Somalia approves landmark regulations to protect migrant workers and formalise the private recruitment sector

Following an inclusive and participatory development process carried out over the past year, the Government of Somalia officially adopted the National Labour Migration Policy in July 2025 and the Private Employment Agencies (PrEAs) Regulations in August 2025.

Together, these landmark frameworks represent a major milestone in Somalia’s labour sector reform agenda. These frameworks strengthen institutional capacity, promote decent work, and support the establishment of a fair, transparent and orderly labour migration system that benefits workers, employers, and the country as a whole.

The new PrEAs regulation, in particular, marks a critical step forward in strengthening labour migration governance. It introduces clear safeguards to promote fair recruitment practices and reduce the risks associated with informal and unregulated labour migration.

The development and adoption of the Regulation and Policy were led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) of the Federal Government of Somalia, in close collaboration with social partners and private employment agencies, under the leadership of Hon. Minister Yusuf Mohamed Adan, with strong collaboration from the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General. The process was made possible through the technical and financial support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

The journey of the regulation reflects over a year of inclusive policymaking and stakeholder engagement. In October 2024, MoLSA and the ILO convened a three-day national consultation workshop in Mogadishu, bringing together 26 participants, including federal and state officials, trade unions, private recruitment agencies, and civil society representatives. Participants validated a comprehensive situational analysis of Somalia’s recruitment landscape and provided in-depth feedback on the draft regulations and implementation framework.

Similarly, the NLM Policy underwent extensive consultation. A three-day National validation workshop was held in Mogadishu from 3–5 December 2024, during which participants reviewed and validated the draft Policy and its Action Plan. The workshop brought together 36 participants (27 men and 9 women) representing key government institutions, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and international partners.

Prior to the new PrEAs regulation, Somalia lacked a dedicated legal framework to regulate private employment agencies. This gap contributed to the proliferation of informal recruitment channels, exposing many Somali workers, especially youth, to deception, excessive fees, unsafe working conditions and irregular migration pathways. As a country of origin, transit, destination, and return, Somalia faced significant and far-reaching consequences from this regulatory vacuum.

The newly adopted regulation addresses these challenges directly. It establishes clear procedures for licensing, registration, and monitoring of PrEAs and defines obligations and operational standards for agencies. It also introduces strong worker protection measures aligned with ILO Conventions Nos. 97, 143, and 181, all ratified by Somalia in 2021. These provisions embed fair recruitment principles, prohibit exploitative practices and promote transparency and accountability across recruitment processes.

Hon. Minister Yusuf Mohamed Adan welcomed the regulation as a “timely and necessary intervention” that recognizes the role of private recruiters while protecting Somali workers from exploitation. Representatives of the Somali Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Somali Trade Unions echoed this sentiment, noting that the regulation will bring greater structure, legitimacy and protection to labour migration governance in Somalia.