Economic migration – establishing decent working conditions

Every economy needs mobile workers. Globalisation has strengthened such developments, which can be seen all around the world. The SDC is committed to ensuring that economic migration takes place within a sound legal and social framework.

SDC focus

The SDC’s primary objective is to improve the protection of migrant workers. It also aims to maximise the benefits of economic migration for migrant workers and their dependants, thereby also contributing to the development of their countries of origin.

The SDC focuses on the following five aspects:

  • improved access to justice and other services, both for migrants and for their dependants in their countries of origin
  • preparation for temporary migration, as well as assistance with reintegration when migrants return home
  • Better protection for labour migrants in recruitment processes (mediation and hiring)
  • compliance with standards governing working conditions under the Decent Work Agenda and support for governments when they come to implement the relevant legal framework
  • stronger political dialogue between countries of origin and destination

The SDC is especially active in regions where labour migration is a significant economic and social factor, such as South and Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Background

People generally leave their homeland in search of a secure income and in the hope of achieving greater prosperity and security. Almost half of such economic migrants are women. Every year, more than 1 million workers from Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka migrate to the Gulf States and the Middle East. Employment agencies play an important role in this process. Very few of those migrants have a clear and realistic idea of the living and working conditions that await them in their host country. This information is often unavailable or is deliberately withheld. This can result in migrants being exploited or finding themselves enslaved in inhuman conditions.

Opportunities

Economic migration contributes to the economic and social development of both countries of origin and destination. The work done by migrants benefits not only the workers themselves, their families and their countries of origin, but also their countries of destination. Migration leads to the transfer of money, goods, knowledge and ideas. Often, though, migration is not a one-way journey: migrants often return home, and the knowledge, capital and international experience that they take with them supports the development of their countries of origin.

Current challenges

In many host countries, migrants are among the most vulnerable sections of society. They often have no rights and have to endure poor working and living conditions. Although international standards for the protection of migrant workers exist, they are often ignored. In many cases, debts owed to recruitment agencies are an additional burden. Indeed, the brokerage fee for a job abroad can be many times the migrant’s monthly wage.

Global economic imbalances often result in large numbers of qualified workers leaving developing countries and never returning. This "brain drain" can hinder the development of the migrants’ homeland, a problem that is particularly acute in the health sector.

However, the international mobility of workers and job-seekers can be a development opportunity for all concerned. To make the most of this potential, there is a need for closer international cooperation, regulatory measures in both countries of origin and destination, and a willingness to grant migrants their rights.

Documents

Current projects

Object 1 – 12 of 20

FAIRWAY - Interregional Programme to promote decent work for migrant workers from Africa to the Arab States

01.09.2024 - 31.05.2028

Decent work for low-income migrant workers in the Middle East is promoted, in sectors particularly prone to forced labor and exploitation, affecting increasingly African workers. Through improved services, access to justice and representation, migrant workers have their rights protected. Interregional and regional cooperation is promoted for improved labor migration governance and safe migration, thereby enhancing the development benefits for countries of origin and destination.


Safer Migration project (SaMi)

16.07.2024 - 15.07.2028

Labour migration is a central pillar of the Nepalese economy, remittances contributing to more than 20% of the GNI. According to the Constitution of Nepal (2015) foreign labour migration should be made safe and beneficial. To this end, Switzerland will continue to support the three spheres (federal, provincial and local) of the Government of Nepal through the pioneering Safer Migration project (SaMi) exit phase, aiming at institutionalising, professionalising and upscaling migration services offered across the country.


Strengthened and Informative Migration Systems (SIMS) Phase II

01.04.2024 - 31.03.2029

Switzerland is interested in ensuring that international migration is regular, secure, respects human dignity and the rights of migrants. The project will institutionalise well tested awareness mechanisms on the perils of irregular migration and enhance further public and private capacities to deliver services to potential migrants. The intervention contributes to Switzerland’s dialogue on safe, orderly and regular migration at national and global levels.


