter.

Using mostly a semi-structured interview guide, a total of 148 individual interviews were conducted of which 137 were conducted in the four identified field locations of Colombo, Kurunegala, Gampaha and Kandy. Those interviewed included returnee migrant workers, prospective migrant workers, government officials (both at the central level and at the Divisional Secretariat level in the respective districts), representatives of Civil Service Organizations (CSOs), recruitment agency representatives and representatives of UN bodies working on issues related to migration.

2.1. Scope of the study

The study consisted of four sub-objectives subsequently feeding into the broader objective of the study – to acquire a better understanding of trafficking in persons and forced labour related to international labour migration (see Table 1). These were:

1. Understand the real-life experiences of former migrants, and their push factors toward migration to understand the trafficking and forced labour elements within the context of labour migration in these four districts;

2. Gather information from the target vulnerable communities within each of the four districts who are deemed more susceptive to forced labour and trafficking and to identify how, when and where it occurs, and possible perpetrators of trafficking and forced labour;

3. Understand how government, nongovernment, civil society organisations and/or private structures, at the local level respond to the issues on trafficking and forced labour;

4. Understand the existing policy framework and the status quo with regard to counter- trafficking efforts.

Table 1: Sub-objectives, rationale and the corresponding research questions

Sub-objective Rationale Research question

1 Understand the real-life experiences of former migrants, and their push factors toward migration to understand the trafficking and forced labour elements within the context of labour migration in these four districts. Returnees’ experiences provide information on their own awareness of exploitation/abuse experienced at different stages of the migration process. How do returnee migrant workers view their pre-departure and in-service work experiences? - what factors led women to choose migration for work? - what process was adopted in order to migrate? - how do they view their pre-departure experiences? - how do they view their in-service experiences?