Tripoli – with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Libya’s Labour Minister convened a meeting today with key neighbouring and regional countries to discuss effective mechanisms of labour migration cooperation to enhance the benefits of migration for migrant workers currently residing in Libya, their countries of origin and the State of Libya. 

The initiative is financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Protection Programme (RDPP) and supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Libya. It promotes collaboration between the Libyan Ministry of Labour and participating countries to develop a legal framework that will facilitate international cooperation on labour mobility. 

The meeting in Tripoli was attended by diplomatic representatives of the EU delegation to Libya, alongside a group of envoys from Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia.

“This meeting is an important step towards labour migration governance in Libya and the protection of migrant workers," said IOM Libya Chief of Mission, Federico Soda. “Effective international cooperation on labour migration is an essential component of a broader strategy to improve the safety and security of migrant workers who contribute to Libya’s economy. As we know, the vast majority of the 610,000 migrant workers in Libya are part of the Libyan labour market.”

The Delegation of the European Union to Libya underscored the importance of legal pathways for labour migration and of safe and orderly migration in North Africa. 

“A concrete roadmap is essential at this stage to guide the process further towards more bilateral and multilateral cooperation between countries of origin and the Sate of Libya,” said Labour Minister of Libya Ali Abed Al-Reda.  

IOM is working with the Government of Libya by providing technical and policy support on a wide range of migration management issues. As part of its labour migration programming in Libya, IOM contributes to capacity-building in labour migration management by offering evidence-based policy and technical advice, and by supporting the development of strategies, legislation and administrative structures that promote the social protection of migrant workers in the Libyan labour force. IOM works toward an efficient, effective and transparent labour migration governance to harness the full potential of human capital for economic development. 

For more information, please contact: libyapublicinfo@iom.int