Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth - 8.8 on labor rights for migrant workers

The Government of the UAE has recently instituted a public-private partnership programme to scale up and standardise post-arrival orientation programmes to migrants and their employers.

The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) was signed on 15 December 1995 by the ASEAN Economic Ministers, allowing for Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) in various professions and an agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons (MNP) 

• Labour migration and mobility 

Bilateral agreements constitute an effective way to regulate migration flows and to foster development, both in the countries of origin and destination.

The joint cooperation between Egypt and Jordan in the field of labor management aims at creating a safe, fair and stable work environment for Egyptian workers in Jordan and their employers. The Egyptian Ministry of Manpower and Immigration and the Jordanian Ministry of Labour are the main stakeholders. They are jointly responsible for the implementation of the 2007 Memorandum of Understating (MoU) and the 2016 Labor Agreement and managing the jointly-established channels of communication, as well as consultation mechanism. 

Main aim:

The Government of Nigeria is currently focusing on creating an enabling environment for the Nigerian diaspora to contribute to national development on the understanding that the diaspora can only make meaningful contributions to national development when the favourable conditions are put in place. On 30 June 2017, Nigerian Government signed the Nigerian Citizens in Diaspora Commission Establishment Bill 2017. The Commission has the responsibility to coordinate and organise Nigerians in and from the diaspora to contribute human capital and material resources, including their expertise, for t

This report is based on a one-day consultation with private sector employers held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 20 November 2017. The consultation was organised by the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and the International Organization for Migrations (IOM), and in cooperation with the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the Global Forum for Migration and Development – Business Mechanism (GFMD – BM).

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs have engaged in partnership with the IOM for the project "Enhancing the Reintegration Program for Overseas Filipino Workers" (ERPO).

With regards to Refugees access to labor market, Tanzania has enacted an Act called “The Non Citizen Employment Act and Regulation No1 of 2015”.

There is a provision for the Director of Refugee Services Department, to issue a "Work Permit" and on gratis, to any qualified refugee who secure employment in Tanzania. Currently regulations to this Act are being completed to be able to guide its operation.

All ASEAN Member States adopted  in 2007 the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.

The Declaration underlines ASEAN Member States’ commitments to, among others, promote decent, humane, and dignified employment, as well as prevent and curb smuggling and trafficking of persons. Indonesia and ASEAN member states are now working towards the establishment of a legally-binding instrument on the protection of all migrant workers, regardless of their employment status.

The Thai Cabinet endorsed in October 2016 the National Strategy Migrant Worker Management B.E. 2560-2564 (2017-2021), which amongst its objectives, include the management of the importation, working condition, and the return to the country of origin of migrant labor and the improvement of migrant labor standards to become in line with international standards.