Labour Mobility and Regional Integration in East and Horn of Africa

This report analyses the role of the East African Community (EAC) Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Common Market (CMP) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region (FMP) in facilitating labour mobility in the East and Horn of Africa (EHoA) region. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the legal and policy context of protecting the rights of migrant workers in the EHoA region, focusing on the EAC CMP and IGAD FMP and national labour provisions of the case study countries, namely Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. It also discusses the opportunities and challenges of overlapping memberships for the implementation of the IGAD FMP and acceleration of the EAC CMP in relation to labour mobility and migrant workers’ rights based on the experiences of Kenya and Uganda. It also explores the impact of overlapping memberships and COVID-19 on labour mobility while taking into account gender considerations.

Assessment of the recruitment framework of Private Employment Agencies

The study was undertaken to evaluate the compliance of the regulatory framework of Private Employment Agencies (PEAs) in Albania with international standards vis-à-vis related with migrant workers recruitment. Moreover, detailed analysis of the sector will serve to develop recommendations on the ethical recruitment standards for Albanian public and private employment agencies.

Part of the study was to identify and take account of the “best practices” of PEAs operation from countries that have a regulated and consolidated market. 

This assessment was carried out under the project of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) “Promotion of decent work opportunities and protection of migrant workers in Albania”. The aforementioned project was funded by the Government of Sweden through the One UN Coherence Fund and implemented by IOM Tirana (Albania) in partnership with major actors of the Government of Albania.

The project aims to contribute to the development of an effective management system of employment mediation, which will promote ethical recruitment, decent work and protect migrant workers. The assessment took into consideration Albanian migrant workers seeking for employment abroad, present candidates and past migrant workers, as well as foreign migrant workers who have found employment opportunities in Albania. Special focus is given to the gender factor and recommendations aim at supporting the Government of Albania in developing gender-sensitive policies for regulating the status of migrant workers by ensuring their protection.

Labour Migration in Asia: Protection of Migrant Workers, Support Services and Enhancing Development Benefits

This is the second volume of Labour Migration in Asia. The first volume (2003) looked at trends, challenges and policy responses in countries of origin. This volume describes and makes an assessment of specific initiatives in selected countries of origin to (1)protect migrant workers through the regulation of recruitment and setting of minimum standards in employment contracts, (2)provide support services to migrant workers through pre-departure orientation and a welfare fund and (3)enhance the development benefits of labour migration through training, skills development and remittances.

The articles are written by labour migration specialists and practitioners from the countries concerned and have been commissioned by IOM, the Department for International Development (UK) and the Asian Development Bank.

An Exploratory Study on Labour Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection Mechanisms in West Africa: The Case of Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal

The topics of ethical recruitment, defined as the recruitment of workers in a lawful, fair and transparent manner that respects their dignity and human rights, and labour migration, defined as the movement of persons from one State to another, or within their own country of residence, for the purpose of employment, go hand in hand. While labour migration can serve as a significant opportunity, it can also constitute a risk for those who partake in it. A risk may present itself if labour migration is undertaken as an end result of unethical recruitment practices, which may include practices that are non-transparent and fail to respect the dignity as well as human rights of workers. In such circumstances, workers may be at risk of exploitation during both the recruitment process and employment. Consistent adherence to ethical recruitment practices by all parties implicated in the recruitment process (including private recruitment agencies, employers and jobseekers) therefore significantly contributes to the reduction of these risks.

In West Africa, this correlation is particularly relevant as young West African migrants attracted by false promises of employment, high wages and decent working and living conditions are increasingly subjected to exploitative recruitment processes. Through this study, IOM seeks to shed light on this situation by assessing current recruitment practices and migrant worker protection mechanisms in place in the following case study countries: Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. This study explores and critically examines the existing evidence base on key aspects of the topic to inform potential policy and programmatic responses designed to enhance labour migration impacts for current and potential migrant workers located in as well as originating from West Africa. This publication entails both a desk-based review of the current published evidence base as well as insights derived from interviews with national stakeholders from the five case study countries.

This research publication was made possible through support provided by the Migration Resource Allocation Committee (MIRAC).