NORTH & WEST AFRICAN WORKSHOP ON BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES ON SKILLS MOBILITY

“Labour migration is a complex issue which requires the involvement of all stakeholders. It is therefore important to engage regularly as we adapt to the current challenges and seek solutions to improve the current economic situation.” IOE Advisor for Africa, Amadou Sako
 
The International Organization of Employers (IOE) in collaboration with the International Organization of Migration (IOM) is hosting a series of workshops across the continent to gather the business perspective on skills mobility from employers and governments as well. The second workshop for the Western Africa and Maghreb region took place on the 29^th and 30^th of March 2022, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and virtually. Representatives from BUSINESSAfrica and Employer & Business Member Organisations (EBMOs) across West and North Africa were represented all through the two-day workshop. The following countries were represented, Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Togo, Niger, Senegal, and Tunisia.
 
Discussions revolved around:

1. Policy, legal frameworks, and institutional consultation mechanisms
2. Championing responsible recruitment, fostering social protection, and contributing to labour market integration
3. Fostering labour migration governance in Africa: Frameworks for skills mobility
4. Addressing skills shortages and skills development

 
Employer representatives voiced challenges and best practices observed in migration program as experienced in their countries. Some issues that were echoed all through included, the lack of tripartite discussion or legal framework on labour migration, lack of transparency in recruitment, lack of clarity of the laws for employers and non-recognition of diplomas cross border. Whereas regular exchange between the employers’ representatives and the government in Morocco and absence of visa requirement in the most needed jobs were some of the best practiced that were pointed out.
 
“Well governed migration has the potential to accelerate creation of the much-needed employment and wealth across Africa and to transition from informal to formal economies. It takes concerted effort of each one of us from Government to Employers, to Workers and to other stakeholders to ensure that we have regular and orderly migration,” said the IOE regional Vice President for Africa as well as the secretary-general for BUSINESSAfrica, Ms Jacqueline Mugo.
 
Some key issues and recommendations arising from the workshop: -

• Ensure that foreign workers transfer their skills and knowledge to local workers, as it would be easier to attract multinationals which would create jobs if we had a skilled workforce already present in the country

• Bilateral agreements between countries on labour migration
• Create a system that recognizes academic certificates from other countries.  

 
An official report with the proposed recommendations will be shared soon. The next regional workshop involving the Southern Africa countries will take place on the 20^th -22^nd of April 2022. To find out more about the workshop visit the Africa-IOE website.