Global Compact on Migration

UNECE region reviews Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

News | 19 November 2020
In December 2018, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was adopted by 164 nations. It has important labour migration components and makes substantial reference to decent work throughout its objectives and concepts. The Director of the ILO-Brussels Office participated in a roundtable on the occasion of the first regional review of the Global Compact on Migration in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region.

The intergovernmental event was organized by IOM and the UN Network on Migration. Stakeholders from civil society, trade unions and employers’ organizations participated in the event. UNECE has 56 Member States, including the countries of Europe, North America and Central Asia.

The UNECE regional review took place virtually in the middle of a pandemic which is having an unprecedented impact on global economies, businesses and workers. Many migrant workers are concentrated in sectors which are characterized by high levels of temporary, informal or unprotected work. To help ensure that they receive a fair share of the benefits of labour migration, it remains critical to adhere to international labour standards to protect migrant workers’ rights and to implement decent work principles for all.

“Migrant workers too are experiencing job losses and many are forced to return to even more fragile labour markets, putting their livelihood at great risk,” said Lieve Verboven.

The ILO has a number of activities in the UNECE region to support labour migration governance. The ILO, IOM and UN Women are implementing a project in Kyrgyzstan to empower women and girls most vulnerable to migration, by improving their participation in peacebuilding and inclusive community development, enhancing their access to socio-economic opportunities and building their capacities.

In Turkey, the ILO is supporting the government in a range of activities to improve decent work opportunities for migrant workers, including on skills development, employability and innovative approaches to help businesses deliver social protection to these workers.

ILO has also expanded its work with countries from which migrants to Europe originate, including the African region.

The Global Compact also recognizes the centrality of promoting fair recruitment, and the ILO has made significant progress in advancing its Fair Recruitment Initiative in order to eliminate recruitment fees and costs that can lead to debt bondage, forced labour and human trafficking.

Rights-based and gender-responsive Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMAs) can facilitate cooperation between origin and destination countries to both protect migrant workers and help them to contribute to and benefit from socio-economic development in a fair and equitable manner.

While skills shortages and gaps are often among the main reasons for entering into such agreements, at the same time, they are often among the most overlooked aspects. To address this issue, the ILO has produced Guidelines for skills modules in BLMAs. The guidelines refer to the skills possessed by migrant workers which need to be recognized, matched and further developed with those in demand in the destination country’s labour market.

“As countries in Europe seek to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to build back better, the ILO remains a dedicated partner in your efforts to implement the Global Compact on Migration,” the Director concluded.