Practical Guide for the Implementation of an International Labour Migration and Labour Market Information System

The "Practical Guide for the Implementation of an International Labour Migration and Labour Market Information System" is an essential manual developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the "Better Regional Migration Management" (BRMM) Programme. It provides national governments, statisticians, and policymakers with a standardized, step-by-step roadmap for establishing a robust Labour Market Information System (LMIS) to improve labour market and migration governance and planning. Recognizing that timely and reliable data are critical for evidence-based policies that protect workers' rights, including migrant workers, and promote social inclusion, the guide addresses the common challenge of fragmented and inconsistent labour migration data, promoting its integration in national and regional labour market information systems. It defines an LMIS as a collaborative network of institutions and people working together to produce, analyze and utilize labour market information to inform national development and employment strategies. It outlines a comprehensive implementation process that spans from initial data availability assessments to the full operationalization and maintenance of the system. It highlights four fundamental components: institutional arrangements for network formation, systematic data collection protocols, a centralized information repository, and the development of analytical skills among staff. To facilitate this, the guide offers a suite of practical tools and templates for creating essential documents such as Memorandums of Understanding, Governance Handbooks, and Indicator Master Plans. Furthermore, it emphasizes adherence to international statistical standards, including resolutions and guidelines from the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) covering a wide range of decent work topics, including labour migration, ensuring that the resulting systems are interoperable, actionable, and capable of monitoring labour market dynamics in real-time.