Towards an IGAD common approach to migrant workers protection: Regional guidelines for bilateral labour agreements
The absence of strong bilateral labour agreements (BLAs) in the IGAD region leads to increased risk of exploitation and abuse of migrant workers, in destination countries. In addition to decent work deficits encountered abroad, migrant workers can be subjected to abusive and exploitative practices starting from the recruitment stage, as many recruitment agents operate outside of regulatory frameworks.
One of the key priority areas of the FMPT project is to promote right based approach to labour migration and mobility in the IGAD region to ensure equality of treatment and opportunity among all workers in destination countries. The development of guidelines on BLAs in the form of a practical guide to be endorsed by IGAD Member States, contributes to that key priority. The practical guidelines are formulated in collaboration with the Global Migration Policy Associates (GMPA) and are based on the international labour standards framework and concrete country experiences in developing and implementing BLAs.
In February and March 2020, the FMPT conducted field missions to consult national stakeholders including different ministries (MOL, MOI, MOFA), social partners, private employment agencies, and NGOs in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda; the IGAD secretariat and the EU in Djibouti. The field work in Somalia and South Sudan is postponed due to the COVID19 situation. In all five countries surveyed, stakeholders reported signature of several BLAs over the last five to seven years with countries in demand of employment - mainly the Middle East and Gulf country.
This consultative process will lead to the formulation of a technical background paper building on consultations with relevant stakeholders and design of the practical guidelines. The process of developing guidelines and promoting a common approach at regional level on minimum standards for Migrant workers protection is necessarily a political as well as technical process that requires engagement and building ownership by IGAD Members States.
One of the key priority areas of the FMPT project is to promote right based approach to labour migration and mobility in the IGAD region to ensure equality of treatment and opportunity among all workers in destination countries. The development of guidelines on BLAs in the form of a practical guide to be endorsed by IGAD Member States, contributes to that key priority. The practical guidelines are formulated in collaboration with the Global Migration Policy Associates (GMPA) and are based on the international labour standards framework and concrete country experiences in developing and implementing BLAs.
In February and March 2020, the FMPT conducted field missions to consult national stakeholders including different ministries (MOL, MOI, MOFA), social partners, private employment agencies, and NGOs in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda; the IGAD secretariat and the EU in Djibouti. The field work in Somalia and South Sudan is postponed due to the COVID19 situation. In all five countries surveyed, stakeholders reported signature of several BLAs over the last five to seven years with countries in demand of employment - mainly the Middle East and Gulf country.
This consultative process will lead to the formulation of a technical background paper building on consultations with relevant stakeholders and design of the practical guidelines. The process of developing guidelines and promoting a common approach at regional level on minimum standards for Migrant workers protection is necessarily a political as well as technical process that requires engagement and building ownership by IGAD Members States.