Stakeholders discussed on skills partnerships for demand-driven labour migration

Addis Ababa (ILO News) - The ILO, in collaboration with the African Union Commission and African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD, hosted a webinar on Skills Partnerships for demand-driven Labour Migration in April 2024. The webinar explored the growing focus on skills partnerships and their potential to benefit all stakeholders involved in labour migration, from countries of origin and destination to migrants themselves and employers.

The webinar was moderated by Mr. Albert William Okal, Regional Technical Specialist, Skills Development for Labour Migration, and Ms. Zipho Tshapela, the Technical Advisor, Skills Initiative for Africa at GIZ. The opening remarks by Mr. Albert William Okal introduced the audience to the topic and highlighted the challenges of labor market mismatches and the limitations of traditional migration approaches. Skills partnerships offer a promising solution by aligning skills supply with labor market needs in both origin and destination countries. This collaborative effort, involving governments, employers, workers' organizations, training institutions, and more, can lead to a win-win situation for all.

Mr. Albert presented key elements of successful skills partnerships, emphasising the importance of skills needs anticipation to gauge labour market demands, which informs targeted training programs. Bridging education system gaps aids integration while recognizing and valuing qualifications acquired abroad eases entry into destination labour markets for migrants. Pre-departure training investments are vital for migrant success, equipping them with essential tools for adaptation. Additionally, partnerships support returning migrants in leveraging acquired skills and experiences for the benefit of their home countries.

Dr. Wanjiru Kariuki, representing Kenya's State Department for Labour and Skills Development, outlined Kenya's comprehensive approach to enhancing skills partnerships for labour migration. This strategy focuses on empowering migrants through education and training, providing targeted career guidance, and ensuring safe migration practices through capacity-building initiatives for stakeholders. Initiatives also aim to combat unethical recruitment practices and promote ethical migration. Moreover, efforts include marketing Kenya's workforce to international employers and establishing sustainable funding sources. Looking ahead, Dr. Kariuki stressed the importance of integrating skills anticipation into the education system to align training programs with evolving labour market demands, both domestically and internationally, thus futureproofing skills development in Kenya.

Mr. Pita Foliaki Lokotui, the Vanuatu Liaison Officer for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, shared insights into the scheme's impact on migrant workers' economic progress, emphasizing strengths and emerging good practices. Established in 2018 to address labour shortages in Australia's rural and regional areas, particularly in horticulture and related sectors, PALM connects eligible Australian businesses with workers from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste. The scheme offers flexibility in hiring durations and targets sectors like horticulture, providing opportunities for workers in unskilled, low-skilled, and semi-skilled roles. Additionally, through partnerships with organizations like the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC), PALM workers can access subsidized training courses to enhance their skills and employability, contributing to their economic advancement. 

The program also places a strong emphasis on fair recruitment practices. Employers are thoroughly vetted to protect the rights and well-being of workers. The overall goal is to improve worker skills, increase productivity for employers, and equip migrants with valuable skills that benefit both them and their communities upon return. As the scheme expands, and more benefits the Skills development partnership is currently being integrated by merging the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) programme. 

Key takeaways from the webinar underscore the potency of skills partnerships in addressing labour market challenges by harmonising skills development with the demands of both origin and destination countries. This collaborative strategy, involving various stakeholders such as governments, businesses, workers, and training institutions, facilitates closing the skills gap and fostering mutual benefits. Identifying the desired skills in destination countries is the first step in developing targeted training programmes to equip migrants and minimise skill mismatches effectively. Furthermore, recognising migrant workers' qualifications and experiences enhances their integration into the workforce, promoting a sense of value and belonging while streamlining job placement. Beyond immediate labour needs, skills partnerships enable returning migrants to drive economic development in their home countries by leveraging knowledge and experience gained abroad, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and overall growth, and thus nurturing a cycle of shared prosperity that spans borders.