A joint action of East and Horn of Africa Region member states and representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is vital to tackle and manage illegal labor migration, Labor and Skills Minister Muferihat Kamil said today.
The GCC and RMFM (Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration) Member States Inception Dialogue, which was held in Addis Ababa today, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts in addressing migration challenges and opportunities in the region.
The dialogue aims to leverage the RMFM platform for enhanced migration governance, joint skills development and capacity building initiatives as well as establishing a shared labor agenda.
Labor and Skills Minister Muferihat, current chair of the East and Horn of Africa Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration (RMFM), highlighted on the occasion the importance of addressing the challenges faced by illegal migrants attempting to cross to GCC countries.
The challenges illegal migrants face include exposure to dangers, violence, and exploitation,
she stated, adding it is therefore crucial to prioritize the safety and well-being of all migrants and ensure that their human rights are respected.
Migration in the Horn and East Africa region is a very serious and complex challenge as there are multiples factors that complicate migration, the minister noted.
According to Mufrihat, no single country can withstand the challenges of informal migration alone without exerted efforts of different actors.
Thus, GCC countries and RMFM member states need to carve out common agenda in the realm of labor migration and development, she stated.
“Countries should come together so as to have a proper management of migration. We have to come together so that we can have a policy alignment.”
After the meeting, the minister told ENA that the dialogue provided opportunity for brainstorming strategies and mechanisms to achieve safe and orderly migration.
The dialogue marked an important step toward strengthening partnerships and fostering dialogue between RMFM member st
ates and GCC, paving the way for future cooperation in the field of migration.
Ambassadors of GCC countries and ambassadors of member states of the RMFM, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Sudan, took part in the dialogue.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency