The two-day consultation workshop on the regulation of Private Employment Agencies (PrEAs) in Somalia, organised by the BRMM programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Somalia, was convened from 26 - 27 February 2024, in Mogadishu, Somalia. The workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, including the State Minister of the Ministry of Labour, H.E. Yusuf Mohamed Adan, social partners (FESTU and the Chamber of Commerce), and PrEAs. The workshop discussed challenges faced by PrEAs, which licenses were terminated by MoLSA in 2022; gathered input for the development of a regulation for PrEAs in Somalia that contributes to the protection of migrant workers and improves the condition of PrEAs in Somalia; and fostered collaboration among stakeholders.
In the opening session, Ms Kidest Getahun, Technical Officer, BRMM Programme, extended a warm welcome to all participants, emphasising the workshop's significance in addressing the challenges and opportunities related to effective labour migration governance. Moreover, Ms Kidest highlighted Somalia's complex role as a country of origin, transit, destination, and return in the global migration landscape. Mr Sten Petersen, the international consultant responsible for developing the regulation for Private Employment Agencies (PrEAs), highlighted the need for Somalia to integrate into the global labour market and ensure Somali migrant workers acquire necessary quality skills demanded worldwide to prevent exploitation and low wages in destination countries. He assured that the upcoming regulation would comply with the country's laws and protect both incoming and outgoing labour migrants while supporting PrEAs' growth. Mr Abdinasir Jima’ale, Deputy Managing Director of the Somalia Chamber of Commerce, praised the tripartite approach in developing the regulation and underscored the need to translate it into practical measures for promoting orderly migration through regulated PrEAs. Mr Abdirahman Shaacir, representing FESTU, welcomed the regulation's development and stressed the importance of protecting migrant workers from exploitation and trafficking, both within and outside the country. Finally, H.E Yusuf Mohamed Adan, State Minister, MoLSA, officially opened the two-day workshop and mentioned the ministry's ongoing efforts in drafting significant legislation to address challenges faced by workers, including migrant workers.
"PrEAs play a crucial role in creating jobs for Somalis and reducing the dangers of irregular migration, and we are committed to implementing strong regulations that tackle smuggling and ease the challenges faced by Somali migrants seeking opportunities in the Gulf countries."
H.E. Yusuf Mohamed Adan, State Minister, MoLSA
During the two-day meeting, participants identified several challenges. These include the absence of clear and consistent regulatory frameworks, inadequate infrastructure hindering operational efficiency of PrEAs, difficulties in navigating informal employment practices, and the broader economic instability exacerbating unemployment issues. To address these challenges and enhance PrEAs' operations, stakeholders proposed various recommendations, particularly advocating for transparent and accountable regulatory frameworks, investing in technology and infrastructure to improve communication and recruitment processes, providing training programs to equip staff with necessary skills, and fostering partnerships with local stakeholders to expand networks and access talent pools.
The consultation workshop also shed light on the evolving nature of tripartite collaboration in Somalia. While there have been improvements in involving social partners in policy discussions, challenges persist in fully engaging them in policy formulation and implementation. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the government's capacity to oversee implementation of regulations namely due to political instability, limited institutional capacity, and resource constraints. The workshop also assessed the role of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), as the responsible Ministry for issuing licenses and work permits to PrEAs and foreign workers and regulating them.
In conclusion, the consultation underscored the importance of developing clear and consistent regulation for PrEAs to address existing challenges, improve their operations, and ensure the fair and ethical recruitment practices in Somalia. Stakeholders emphasized the necessity for enhanced collaboration, capacity building, and infrastructure development to support the effective implementation of the regulation of PrEAs in Somalia.
