ILO welcomes the Doha Dialogue on mobility of migrant workers between Africa and Arab countries

DOHA (ILO News) - ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat presented an overview of how to effectively govern the mobility of migrant workers between countries and regions, at an event hosted by the State of Qatar and the Africa Union.

The Doha Dialogue event, titled the “Africa-Gulf Cooperation Council, Jordan, and Lebanon Dialogue on Labour Mobility,” was hosted by the State of Qatar and the African Union in Doha from 21-22 May.

The event addressed the mobility of migrant workers in the labour migration “corridor” between African states and the Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jordan and Lebanon. 

During her visit to Qatar, Jaradat met with Qatar’s Minister of Labour Ali bin Samikh Al Marri to review aspects of joint cooperation between the ILO and the State of Qatar. Jaradat also met with the Director-General of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Labour & Ministers of Social Affairs in GCC Mohammed Al Obaidli. 

© MOL Qatar/ 21 May, 2024

During her presentation at the Doha Dialogue event, Jaradat stressed that the “ILO firmly believes that strengthening dialogue and cooperation among all relevant stakeholders across this important labour migration corridor can enhance the evident development benefits this labour mobility brings to both African countries of origin – in providing employment opportunities for their nationals abroad – and Arab destination countries – in meeting vital labour market needs at all skill levels.”

Jaradat also lauded Qatar’s most recent efforts to promote the fair recruitment of migrant workers. “We are also very pleased that as of last month, the Government of Qatar is co-chairing with Mexico the Fair Recruitment Initiative Advisory Committee, of which Kenya and Tunisia are both members,” Jaradat said. “In collaboration with the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, we are planning to hold the next edition of the Fair Recruitment Academy in Doha next year,” she added.

Jaradat’s presentation addressed the challenge of how to ensure that the governance of labour mobility is as effective as possible, in terms of reducing the costs of migration and guaranteeing decent work and labour protections for the workers concerned, in accordance with international labour standards.

She highlighted three key areas relating to fair recruitment, skills development and recognition, and the extension of social protection to migrant workers.

Ensuring fair recruitment across the Africa-Arab States labour migration corridor is particularly important as fraudulent and abusive recruitment practices, such as the payment of recruitment fees and related costs by workers and contract substitution, often result in migrant workers falling into debt that can take months to pay off, or even worse, contribute to forced labour situations at destination, Jaradat noted.

She highlighted how the ILO’s work in this area takes place under the ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative, which engages governments, social partners, civil society and international organizations to exchange global knowledge on recruitment processes; improve laws, policies and enforcement to promote fair recruitment; promote fair business practices; and empower and protect workers.

Fair labour recruiters play an important role in effectively matching workers to jobs, Jaradat added. Development and recognition of the skills of migrant workers is therefore essential and mutually beneficial to countries of origin and destination. She highlighted the need to enable educational institutions and training providers in African countries of origin to better respond to employer skill needs and labour market demand in the Middle East. Such actions can also assist migrant workers to reintegrate into the labour market of the country of origin on their return.

The extension of social protection to migrant workers across the Africa-Arab States labour migration corridor would benefit workers and economies alike, Jaradat said. Many migrant workers are often not covered by social security or social protection schemes in either the country of employment or their country of origin, or they may lose rights and entitlements when they move across borders. Several Arab countries have embarked on landmark reforms, including extending social protection to migrant workers under national systems in areas such as access to health care, old-age pensions and employment injury benefits. Discussions have also taken place at the GCC level, for example on reforming the prevailing system of end-of-service indemnities.

Jaradat also highlighted the need for improved data on both sides of the Africa-Arab states corridor, as well as taking account of how labour migration can affect women and men differently. She also highlighted the importance of forging labour agreements through dialogue at the inter-regional and bilateral levels, based on international standards and guidance, while engaging in dialogue with social partners on the adoption and effective monitoring of such agreements.

“We believe that this inter-regional dialogue is much needed and can enhance greatly decent work and labour protections for African workers in the GCC, Jordan and Lebanon. We thank the Ministry of Labour of Qatar for bringing us together in Doha, and we stand by to provide support to our constituents,” Jaradat said at the conclusion of her presentation.

The Arab States region is one of the main destination regions globally for migrant workers, and the numbers have increased substantially in recent years. The proportion of migrant to local workers is the highest in the world. Migrant workers contribute substantially to the development of their destination countries and send vital remittances to their families and communities, but many of them face a number of decent work challenges. The ILO and its constituents work to address these challenges through the ILO's Fair Migration Agenda, adopted in 2014, and in accordance with the Resolution and Conclusions concerning fair and effective labour migration governance, adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 2017.

A total of 33 countries from Africa and the Arab region participated in the Doha Dialogue event. Participants included Ministers of Labour from the participating countries, representatives from the ILO and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as well as experts, academics, and representatives of social partners.

The event is part of an agreement between Qatar and the African Union, designed to launch a dialogue process on labour migration and mobility among African countries, Gulf States, Jordan, and Lebanon. The objective is to bolster regional collaboration and alliances, and to put into action good practices that guarantee fair labour mobility across both regions.