Inter-Regional Dialogue Between Africa and Arab States Strengthens Collaboration on Migrant Worker Protection

The ILO further scaled up its interregional engagement by facilitating cooperation between ATUMNET members and the Arab Trade Union Confederation to enhance the protection of African migrant workers in the Arab States. An inter-regional dialogue was held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 21–23 May 2025, bringing together around 50 participants, including trade union representatives from Africa and the Arab States, migrant workers, recruitment agencies, civil society organizations, government officials, and development partners such as the ILO and GIZ.

The meeting provided an important platform to review progress under ATUMNET’s 2022–2024 Action Plan, address persistent challenges in labour migration governance across the region, and define the network’s strategic direction for the next four years.

A key highlight was the participation of two BRMM-supported returnee migrant workers from Kenya, who shared their lived experiences and emphasized the need to place migrant voices, especially those of women, at the centre of policy dialogue. Their testimonies underscored a shared message echoed throughout the meeting: effective protection of migrant workers begins with recognizing, hearing, and valuing their stories.

Discussions reinforced the importance of rethinking migration governance in practice, from fair recruitment and union-led advocacy to improved documentation of women migrant workers’ experiences. By the close of the meeting, participants had outlined a clear roadmap for promoting more equitable, transparent, and worker-centred migration systems.