THAMM Plus

Strengthening Pre-Departure Orientation for Migrant Workers: ILO–IOM Collaboration in Tunisia

As part of the THAMM Plus project, the ILO and IOM organized an information session that strengthened the capacities of Tunisian institutional actors in providing pre-departure orientation for migrant workers. This collaboration equips Tunisian institutions with sustainable and standardized tools to better prepare migration candidates, reduce the risks of exploitation, and ensure safer, more regular, and rights-based migration pathways.

9 September 2025

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Tunis, (ILO News)- Within the framework of the THAMM Plus program – Towards a Comprehensive Approach to Migration Governance and Labor Mobility in North Africa, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have launched a joint initiative aimed at enhancing pre-departure preparation for Tunisian workers.

This action is part of a broader strategy to ensure safe, regular, and orderly migration pathways, while safeguarding the rights of migrants throughout their experience abroad.

By pooling their expertise, the two organizations have supported the training of institutional and social actors engaged in international mobility. The initiative has resulted in the creation of a pool of national trainers now able to accompany workers before departure, providing practical and legal information as well as standardized training modules.

By relying on tools developed under the project, the ILO and IOM are supporting Tunisian institutions in the sustainable adoption of good practices in preparing for labor migration.

Trade Union Rights: A Pillar of Protection for Construction Workers in Italy

One of the central outcomes of these sessions is the strengthened awareness of trade union rights and union membership. This dimension, led by the ILO, is particularly critical for Tunisian workers in the construction sector in Italy, a sector that attracts large numbers of Tunisian migrants each year.

Thanks to the sessions, workers are now:

Better informed about their fundamental rights,
Equipped to access protection and redress mechanisms in the event of disputes,
Connected to useful contacts for legal and social assistance upon arrival.

This preventive approach has effectively reduced the risks of exploitation and abuse and strengthened workers’ capacity to collectively defend their rights.

A Decisive Step Towards Safer and Fairer Migration

By strengthening pre-departure preparation and consolidating inter-institutional coordination in Tunisia, the THAMM Plus program has contributed to improved governance of labor mobility, making migration both safer and fairer.

By placing trade union rights at the heart of pre-departure orientation, this initiative demonstrates that migration is not limited to the pursuit of economic opportunities, but also serves as a vehicle for dignity, social justice, and the protection of human rights.