Labour migration
Labour migration at the heart of Africa’s integration and development agenda
In a combined effort to promote the Joint Labour Migration Programme, the African Union, the ILO, the UNECA and the IOM briefed Member States, the RECS and development partners on the new strategic initiative for effective governance of labour migration and mobility in Africa.
ADDIS ABABA (ILO News) – With an estimated 19 million migrants in Africa, implementing the AU/ILO/ECA/IOM Joint Programme on Labour Migration Governance for Development and Integration is the most effective line of international action to protect labour migrants and their families, agreed today high level participants to an inclusive awareness raising session of key development partners in Addis Ababa.
“Migration is one of the key global – and African – challenges for economic development, social cohesion and governance”, said Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa in the presence of AU Member States, the RECS and major development partners including the European Union, DFID, CIDA, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, etc.
More than 31.3 million African people are living in countries other than their birth place, mostly in Africa but many in Europe, the Gulf States and other continents and the Joint Labour Migration Program aims at contributing to a conceptual framework to help policymakers address labour migration challenges in Africa and its implications for growth and development.
“Sustained growth, prosperity, employment and social security can only be safeguarded through a flexible market and the promotion of mobility. Labour migration thus leads to better deployment of economic resources and increases production”, emphasized Dr. Mustapha S. Kaloko, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs.
Half of African migrants stay in Africa. International migration from Africa is largely forced in nature. In sub-Saharan Africa, migration remains at the top of the policy agenda because African countries have lost a substantial proportion of their skilled labour force through “brain drain”, which is generally seen as being caused by a lack of economic opportunities and conflict. But migration is also a priority because remittances from migrants are recognized as having been an important source of resilience for households in African countries.
“Migration can be a transformative force, it can lift millions of people out of poverty and contribute to inclusive and sustainable development of countries of origin and destination alike, but only if the human rights of migrants are protected”, underscored Takyiwaa Manuh, Director at the Social Development Policy Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Lack of effective implementation of national policies, lack of mutual recognition of credentials and qualifications and inappropriate social protection mechanisms constitute serious obstacles to effective labour migration governance, underlined the African Union Commission. Additionally, labour mobility is hampered by the absence of implementation of protocol on free movement of persons as well as the prevalence of rigid border formalities.
“High youth unemployment and a lack of channels for safe, orderly and legal migration can result in young people engaging in risky cross-border movements as they risk their lives in search of better opportunities”, insisted Takyiwaa Manuh, Director at the UNECA.
The absence of reliable, accurate and comprehensive data on labour migration, the capacity gaps, the poor institutional coordination at all levels, and the lack of or inadequate protection for migrant workers and their families from exploitation and hostility are additional challenges that would be addressed by the JLMP, now a politically validated programme of action spearheaded by the AUC with coordinated support from the ILO, IOM and UNECA.
"The Joint Initiative responds to the real needs of the key beneficiaries and addresses stakeholder concerns (…), it promotes strategic donor engagement" for the implementation of an effective programme on Labour Migration Governance for Development and Integration in Africa, explained Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, UN Co-Chair of the Labour and Employment Sub Cluster, RCM mechanism for Africa.
There is a strong recognition that effective labour migration governance is one of the sustainable means for reducing trafficking in persons and an increased recognition of the developmental dividends/benefits of labour migration for sending and receiving countries.
“Africa’s youthful population is growing and will continue to look for employment opportunities and better life standards. There is a potential role of intra‐regional migration and mobility within Africa in reducing the pressure and numbers of people using irregular and dangerous migration channels”, noted Josiah Ogina, IOM Head of mission and Representative to AU/ECA/IGAD.
Positioning labour migration as a key issue on the development agenda for the continent remains a top priority.
The JLMP arrived at a key moment after the Review of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD Beyond 2014) and as discussions are evolving regarding the post-2015 development agenda.
“Investing in social protection in Africa, particularly migrants and their families’ social protection, will help African countries develop their full productive potential, contribute to the formalization of employment, support economic and social change, foster sustainable and equitable growth, reduce vulnerability and boost economic and social development”, stressed the ILO Regional Director for Africa.
