Global Forum on Migration and Development holds thematic workshop on labour migration and skills
GENEVA - The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held a planned thematic workshop on labour migration and skills at the UN in Geneva on 3 May to inform the UN Global Compact for Migration. Participants included the GFMD Co-chairs Germany and Morocco, representatives of the ILO, OECD and IOM, policy makers from GFMD member states, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and experts working in the field.
The workshop explored a number of issues, including:
“Understanding skills demand not only helps to facilitate international mobility but also helps to create employment growth at home”, said Srinivas Reddy, ILO Chief of Skills and Employability, at the opening of the workshop. “If countries of origin have the mechanisms to better understand the growing sectors and the skills demanded, this would provide a point of entry for limiting the push factor for people in local economies to look for opportunities abroad. This can limit the ‘brain drain’ and ‘brain waste’, which is essentially a waste of the skills of people because their skills are not property utilized. And, eventually, for returning migrants, this would provide an opportunity to integrate in the local economy through the ‘brain gain’.
“Knowledge of labour markets both within countries of origin and countries of destination allow training institutions to better target vocational education and training programmes to meet the needs of the labour market,” he added. “The need to connect these two is very important. If training programmes cater to labour market demands it would help to reduce waste and support the integration of all sections of societies, including disadvantaged groups.”
Emphasizing some of the challenges and opportunities on the topic of labour migration and skills was Jasper Van Loo of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and Rapporteur for the opening session. “The challenges we face are several, including, ensuring a migration process that benefits all workers, that is safe and guards against ‘social dumping’, and promoting the mutual recognition of skills and qualifications related to different groups of migrants. This deserves more attention.” In terms of opportunities, Van Loo stressed the importance of strengthening employment services to help focus on what labour markets will look like with the use of big data being used as a possible solution, and promoting skills development and sectoral approaches.
Michelle Leighton, ILO Chief of Labour Migration, highlighted that the “ILO has developed both normative standards and good practices guidance to help countries design and implement effective migration policies that address labour needs in origin and destination countries, and provide investments in skills development and recognition.”
The daylong workshop consisted of four sessions: Session 1: Understanding skill demands for labour mobility; Session II: Responding to skill demands for labour mobility and local labour markets; Session III: Recognition of skills and qualifications; and, Session IV: Way forward towards a Global Partnership on skills and Migration.
“A future skills partnership will facilitate peer learning and peer exchange on skills development and recognition systems and tools among interested countries, and will contribute to facilitating regular migration, especially of low- and medium-skilled workers”, concluded Sangheon Lee, ILO Director of the Employment Policy Department.
The workshop explored a number of issues, including:
- Discussions and concrete proposals on how the Global Compact on Migration can take forward the commitments and actions laid out in Objective 18 of the Global Compact for Migration on “Invest in skills development and facilitate recognition of skills, qualifications and competences”;
- The role of the GFMD in showcasing state-led initiatives and experiences on the implementation of skill partnerships; and,
- Fostering cooperation in the establishment of a Global Skill Partnership to empower migrant workers to gain access to safe mobility and reach their potential as agents of innovation and development.
“Understanding skills demand not only helps to facilitate international mobility but also helps to create employment growth at home”, said Srinivas Reddy, ILO Chief of Skills and Employability, at the opening of the workshop. “If countries of origin have the mechanisms to better understand the growing sectors and the skills demanded, this would provide a point of entry for limiting the push factor for people in local economies to look for opportunities abroad. This can limit the ‘brain drain’ and ‘brain waste’, which is essentially a waste of the skills of people because their skills are not property utilized. And, eventually, for returning migrants, this would provide an opportunity to integrate in the local economy through the ‘brain gain’.
“Knowledge of labour markets both within countries of origin and countries of destination allow training institutions to better target vocational education and training programmes to meet the needs of the labour market,” he added. “The need to connect these two is very important. If training programmes cater to labour market demands it would help to reduce waste and support the integration of all sections of societies, including disadvantaged groups.”
Emphasizing some of the challenges and opportunities on the topic of labour migration and skills was Jasper Van Loo of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and Rapporteur for the opening session. “The challenges we face are several, including, ensuring a migration process that benefits all workers, that is safe and guards against ‘social dumping’, and promoting the mutual recognition of skills and qualifications related to different groups of migrants. This deserves more attention.” In terms of opportunities, Van Loo stressed the importance of strengthening employment services to help focus on what labour markets will look like with the use of big data being used as a possible solution, and promoting skills development and sectoral approaches.
Michelle Leighton, ILO Chief of Labour Migration, highlighted that the “ILO has developed both normative standards and good practices guidance to help countries design and implement effective migration policies that address labour needs in origin and destination countries, and provide investments in skills development and recognition.”
The daylong workshop consisted of four sessions: Session 1: Understanding skill demands for labour mobility; Session II: Responding to skill demands for labour mobility and local labour markets; Session III: Recognition of skills and qualifications; and, Session IV: Way forward towards a Global Partnership on skills and Migration.
“A future skills partnership will facilitate peer learning and peer exchange on skills development and recognition systems and tools among interested countries, and will contribute to facilitating regular migration, especially of low- and medium-skilled workers”, concluded Sangheon Lee, ILO Director of the Employment Policy Department.