BUSINESSAfrica Joins Executive Course on Labour Migration in Africa

BUSINESSAfrica actively participated in the Executive Course on Labour Migration in Africa, held as part of a hybrid program spanning from October 28to December 6, 2024. Organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), African Union (AU), and International Training Centre (ITC), the course was designed to enhance the capacity of African stakeholders to govern labour migration effectively. The residential phase of the program took place from November 25 to November 29, 2024, in Cape Town, South Africa.

In the opening session of the course in South Africa, Mr. Stephen Obiro, from BUSINESSAfrica, highlighted the organization's commitment to ensuring that employers’ voices are integral to policy discussions, especially given the growing inter-regional mobility and its economic implications.
The course, which combined online and in-person sessions, focused on equipping participants with advanced knowledge to address the complexities of labour migration in Africa. Topics ranged from governance, gender dynamics, and fair recruitment to regional integration, social protection, and the migration-development nexus.

Participants included representatives from BUSINESSAfrica, employer organizations, trade union, government officials, worker organizations, and regional bodies.

By engaging in workshops and collaborative simulations, attendees explored real-life cases and policy tools, culminating in assignments that reflect their learnings and practical applications.
With over 26 million international migrants within Africa, labour migration is a vital yet challenging phenomenon. Workers frequently face precarious conditions, social exclusion, and a lack of social protection, particularly in informal and low-skilled sectors. The course aimed to address these gaps by fostering rights-based, gender-responsive, and evidence-informed policies to ensure fair migration pathways and better integration into the labour market.