ILO delivers keynote address on labour market inclusion to round table in Curacao
The round table allowed stakeholders to discuss issues pertinent to crisis migration, aliens and population policy and the right 'match' of 'skills' and work. Guest speakers included Mr. Fabio Siani from the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR/ACNUR, renowned entrepreneur Mr. Jean Fayad, speaking on behalf of the private sector, and Mrs. Natalie Molina Rodriguez, a Venezuela migrant.
1 March 2023
Mr. John Bliek, Specialist, Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation delivered the keynote address during a round table on the theme “Developing a framework for a more inclusive labor market” held on 28 February 2023, in Willemstad, Curaçao. The event which was convened to discuss labour market and migration in Curacao, was organized by Human Rights Defense Curaçao (HRDC) with technical facilitation by the Social and Economic Council (SER).
During his keynote address on "Building communities: The economic benefits of integrating migrants into local economies", Mr Bliek stated that “labour market integration had become more important in view of the rising numbers of international migrants, noting that the current Venezuelan migration crisis is the worst ever seen in the history of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)”. He also referred to an important area of ILO’s work which includes providing policy guidance to ILO’s constituents in facilitating access to labour markets for refugee and forcibly displaced persons. Refugees and displaced persons, when employed outside their countries, are considered migrant workers and are covered by the ILO’s migrant workers Conventions.
Mr Bliek closed his presentation by reminding the audience that "Migration is not a problem to be solved, but a human reality to be managed, with benefits for migrants and host societies alike." […]Overall, migrants bring a variety of benefits to their new countries, and managing migration in a way that maximizes these benefits can help create more prosperous and diverse societies”.
The round table allowed stakeholders to discuss issues pertinent to crisis migration, aliens and population policy and the right 'match' of 'skills' and work. Guest speakers included Mr. Fabio Siani from the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR/ACNUR, renowned entrepreneur Mr. Jean Fayad, speaking on behalf of the private sector, and Mrs. Natalie Molina Rodriguez, a Venezuela migrant.
By bringing together key stakeholders of the Government, employers' and workers' organizations, civil society organizations, NGOs, international organizations and religious groups the round table has given impetus for the development and coordination of a platform to work on solutions for migrants. The new platform will be a combination of participating parties from the private and public sector, including business associations, trade unions and official representatives of the Ministries of Social Development, Labor and Welfare, Justice, Economic Development and Governance, Planning and Services and NGOs, such as (HRDC).
In 2016-2017, ILO members States adopted a comprehensive set of Guiding Principles on the access of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons to the labour market. This tool assists States and national and international partners in formulating sustainable labour market and livelihood responses to these movements.
During his keynote address on "Building communities: The economic benefits of integrating migrants into local economies", Mr Bliek stated that “labour market integration had become more important in view of the rising numbers of international migrants, noting that the current Venezuelan migration crisis is the worst ever seen in the history of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)”. He also referred to an important area of ILO’s work which includes providing policy guidance to ILO’s constituents in facilitating access to labour markets for refugee and forcibly displaced persons. Refugees and displaced persons, when employed outside their countries, are considered migrant workers and are covered by the ILO’s migrant workers Conventions.
Mr Bliek closed his presentation by reminding the audience that "Migration is not a problem to be solved, but a human reality to be managed, with benefits for migrants and host societies alike." […]Overall, migrants bring a variety of benefits to their new countries, and managing migration in a way that maximizes these benefits can help create more prosperous and diverse societies”.
The round table allowed stakeholders to discuss issues pertinent to crisis migration, aliens and population policy and the right 'match' of 'skills' and work. Guest speakers included Mr. Fabio Siani from the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR/ACNUR, renowned entrepreneur Mr. Jean Fayad, speaking on behalf of the private sector, and Mrs. Natalie Molina Rodriguez, a Venezuela migrant.
By bringing together key stakeholders of the Government, employers' and workers' organizations, civil society organizations, NGOs, international organizations and religious groups the round table has given impetus for the development and coordination of a platform to work on solutions for migrants. The new platform will be a combination of participating parties from the private and public sector, including business associations, trade unions and official representatives of the Ministries of Social Development, Labor and Welfare, Justice, Economic Development and Governance, Planning and Services and NGOs, such as (HRDC).
In 2016-2017, ILO members States adopted a comprehensive set of Guiding Principles on the access of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons to the labour market. This tool assists States and national and international partners in formulating sustainable labour market and livelihood responses to these movements.