Regional fair migration project in the Middle East (FAIRWAY project)

The ILO Fair Migration Agenda, which was endorsed by ILO’s tripartite constituents during the International Labour Conference of 2014, recognizes the Arab States as one of the main destination regions globally of migrant workers. Many of these migrant workers are low-skilled and face multiple decent work deficits. These include, but are not limited to 1) flawed recruitment, 2) unacceptable working conditions including in situations akin to forced labour, 3) ineffective dispute resolution and lack of access to justice, 4) limits on voice, representation, and social dialogue, and 5) discrimination of migrant workers. The project “Regional Fair Migration Project in selected Middle Eastern countries (FAIRWAY project)” aims to build on the momentum of the SDC-funded Migration Governance Network (MAGNET) project and other ILO projects in addressing the decent work deficits of migrant workers, promoting fair migration (including fair recruitment) and contributing to combating forced labour and trafficking for labour exploitation. It is informed by lessons from projects in the Arab States – the ILO MAGNET project in particular - and in origin countries in South Asia, and takes both a country-specific and regional approach. Country-specific work will be undertaken in the GCC countries Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, and in the Mashreq countries Jordan and Lebanon, and initiatives will revolve around the plight of low-skilled migrant workers in sectors where they predominate, i.e. construction and domestic work. The two-and-a-half year project has a three-pronged strategy: promoting labour migration-related policy change for fair migration that is informed by evidence-based policy advice; supporting improved implementation of laws and policies by strengthening institutional mechanisms and operational modalities in the target countries; and building a more conducive environment for decent work of male and female migrant workers by addressing discriminatory attitudes and actions.

Project symbol

RAB/15/03/CHE

Admin unit

RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut

Start date

01/01/2016

End date

31/12/2019

Total allocation

3221843

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

3092067

Development Partners

Switzerland, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

Country/Countries

Arab States - regional

Outcomes

Outcome 7: Adequate and effective protection at work for all