malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
MIGRANT workers contribute immensely to developing host countries, and their rights must be prioritised and safeguarded by governments and other stakeholders in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s standards.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo made these remarks during a three-day 14th Global Forum on Migration and Development Summit underway in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday.
He was giving closing remarks in a panel discussion on Labour Migration that he was co-chairing with United Arab Emirates Assistant Undersecretary for Communication & International Relations in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Her Excellency Shayma AL Awadhi.
“The issue of protection of migrant workers’ rights is coming up very strongly.
“This requires a collective approach from the Government, social partners, employers and trade unions within the receiving countries to recognise that these migrant workers are adding to the development of those countries.
“Therefore, they need the protection that is stated in the ILO standards,” said Minister Moyo.
The same discussion, he said, must also take place in the countries of origin of the migrants.
“This conference has opened my mind and as we go back home, we will meet with some partners who are also here and examine what we should be doing about migration in Zimbabwe and what we should be doing with migration that is in the destination,” he said.
Minister Moyo said Zimbabwe will ensure the migration issue will get the attention it deserves when it takes over the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) later this year.
The summit, which started on Tuesday, is being attended by Government officials, civil society and business.
It seeks to promote safe, orderly and regular migration movements globally.
Online Reporter