Govt urges for adoption of stronger measures to protect migrant workers in IGAD region
Kenya has called on member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to develop sustainable and coordinated solutions that protect migrant workers and strengthen regional labour mobility.
Speaking during the opening of the Experts Meeting of the 3rd IGAD Ministerial Conference on Labour, Employment, and Labour Migration in Nairobi on Monday, October 20, 2025, Hellen Apiyo, Commissioner of Labour at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, emphasized the need for strong data systems and policies to safeguard migrant workers.
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“As a region, we must develop solutions that protect migrant workers, safeguard their rights, and expand job opportunities, especially for young people seeking decent work,” she said.
“The issue of data management is very important, collecting data and tracking movement, finding out how migrant labour is doing is crucial,” she added.
Apiyo reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to regional cooperation under IGAD’s framework, noting that migration should be viewed not just as a security or administrative concern, but also as a matter of livelihoods, resilience, and peacebuilding.
“We recognize that cross-border migration is not only a security or administrative concern, but also a matter of livelihoods, resilience and peace building,” she added.
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Other concerns
On his part, Souleimon Meïmin Robleh, Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior of Djibouti and Chair of the IGAD Free Movement Cluster, noted that regional mobility is an engine for shared development.
“Through IGAD’s Free Movement Protocol, we are building a future where borders connect rather than divide our people and economies.”
Additionally, Mangar Buong Acok, Acting Minister of Interior, South Sudan, stressed that migration management requires collaboration.
“No country can manage migration alone. Cross-border cooperation is essential to combat human trafficking, promote legal pathways, and ensure safe and dignified movement.”
The two-day technical session that ends on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, brings together senior experts from IGAD member states to shape policy recommendations on labour mobility, employment policies, and migration governance ahead of the ministerial deliberations.
Participants include representatives from Ministries of Labour and Employment, Interior, Immigration, and Foreign Affairs, as well as Social Partners comprising employer federations and trade union organizations from across the IGAD region.
The conference comes amid rising irregular migration along the Red Sea route, one of the world’s busiest and most dangerous migration corridors,highlighting the urgent need for coordinated regional action to promote safe, regular, and dignified migration across the IGAD region.
