Ministers of East and Horn of Africa unite for better labour migration governance and decent work

Nairobi, Kenya (ILO News) - The 3rd IGAD Ministerial Conference on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration concluded in Nairobi with the adoption of a far-reaching Ministerial Communiqué, reaffirming the region’s collective commitment to advancing decent work, fair and ethical recruitment, and safe, orderly, and regular migration across the Horn of Africa.

© ILO/Homa M. Ejeta

© ILO/Homa M. Ejeta

Held under the theme “Improving Labour Migration and Mobility Governance for Prosperity in the IGAD Region,” the three-day meeting brought together social partners, Ministers responsible for labour, employment, interior affairs, and from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda, as well as Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the European Union (EU), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

From policy to practice:

In his opening remarks, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD, urged Member States to move beyond commitments toward tangible implementation:

“This is our moment to move from policy to practice, from statements to systems, from aspiration to action. It’s time to turn our commitments into real results for workers and migrants.”

He emphasized that while the Djibouti Declaration (2021) and subsequent frameworks have laid a strong foundation, the real challenge lies in ensuring that these instruments deliver meaningful impact protecting workers’ rights, addressing irregular migration, forced labour, promoting social dialogue and creating decent employment opportunities for the youth in the IGAD region.

Social justice at the heart of migration governance:

Echoing this call for action, Mr. Khumbula Ndaba, ILO Country Director for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, and Special Representative to the AU and ECA, reaffirmed the ILO’s support to IGAD and its Member States in advancing rights-based migration and decent work:

“To harness the benefits of labour migration for regional integration and prosperity, we must reaffirm our commitment to social justice. Decent work and fairness must be at the heart of every policy and partnership.”

Mr. Ndaba underlined the ILO’s continued collaboration with IGAD and the EU through the Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance in the IGAD Region (FMPT) programme financed by the EU, the second phase was launched during the conference.

Key outcomes and commitments:

In the Ministerial Communiqué, Member States reaffirmed their determination to strengthen the governance of labour mobility, employment, and social protection across the region. The communiqué commits IGAD countries to:

• Accelerate the ratification and implementation of the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and relevant International Labour Standards.
• Promote fair and ethical recruitment in line with the ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative and the African Union’s Strategy on Fair and Ethical Recruitment.
• Extend social protection for all workers, including those in informal employment and migrant workers.
• Develop mechanisms for portability of social security benefits among IGAD Member States and key countries of destination.
• Address irregular migration through a whole-of-society and whole of Government approach through, tackling the root causes of migration, promoting regular pathways, and strengthening law enforcement against trafficking networks.
• Advance the IGAD Single Visa Initiative and the development of interoperable identification systems to enable greater regional mobility.
• Strengthen tripartite social dialogue by establishing a Permanent Regional Social Dialogue Forum and a Social Dialogue Unit within IGAD.

The Ministers also committed to support IGAD in operationalizing a Labour Governance Unit, a Regional Labour Migration Observatory, and an IGAD Labour Migration Trust Fund to facilitate coordinated action and data-driven policymaking.

© ILO/Homa M. Ejeta

© ILO/Homa M. Ejeta

A renewed partnership for decent work:

The conference concluded with strong appreciation to the Government of Kenya for hosting, and to the European Union for its continued financial and technical support to the regional agenda on free movement and decent work.

Ministers further agreed that the 4th IGAD Ministerial Conference on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration will be held in Juba, South Sudan, in 2028.

The outcomes of the Nairobi conference mark a major step forward for the IGAD region’s vision of fair, inclusive, and well-governed labour migration, one where the dignity, safety, and contribution of every worker are recognized and protected.

“The success of our collective efforts depends on strong regional cooperation and partnerships,” Mr. Ndaba concluded. “Together, we can build systems that ensure migration is a choice, not a necessity, and that decent work drives prosperity and social justice for all.”

For more information:

Bob Ambrose Nuwagira

Communications and Partnerships Officer

Health and Social Development Division IGAD Secretariat

Email: [email protected]

Homa Mulisa Ejeta

Senior Communication and Information Management Assistant

ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia

Email: [email protected]