Advancing Social Protection for Migrant Workers: ECCAS Workshop to Validate Key Study

Government representatives from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) commission and Social Partners are set to convene in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo to validate a study on extension of social protection to migrant workers in the region. 

ECCAS is home to 4.3 million international migrants (2.1 million female and 2.2 million male), of whom majority migrate for labour purposes, according to data from the African Union third report on labour migration statistics in Africa.

Scheduled from 26 to 28 March and organized by the AU-ILO-IOM Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP). The tripartite workshop will be held under the theme: ‘From Vision to Action: Protecting Rights of Migrant Workers through Social Protection Extension in ECCAS’.

The workshop will provide technical experts with a platform for fostering greater dialogue and cooperation on issues related to social protection across ECCAS Member States. Additionally, it will facilitate sharing of best practices to inform policies, ultimately supporting capacity building within Governments.

“This is informed by the fact that the region has a low level of social protection coverage, marked by underdeveloped non-contributory systems that only reach a small segment of intended populations, as well as restrictive provisions for accessing social benefits due to the territorial constraints of social security systems,” says Mr. Sabelo Mbokazi, Head of the Labour, Employment and Migration (LEM) Division at AU.

According to the ILO Deputy Director for Africa Mr. Coffi Agossou, the tripartite nature of the workshop and its objectives and theme strongly align with the international labour standards on extension of social protection to migrant workers and Migration Policy Framework for Africa and Plan of Action (MPFA) which advocate for provision of social protection and social security benefits for labour migrants in order to ensure decent work and advance social justice.

Social protection is a fundamental right that aims to reduce and prevent poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion. Although gaps persist, particularly in the coverage of migrant workers who face legal and practical obstacles to accessing social protection benefits, this SDC and GIZ-supported effort will look at the result of adopting a roadmap to accelerate social protection extension within ECCAS member countries, which can also be a reference for neighbouring Regional Economic Communities.

About the JLMP

The Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP) is a collaborative initiative between the African Union Commission (AUC), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State, the JLMP's strategy emphasizes intra-African labour migration and aligns with the First 2023 Ten Year Plan of the AU's Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It is currently implementing projects to enhance rights-based governance for labour migration and mobility in Africa, ensuring gender-responsive regulations and protections for all migrant workers; increase availability and utilization of labour migration data & statistics by MSs and RECs for evidence-based policy-making; and support MS to establish systems that promote safe, secure, and equal working conditions for migrant workers in formal and informal sectors with access to social protection and skills recognition.