Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa (THAMM)

This Project is a sub-regional project funded by the European Union through the “Emergency Trust Fund for Stability and Addressing the Root Causes of Irregular Migration and Displaced Persons in Africa” and the German Federal Ministry for Development (BMZ). It is implemented under two separate contracts, one concerning the ILO and IOM funded by the European Union and one concerning GIZ funded by the EU and BMZ.

Implementing partners: ILO and IOM. Other THAMM components are implemented by ENABEL, GIZ and OFII.

Geographical area of implementation: Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Also, open to other North African countries (Algeria and Libya) for sub-regional activities only.


Project Background

The “Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa-THAMM” project is implemented under two separate contracts, one concerning the ILO and IOM funded by the European Union through the “Emergency Trust Fund for Stability and Addressing the Root Causes of Irregular Migration and Displaced Persons in Africa” and one concerning GIZ funded by the European Union and BMZ.

The action is designed as a sub-regional programme aiming at the strengthening of migrant workers’ protection mechanisms throughout the migration cycle and whether workers are leaving the region or seeking employment there.

Regional Conference THAMM

2nd THAMM Regional Conference, 30 January 2023, Cairo, Egypt

Important events in 2023:

  • 30 Jan.-1Feb. 2023: 2nd THAMM Regional Conference on Mobility Programmes between North Africa and Europe. For conference documents, see here and for videos here
  • Regional: Launch of the report of the 2nd Regional Conference (May 2023);  launch of the Guidelines on International Labour Migration of the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians in Arabic (June 2023); launch of the 1st UMA report on labour migration statistics (June 2023)
  • Egypt: Launch of the diagnosis on migration statistics with CAPMAS (June 2023); training/capacity building for labour inspection with the Ministry of Manpower (June-September 2023)
  • Morocco : Finalization of ANAPEC support tools (April to June 2023); delivery of the National Strategy for International Professional Mobility (July 2023); launch of impact studies (COVID, access to pensions, migrant profiles) (between May and July 2023);    Finalization of two pilot surveys with the HCP.
  • Tunisia : Capacity building workshops with the CNSS on bilateral social security agreements (May-June 2023); launch of the prudential checklist (May 2023);  support for the work of the National Statistics Council (May-June 2023)

Important events in 2022:

  • Kick-off of the development of National Strategy for International Labour Mobility (Morocco, July 2022)
  • Validation of the diagnostic studies on recruitment in Egypt and on labour migration statistics (Egypt, July 2022)
  • Presentation of the first conclusions of studies on prudential checklist and economic models for private employment agencies (Tunisia, June 2022)
  • 2nd THAMM Regional Conference on mobility schemes (November 2022)

Main achievements 2019-2021

Regional

Egypt

GOVERNANCE
  • A diagnostic study analyzing the regulatory framework and actual practices shaping the recruitment of Egyptian workers for the international market was completed in October 2021
DATA
  • Start of diagnosis study on labour migration data collection mechanisms undertaken by ILO in collaboration with CAPMAS

Morocco

GOVERNANCE:
  • Three studies and one survey were completed in this reporting period: a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on Moroccans residing abroad (MRE) (employment and social protection), a study on available statistics of MRE and their vulnerability to COVID-19 crisis, a study on MRE pension schemes
DATA
  • Launch of the development of the integrated national information system on international labor migration under the leadership of the Office of the High Commission for Planning (Haut Commissariat au Plan, HCP).

Tunisia

GOVERNANCE:
  • Development of a brief on the National strategy for international employment and protection of migrant workers’ rights - “SNEI” pending Ministry of Employment’s final confirmation
  • Completion of study on the impact of COVID on labour migrants
  • The development and dissemination of several tools and resources on 2021, included: two guides designed to help employers to more effectively respond to the impact of COVID-19 as well as enhance migrant workers protection; a 2D animated video in French, English and Arabic to raise awareness among Tunisian workers about to be recruited for placement abroad through the ATCT.
Capacity-building:
  • 28 labour inspectors were trained to the control of private international placement agencies under the draft legislation,
  • Preparation of training material for international employment advisers from ANETI for the Promotion of Fair Recruitment principles and post-placement follow-up, completed and presented to ANETI.