Participants agreed that to deal with labour migration issues, Africa needs more planning, better policies and robust strategies with efforts geared at working towards an operational roadmap for the Joint Labour Migration Roadmap for Africa.
“Facilitation of free movement of persons would constitute an important step to economic integration and development in Africa”, concluded Takyiwaa Manuh.
The half-day meeting was to mobilize a broad-based coalition for implementing the Joint Labour Migration Program in close partnership with development partners to better inform upcoming discussions on the way to the Roundtable Conference on Migration and Intra-Regional integration planned to take place in March/April 2015 in Kigali, Rwanda.
For more information, please contact jusuP@africa-union.org; snaomi@iom-int; MSiyunyi@uneca.org and getahun@ilo.org
“Migration is one of the key global – and African – challenges for economic development, social cohesion and governance”, said Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa in the presence of AU Member States, the RECS and major development partners including the European Union, DFID, CIDA, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, etc.
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More than 31.3 million African people are living in countries other than their birth place, mostly in Africa but many in Europe, the Gulf States and other continents and the Joint Labour Migration Program aims at contributing to a conceptual framework to help policymakers address labour migration challenges in Africa and its implications for growth and development.
“Sustained growth, prosperity, employment and social security can only be safeguarded through a flexible market and the promotion of mobility. Labour migration thus leads to better deployment of economic resources and increases production”, emphasized Dr. Mustapha S. Kaloko, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs.
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“Migration can be a transformative force, it can lift millions of people out of poverty and contribute to inclusive and sustainable development of countries of origin and destination alike, but only if the human rights of migrants are protected”, underscored Takyiwaa Manuh, Director at the Social Development Policy Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Challenges and Opportunities
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“High youth unemployment and a lack of channels for safe, orderly and legal migration can result in young people engaging in risky cross-border movements as they risk their lives in search of better opportunities”, insisted Takyiwaa Manuh, Director at the UNECA.
The absence of reliable, accurate and comprehensive data on labour migration, the capacity gaps, the poor institutional coordination at all levels, and the lack of or inadequate protection for migrant workers and their families from exploitation and hostility are additional challenges that would be addressed by the JLMP, now a politically validated programme of action spearheaded by the AUC with coordinated support from the ILO, IOM and UNECA.
"The Joint Initiative responds to the real needs of the key beneficiaries and addresses stakeholder concerns (…), it promotes strategic donor engagement" for the implementation of an effective programme on Labour Migration Governance for Development and Integration in Africa, explained Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, UN Co-Chair of the Labour and Employment Sub Cluster, RCM mechanism for Africa.
There is a strong recognition that effective labour migration governance is one of the sustainable means for reducing trafficking in persons and an increased recognition of the developmental dividends/benefits of labour migration for sending and receiving countries.
“Africa’s youthful population is growing and will continue to look for employment opportunities and better life standards. There is a potential role of intra‐regional migration and mobility within Africa in reducing the pressure and numbers of people using irregular and dangerous migration channels”, noted Josiah Ogina, IOM Head of mission and Representative to AU/ECA/IGAD.
Way Forward
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The JLMP arrived at a key moment after the Review of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD Beyond 2014) and as discussions are evolving regarding the post-2015 development agenda.
“Investing in social protection in Africa, particularly migrants and their families’ social protection, will help African countries develop their full productive potential, contribute to the formalization of employment, support economic and social change, foster sustainable and equitable growth, reduce vulnerability and boost economic and social development”, stressed the ILO Regional Director for Africa.
Participants agreed that to deal with labour migration issues, Africa needs more planning, better policies and robust strategies with efforts geared at working towards an operational roadmap for the Joint Labour Migration Roadmap for Africa.
“Facilitation of free movement of persons would constitute an important step to economic integration and development in Africa”, concluded Takyiwaa Manuh.
The half-day meeting was to mobilize a broad-based coalition for implementing the Joint Labour Migration Program in close partnership with development partners to better inform upcoming discussions on the way to the Roundtable Conference on Migration and Intra-Regional integration planned to take place in March/April 2015 in Kigali, Rwanda.
For more information, please contact jusuP@africa-union.org; snaomi@iom-int; MSiyunyi@uneca.org and getahun@ilo.org