ILO, ATUMNET move to shield African migrants from exploitation

Amid rising migration across Africa and growing reports of exploitation, the African Trade Union Migration Network (ATUMNET) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have intensified calls for stronger protection systems for migrant workers across the continent.

The organisations are pushing for improved coordination and strengthening of Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) to ensure migrant workers and their families gain access to reliable information, fair recruitment processes, counselling, legal support and safer migration pathways.

They warned that without stronger protection mechanisms, thousands of African migrant workers would remain vulnerable to trafficking, forced labour, abusive recruitment practices and other forms of exploitation.

The call came at the opening of a three-day workshop organised by the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) in partnership with the ILO, bringing together migration stakeholders, trade unions and migrant workers from across Africa.

Speaking at the event, the ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Dr Vanessa Phala, described Migrant Resource Centres as critical frontline institutions helping migrant workers navigate the risks associated with labour migration.

According to her, the centres provide migrant workers and their families with information, counselling, legal referrals, protection services and support throughout the migration process.

Phala noted that as labour mobility continues to increase across Africa, many migrant workers still face harsh realities, including poor working conditions, unpaid wages, unsafe workplaces, discrimination, weak social protection systems and limited access to justice.

She added that irregular migration channels and weak access to credible information continue to expose many migrants to misinformation, exploitative recruiters and forced labour.

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“As labour mobility continues to rise across Africa, strengthening coordination among Migrant Resource Centres is essential to ensuring that migration takes place in conditions of dignity, safety and decent work,” she said.

The ILO Director also identified major operational challenges facing MRCs across the continent, including inadequate funding, weak institutional coordination, uneven service standards, poor referral systems, limited digitalisation and sustainability concerns.

She stressed that the workshop would provide stakeholders an opportunity to exchange experiences, identify best practices and explore innovative strategies for improving the effectiveness and sustainability of Migrant Resource Centres.

“Over the next three days, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration and peer learning among MRCs and key stakeholders across Africa,” she added.

In his remarks, the General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Akhator Joel Odigie, said African trade unions were determined to pursue practical and worker-centred solutions to the growing migration crisis confronting workers across the continent.

Odigie stressed the need for stronger collaboration between trade union-run Migrant Resource Centres and government labour migration systems to improve protection and access to support services for migrant workers.

“Africa does not have the luxury of lamenting endlessly about migration challenges. The real task before us is how to develop practical solutions and answers that respond to the realities facing workers across the continent,” he said.

He argued that migrant workers should not be treated merely as economic instruments, noting that they remain human beings whose rights and dignity must be protected.

“Migrant men and women contribute immensely to Africa’s economy and development, but they are not commodities. Beyond the wealth they generate, they are human beings with rights, dignity and aspirations that must be protected,” he added.

Odigie further called for stronger rights-based migration governance systems capable of protecting migrant workers from exploitation, unsafe working conditions and abusive recruitment practices.

Also speaking, the Director of the Employment and Wages Department at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Joseph Jonah Akpan, described Migrant Resource Centres as essential platforms for promoting safe and regular migration across Africa.

Represented by Kabiru Muhammad of the Migrant Resource Centre in Abuja, Akpan emphasised the importance of continuous training for MRC personnel on migration policies, labour market trends and international labour standards to enable them respond effectively to evolving migration realities.

He also advocated greater deployment of digital tools and reliable labour migration data to improve transparency, planning and accountability within migration governance systems.

“Integrating MRC operations into broader Labour Market Information Systems will enhance evidence-based policymaking and improve transparency and accountability,” he said.

The Ministry further stressed the need for gender-responsive and inclusive migration systems, especially to protect women and young migrant workers who often face heightened risks of abuse and exploitation.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening labour migration governance, the Ministry said sustained collaboration among African countries and regional partners would be critical to building durable systems capable of protecting the rights, dignity and welfare of migrant workers across the continent.