Africa pushes labour migration reforms as returnees highlight gaps in worker protection

By skika reporter

African leaders have launched a renewed push to reform labour migration systems, but migrant returnees say persistent gaps in protection continue to leave workers exposed to exploitation.

At the unveiling of the Joint Labour Migration Programme Phase III (JLMP PROPEL) at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, policymakers framed migration as a key driver of economic growth and regional integration. Yet testimonies from former migrant workers painted a more complex picture—one marked by abuse, weak enforcement, and difficult reintegration.

“Returning home is not the end of the journey. For many, it is the hardest chapter,” said Sophia Amimo, founder of Domestic Workers Returnees of Kenya.

Her experience reflects a broader trend across the continent, where thousands of workers return from jobs abroad to limited support systems and uncertain livelihoods. Advocates argue that while migration pathways are expanding, safeguards have not kept pace.

The JLMP PROPEL initiative, set to run from 2025 to 2029, aims to strengthen governance, improve protection frameworks, and expand access to decent work. Officials say it represents a shift toward treating labour mobility as a development issue rather than simply a migration challenge.

“Labour mobility is not simply a migration issue. It is fundamentally a development issue, an integration issue and a human opportunity issue,” said Amma A. Twum-Amoah in her keynote address.

According to officials, Africa hosts about 26 million international migrants, the majority moving within the continent. This growing mobility, experts say, underscores the urgency of building systems that protect workers across borders.

Cameroonian diplomat Churchill Ewumbe Monono said the programme signals a stronger continental commitment to aligning migration with social justice.

“Labour migration is not a peripheral issue. It is a lived reality for millions of Africans,” he said.

However, returnees and labour advocates warn that policy ambitions must translate into real-world protections.

Key concerns include limited awareness of migrant rights, informal recruitment channels, and weak emergency response systems for workers in distress.

“Too many people leave without knowing their rights,” Ms Amimo said. “We are still urging governments to ratify key international conventions so that protections are not only on paper.”

She also called for faster response mechanisms for migrants facing abuse abroad, noting that delayed assistance often worsens already critical situations.

Implementation partners, including GIZ, acknowledge the challenge. Tobias Thiel, director at GIZ African Union, said the programme will now move from planning to execution, focusing on coordination, financing, and delivery.

“This is a moment we have been working towards for some time. The real work starts now,” he said.

Among the priorities will be skills mobility and recognition of qualifications across borders—seen as critical to improving job quality and reducing vulnerability.

Despite these efforts, stakeholders stress that migration cannot be the sole solution to unemployment.

“We cannot depend entirely on jobs abroad,” Ms Amimo said. “We must also create opportunities locally.”

There are also growing calls for stricter oversight of recruitment agencies and stronger action against human trafficking networks, which continue to exploit desperate job seekers.

In Uganda, recent efforts by the National Organisation of Trade Unions, in partnership with the International Labour Organization, to launch a migrant worker support call centre highlight attempts to address immediate risks. Still, labour leaders warn that unsafe migration channels remain widespread.

As African governments roll out the new migration framework, its impact will likely be judged not by policy commitments, but by whether migrant workers—both abroad and upon return—experience meaningful protection and support.