IOM guides dialogue to develop a labor integration mechanism for migrants in Mexico

March 20. The International Organization for Migration, through the Regional Migration Program: Mesoamerica-The Caribbean, held a meeting with the National Employment Service and various civil society organizations with the goal of preparing a needs analysis to improve capacities for labor inclusion of migrants in Mexico.

According to an IOM survey, 68% of the 819 migrants interviewed in Chiapas this January migrated to search for jobs. 8 out of 10 had a job before migrating, most in the agriculture and service sectors, including trade. 

In this context, exchanging proposals addressed the primary challenges for establishing coordination systems that promote labor inclusion of migrants. Participants in the activity included organizations such as Sin Fronteras IAP, the Refugee House Program, the House of Reception, Training, and Empowerment for Migrant and Refugee Women, Shelter House Tochan, the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Project (ProDESC), Casa Mambré, the Institute for Migration Study and Outreach (INEDIM), the Scalabrian Mission for Migrants and Refugees (SMR), the National Employment Service, relevant government agencies, and more. 

The goal is for this meeting to be the first of many initiatives which will solidify into an institutional network through the signing of a letter of intent, in order for civil society, government agencies, and IOM to coordinate a more effective labor inclusion mechanism. IOM has also been discussing its labor migration strategy with the International Labor Organization (ILO) in order to develop joint activities. 

“If we consider that Mexico is increasingly a country of destination, it is important to include various actors so they can participate in the inclusion of migrants in the labor market, and in the construction of a mechanism to be coordinated by these actors for the benefit of the migrant population,” stated Gustavo Gutiérrez, National Coordinator of the Regional Migration Program: Mesoamerica-The Caribbean.

For more information, contact Gustavo Gutiérrez, email: gugutierrez@iom.int, or phone +52 55 5536 39 Ext. 103. Or, the Communication & Media department of IOM Mexico, email: iommexicocomunica@iom.int, or phone: + 52 55 5536 39 22 Ext. 119.