ECNETNews reports that the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat are launching a pivotal labour market analysis aimed at developing a comprehensive regional migration policy. The study is set to evaluate the complex relationships between economic conditions, employment, and migration patterns across the Caribbean, with findings expected to guide Member States in optimizing workforce mobility, safeguarding workers’ rights, and boosting job creation.
This initiative comes in response to the region’s current challenges, including unusually low growth rates and heightened vulnerabilities.
Scheduled to take place from January to April 2025, the project will employ an extensive methodology that combines the collection of primary and secondary data, public consultations, and sectoral analyses.
Leo Preville, Director of the CARICOM Single Market, emphasized that the success of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy relies on the establishment of policies that promote the unrestricted movement of people. An evidence-based approach is crucial for effective policy development.
The forthcoming labour market analysis will deliver a thorough assessment of labor demand and supply within the Community, as well as provide insights into regional migration trends. Such understanding is essential for the Heads of Government’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the free movement of all CARICOM nationals.
Abdelmalik Muhummed, an Employment and Labour Market Specialist, highlighted that migration offers both opportunities and challenges that are critical to long-term socio-economic development in the region. The ILO looks forward to working in partnership with CARICOM on this vital study, which aims to deliver essential insights into leveraging migration for inclusive, sustainable growth, emphasizing social justice and decent work for Caribbean Member States.
Additionally, the research will examine the influence of climate change on labor mobility and employment, identifying both opportunities and challenges, while proposing strategies for enhancing productive employment in the Caribbean.
Preville reiterated that crafting the labour migration policy component must be grounded in thorough analysis to ensure its effectiveness.
