Lessons and innovations from Africa and Asia to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) labour migration corridor

Labour migration remains central to the economies of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as for countries of origin across Africa and Asia. Ensuring that these migration pathways are fair, safe and conducive to decent work is critical for sustainable development in both origin and destination countries, especially during times of crisis and economic shocks.

This proposed side event at the International Migration Review Forum, organized by the GCC Executive Bureau, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the International Labour Organization (ILO), seeks to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between countries of destination and origin, focusing on wage protection systems and social protection reforms.

The session will also draw on the work of the ILO’s FAIRWAY and STREAM Programmes, which support evidence-based policymaking and corridor-based cooperation to protect migrant workers. FAIRWAY is an interregional ILO initiative, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, designed to strengthen labour migration governance and improve conditions for migrant workers between Africa and the Arab States. It champions an inclusive, rights-based and collaborative approach to realizing decent work for migrant workers and building resilient labour migration systems across regions. STREAM is a multi-country, multi-partner ILO initiative that works to expand inclusive, gender-responsive and rights-based social protection coverage for migrant workers and their families across the South Asia-GCC migration corridor.

Implemented in partnership and with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Foreign Policy Instrument of the European Union and the Ford Foundation, STREAM aims to create a world where every migrant worker – no matter their gender, status, or sector - can access the social protection they deserve to live and work in dignity.

The event will be conducted in English with simultaneous Arabic interpretation.

Agenda

Welcome and opening remarks:

• H.E. Mr Mohammed Al Obaidly Director General, GCC Executive Bureau
• H.E. Mr Sattam bin Amer Al Harbi, Deputy Minister for Control and Development of Work Environment, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Session overview and presentation

• Mr Ryszard Cholewinski, Senior Labour Migration Specialist, ILO Regional Office for the Arab States

High-level panel discussion

Panellists:

• Ms Mona Balobaid, Director of Combatting Trafficking in Persons, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Mr Hassan Mattar, Social Development Specialist, GCC Executive Bureau
• Mr Joel N. Mwanzia, Secretary of Labour Migration, Government of Kenya
• Mr Md. Mokhtar Ahmed, Honourable Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Government of Bangladesh
• Mr Joel Odigie, Secretary General, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Africa
• Dr Abdul Ghani Alsayegh, Chairman of the Saudi Labour Market Committee at the Federation of Saudi Chambers
• Discussant: Mr William Gois, Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)