Decent work for Migrants in the Middle East

01.10.2023 - 30.09.2027

Migrant workers and refugees face obstacles to access decent work in the Middle East, one of the largest migrant hosting regions, which limits their ability to contribute to their countries of origin and destination. To maximize benefits of migration and reduce harm, Switzerland engages various public and private stakeholders for the promotion of decent working conditions in Jordan, Lebanon and the Gulf, through access to justice, migrant empowerment and addressing worker welfare in the green and just transition.


MiRiDew - Migrant Rights and Decent Work

01.07.2023 - 31.12.2026

Remittances sent home by over 4 million migrant workers have significantly contributed to the economic development of Nepal. The proposed project will enhance the capacities of the Government of Nepal and strengthen mechanisms to better protect the rights of workers abroad. There will be a special focus on women’s need and the adverse effects of climate change exacerbating the vulnerability of migrants. The project capitalises on Switzerland’s longstanding engagement on labour migration in Nepal.


Global solutions for migration-related challenges

01.06.2023 - 31.12.2026

Switzerland has a strong interest in multilateral migration processes that are inclusive and that take into account local actors, in particular migrant (women) voices, to foster an enabling environment for migrants to effectively contribute to sustainable development. Switzerland supports multi-stakeholder involvement in global processes on migration and pilots innovative, locally-led solutions that are brought to the global level.


Sri Lanka: Skills for Sustainable Growth

01.11.2022 - 31.12.2025

The current crisis in Sri Lanka is strongly affecting the country’s population. Switzerland and Sri Lanka have a migration partnership. Therefore, Switzerland has a strong interest in supporting skills development in the country. This project will train the Sri Lankan Vocational Training Authority to deliver an international standard curriculum in the hospitality sector to its students, combined with practical learning in hotels. Hence, the students will have better access to employment opportunities.


Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment FAIR III

01.08.2022 - 31.12.2025

Switzerland partners with the International Labour Organization to promote fair and ethical recruitment of migrant workers. By this, it contributes to safe and regular migration, in line with Swiss foreign migration policy. It enhances migrants’ contribution to development in selected African countries, creates a level playing field for responsible employers, and protects vulnerable migrants from abuse and exploitation. 


International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS)

01.12.2021 - 30.11.2024

When recruitment is fair and ethical, it benefits migrant workers, employers, as well as governments in countries of origin and destination. Switzerland partners with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on the consolidation of the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS), a global initiative to promote ethical international recruitments that engages different actors. Engaging with the private sector will be at the center of this phase. 


PROMISE - Poverty Reduction Through Safe Migration, Skills Development and Enhanced Job Placement in Cambodia, Laos PDR, Myanmar and Thailand

01.09.2021 - 31.08.2025

Labour migration is a key poverty reduction and economic development strategy for jobless people in the Mekong region. The last phase of this regional programme will focus on the sustainability and upscaling of support to migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to access skills development and decent employment in Thailand and when returning home. Switzerland addresses their needs with a regional approach together with the International Organisation for Migration, governments and the private sector by strengthening regional and national policies and systems.


Reintegration of Returnee Migrant Workers Project

01.01.2021 - 31.05.2027

The project will contribute to ensure migrant workers benefit fully from their migration experience by supporting the reintegration of returnee migrant workers in Nepal. It will work with the Nepali Government to provide reintegration services and support policy development to anchor them in the federal structure. Switzerland has a key interest that the potential of migration for development is fully used and is well positioned to engage on the topic, given its track record in migration in Nepal. 


Facilitating Safe and Skilled Migration on the Central Asia - Russian Federation/Kazakhstan Corridor

01.12.2020 - 31.05.2026

Labor migration to Russia and Kazakhstan constitute a lifeline for millions of families in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, but its poor regulation negatively affects its development benefits. The program aims at enhancing labor mobility governance along the Central Asia-Russia/Kazakhstan migration corridor. By facilitating pre-departure orientation and skills-matching interventions for prospective migrants, it will foster migrant workers’ protection and enhancethe livelihood perspectives for the poorest in Central Asia. The program builds on Swiss migration expertise and contributes to the strategic link between international cooperation and migration policy.

Object 1 – 12 of 20