South Sudan advances on improving labour migration governance through validating National Labour Migration Policy and Action Plan

From 26 to 27 March 2025, the Ministry of Labour of South Sudan, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), through the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and its social partners, hosted a national validation workshop of South Sudan’s first National Labour Migration Policy and Action Plan in Juba. The validation workshop marked the final step in the consultative development process, a process that had been in motion for almost two years.

The two-day workshop brought together 41 participants, including representatives from various government ministries, social partners, civil society organizations, academia, media, and regional bodies such as IGAD. This diverse group gathered to review and finalize the draft policy and its accompanying action plan, ensured that the document is aligned with national, regional, continental and global labour migration frameworks.

Opening the workshop, Hon. Gen. James Hoth Mai, Minister of Labour, emphasized the value of labour migration to South Sudan’s economic and social development. He recognized the critical contribution of migrant workers and underlined the importance of a structured and rights-based approach to managing both inward and outward migration. The Minister thanked all stakeholders for their long-standing engagement, describing the policy’s development as a collective effort that had brought together the voices and perspectives of all relevant actors.

The ILO, represented by Ms. Aurelia Segatti, Labour Migration and Mobility Specialist, welcomed participants and reaffirmed ILO’s commitment and support for the development and implementation of the policy. She praised the collaborative spirit shown throughout each consultation phase and encouraged participants to take ownership of the implementation process to ensure the policy’s relevance and sustainability.

Participants engaged in a series of group discussions and plenary sessions examined every section of the draft policy and provided input. These sessions generated constructive feedback that was used to strengthen the document in real time. Key issues addressed included clarification of institutional roles, improvements in data systems for tracking migration trends, and stronger emphasis on fair recruitment and protection mechanisms for migrant workers. Participants also prioritized the ratification of key international and regional instruments as a foundation for improving labour migration governance. Among the high-priority actions agreed upon were the need for legal reforms, capacity building for institutions managing labour migration, and awareness campaigns to inform citizens about safe migration channels.

A central theme throughout the workshop was the importance of building a labour migration governance system that benefits both migrants and the broader development agenda. Participants emphasized that migration must be governed in a way that protects rights while also contributing to national goals such as employment creation, skills development, and social inclusion. In particular, the issue of harmonizing South Sudan’s policies with regional frameworks from IGAD, EAC, and the African Union was seen as critical to ensuring coherence and integration across borders.

At the close of the workshop, the revised National Labour Migration Policy and Action Plan were validated. As a next step, stakeholders agreed that the document will undergo professional editing, followed by a legal review by the Ministry of Justice, and will finally be submitted to the Council of Ministers for political endorsement.