Pan-African Parliament holds workshop on Labour Migration Governance in Africa

A two-day capacity building workshop which took place at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Headquarters in Midrand, South Africa as part of the sittings of the Permanent Committees of the Parliament ended on Wednesday. The Committee Sittings, which kicked off on 6 March and will run through to 17 March 2023, is guided by the African Union (AU) theme for 2023, “The Year of AfCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

The objective of the capacity training workshop was to was to strengthen the capacities of Members of Parliaments at PAP and Regional Parliaments on labour migration governance and administration. Other objectives of the workshop included reinforcing the knowledge and understanding of key concepts related to migration with focus on Africa; strengthening the parliamentarians’ understanding of processes and tools for ratification and domestication of legal instruments and policy frameworks in order to enable them to make informed inputs into ongoing processes aimed at improving migration related policies; and elucidate how Parliamentarians and Parliaments can increase their role in addressing labour migration at various levels – national, bilateral and regional.

In an address presented by the Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, Hon Jean Patrice France Quirin, on behalf of the PAP President, HE Chief Fortune Charumbira, stated that Africa is faced with a labour crisis forcing young people to seek employment beyond their country's borders.

"This workshop is a response to major concerns and experts have been invited to share knowledge and strengthen the capacities of Members of Parliament. The meeting will also reinforce legal aspects of labour migration given that the management of labour migration is essential to ensure stability in mobility and search for work," said HE Chief Charumbira.

He added that the PAP Bureau was committed to enhancing its role in addressing labour migration at various levels - national, bilateral and regional. HE Chief Charumbira noted that strengthening the understanding of processes and tools of ratification, domestication of legal instruments and policy frameworks will aid Parliamentarians in making informed inputs meant to improve migration related policies.

"Migrants fill the gaps in the labour market therefore we will continue lobbying Member States to focus efforts in ensuring the necessary protection for migrant workers," said H. E. Chief Charumbira.

In his speech, Mr. Peter Mudangwe who represented the AUC Head of Division of Labour, Employment and Migration, Sabelo Mbokazi drew attention to the legal protection needs faced by migrant workers in relation to abuse of their rights and called for the fair treatment of migrants and said this area has been one of the Commission's key priority.

"The migration and human mobility agenda has been one of our priority areas guided by Agenda 2063 and other key legal and policy frameworks on the rights of migrant workers. Our deliberations will reinforce the continental commitment. The PAP plays a key role in achieving Agenda 2063. We can work together in safeguarding the rights of migrants in Africa and beyond so we achieve the Africa We Want," he said.

Chairing the workshop, Rapporteur of the PAP Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Issues, Hon Abdou Boubacar said:

"The question of migration is a cross-cutting issue requiring different stakeholders for us to change the narrative. Labour migration has presented social, economic and political challenges for our countries. The PAP has seen it necessary to be involved in this capacity building and play a major role in improving governance of labour migration."

The workshop drew participants from the Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters, the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology, Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disability, Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflicts Resolution, and Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources.