The implementation of the Global Compact for Migration at the European level
2 May 2019
The ILO participated in a Public hearing on the implementation of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration at the European Economic and Social Council (EESC). Irene Wintermayr, Policy Officer, highlighted a few ILO activities that support the implementation of the objectives of the Global Compact.
One of the objectives of the Compact relates to data collection. The ILO recently produced estimates on the scope of labour migration globally, and estimates that 164 million people are migrant workers.
Some of the International Labour Standards, such as Convention 97 on Migration for Employment, and Convention 143 on Migrant Workers, directly target migrant workers. Ensuring safe recruitment for migrants is very important as recruitment costs are a key factor in trapping migrants in a situation of exploitation. In 2015, the ILO, IOE and ITUC launched the Fair Recruitment initiative, which covers ten migration corridors.
The ILO is supporting several countries to build national skills development programmes, and has developed a tool that facilitates the recognition of skills for migrant workers.
“It is important to take the fears and negative perceptions related to migration that prevail among many EU citizens seriously and to address them and give communities the reassurance that the political actors are not deaf to their concerns”, Ms Winterwayr said. The ILO is working with journalists to promote a balanced discourse and quality reporting on labour migration.
The EESC could call on the new political leadership of the European Commission to support the implementation of the Global Compact and ensure that international human and labour rights are respected in its migration policy, she concluded.
One of the objectives of the Compact relates to data collection. The ILO recently produced estimates on the scope of labour migration globally, and estimates that 164 million people are migrant workers.
Some of the International Labour Standards, such as Convention 97 on Migration for Employment, and Convention 143 on Migrant Workers, directly target migrant workers. Ensuring safe recruitment for migrants is very important as recruitment costs are a key factor in trapping migrants in a situation of exploitation. In 2015, the ILO, IOE and ITUC launched the Fair Recruitment initiative, which covers ten migration corridors.
The ILO is supporting several countries to build national skills development programmes, and has developed a tool that facilitates the recognition of skills for migrant workers.
“It is important to take the fears and negative perceptions related to migration that prevail among many EU citizens seriously and to address them and give communities the reassurance that the political actors are not deaf to their concerns”, Ms Winterwayr said. The ILO is working with journalists to promote a balanced discourse and quality reporting on labour migration.
The EESC could call on the new political leadership of the European Commission to support the implementation of the Global Compact and ensure that international human and labour rights are respected in its migration policy, she concluded.