IOM concludes capacity-building workshop to aid in the integration of Venezuelan migrants into Caribbean labour markets

September 14, Georgetown - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) completed its training workshop on the Integration of Venezuelan Migrants into Caribbean Labour Markets. The trainings were held online and in collaboration with the Response for Venezuelans (R4V) Program, and with participation from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). This workshop aimed to engage with countries to develop guiding actions on migration challenges.  The workshop was designed to help address the main challenges regarding the integration of Venezuelan migrants in the labour markets of Aruba, Curaçao, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.

This training spanned one week, with three live online sessions on three days that includes participant and expert presentations from the UNHCR, ILO, country representatives, and IOM. The workshop provided stakeholders the opportunity to identify activities and capacities, as well as challenges, needs, and priorities as it relates to Venezuelan migrant integration, and consider how to best address them through the exploration of experiences and good practices.

It covered topics such as international guiding principles and migrant support tools, accessibility to labour markets for migrants, entrepreneurship opportunities for migrants and refugees, and intra-regional labour mobility. These sessions also discussed the practical ways in which migrants have been positively integrated into the labour markets through entrepreneurial pursuits, and they shared recommendations on integration programmes in the region.

Upon the completion of the course, participants were awarded certificates of participation from IOM. Additionally, the conclusions of the workshop will be used to produce concrete recommendations for national, sub-regional, and regional follow up actions. The results of the workshop will also be shared with regional bodies like the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Caribbean Migration Consultations (CMC). This workshop is part of a larger Western Hemisphere Program, funded by the US Department of State Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration, and is aimed at improving migration management and governance in the region.