The Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters met to consider a report of a joint seminar held on Labour Migration in Africa ahead of the report’s tabling before the plenary at the ongoing First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament currently holding in Midrand, South Africa. The seminar was held in conjunction with the African Union Labour Migration Advisory Committee (AU-LMAC) in August 2022.
The PAP session, which off kicked off on 24 October and will run through to 11 November 2022, is guided by the African Union (AU) theme for 2022, “Building resilience in nutrition on the African Continent: accelerate the human capital, social and economic development.”
The joint seminar, which ran on the theme “Bridging the gaps in the protection of migrant workers in Africa through advocacy for the use of legal instruments: the role of the PAP and the AU-LMAC,” interrogated issues to do with the protection of vulnerable persons, in particular women, children and people with disabilities. There were also discussions on the promotion of equal treatment of migrants and scrutiny of the ratification of international labour standards and their integration into national legislation.
Acting Chairperson of the Committee on Trade, Hon Abdou Boubakar said his Committee welcomes the report and its recommendations taking into consideration the precarious conditions in which migrant workers found themselves.
“We are satisfied with the report and we are taking concrete steps in strengthening the protection and the promotion of the rights of migrant workers and their families. We will also work to further strengthen the existing collaborations and put pressure on other key stakeholders to advocate for the ratification and implementation of relevant legal instruments in national legislation,” said Hon Abdou Boubakar.
Formulation of laws, policies and strategies based on human rights and taking into account the gender dimension came up as a recommendation together with building capacities of decision-makers, administrators and institutions in the area of labour migration, decent work and social protection.
Taking into consideration, complex issues that have arisen in relation to migrant workers, the Committee took the opportunity to deliberate on a draft work plan for 2023 with the main highlights including the drafting of a model law on migration in Africa. Mindful of the need to improve mobility and dialogue between parliamentarians and legislators of AU Member States, regional organs and the PAP, the Committee committed itself to undertake a fact-finding mission to South African border posts. This is to increase the knowledge and understanding of Committee members on the free movement of people, goods and services at South African border posts, in line with the AU’s Free Movement of Persons and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
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