Somalia strengthens Rights-Based Labour Migration Governance through Federal-State Engagement

Between 24 January and 7 February 2026, Somalia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), in collaboration with the ILO under the UK FCDO-funded BRMM Programme, conducted a series of state-level sensitization workshops on the newly adopted National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) and Private Employment Agencies (PrEAs) Regulation. The workshops reached 139 participants (31 women) across Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Northeast States, including government officials, trade unions, private employment agencies, civil society organizations, academic institutions, employers’ associations, and parliamentarians. Discussions focused on operationalising the newly adopted frameworks, strengthening labour migration governance, and improving the regulation of recruitment practices in line with international labour standards. Participants reviewed key provisions related to recruitment procedures, pre-departure orientation, labour inspections, complaint mechanisms, and migrant worker protection.

Stakeholders emphasized the importance of stronger federal-state coordination, improved reporting systems, enhanced labour inspection capacity, and the establishment of labour migration focal points at the state level. The sensitization workshops build on Somalia’s adoption of the National Labour Migration Policy in July 2025 and the PrEAs Regulation in August 2025, marking an important step towards rights-based and gender-responsive labour migration governance. The initiative also highlighted Somalia’s commitment to strengthening labour migration systems amid complex migration dynamics, including irregular migration, internal displacement, and growing overseas labour mobility.

These frameworks provide a strong legal and technical foundation, but their impact depends on coordinated implementation between federal and state institutions

Mr. Hussien Bakar

Moving forward, MoLSA and the ILO will continue supporting implementation through technical assistance, stakeholder coordination, and institutional capacity building.