ILO marks 10 years of Guiding Principles on refugee labour market access

GENEVA (ILO News) - Ahead of World Refugee Day, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is marking the tenth anniversary of the Guiding Principles on the Access of Refugees and Other Forcibly Displaced Persons to the Labour Market and launching a new series of knowledge products highlighting practical actions and good practices to support their implementation.

In the lead-up to World Refugee Day, under the theme "Until Everyone Is Safe", the ILO highlights the critical role of decent work, sustainable livelihoods and labour market inclusion in helping refugees and other forcibly displaced persons rebuild their lives, contribute to host communities and achieve greater self-reliance.

Adopted in 2016 by ILO constituents, the Guiding Principles on the Access of Refugees and Other Forcibly Displaced Persons to the Labour Market provide a comprehensive framework to support Member States and social partners in responding to displacement through labour market policies and decent work opportunities. The Principles are organized around six pillars: governance frameworks on access to labour markets; economic and employment policies for inclusive labour markets; labour rights and equality of opportunity and treatment; partnership, coordination and coherence; voluntary repatriation and reintegration of returnees; and additional pathways for labour mobility.

Over the past decade, the Guiding Principles have helped shape policy and practice in countries hosting refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. They have strengthened labour market governance, promoted recognition of refugees' economic contributions, and encouraged inclusive approaches that benefit both displaced populations and host communities.

Significant progress has been made, yet major challenges remain. Millions of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons continue to face legal, administrative and practical barriers to decent work, skills recognition, social protection and equal treatment in employment. In the spirit of this year's World Refugee Day theme, 'Until Everyone Is Safe', access to decent work is essential to achieving lasting safety - providing not only livelihoods, but also protection, rights and stability. Persistent informality, discrimination and limited access to quality jobs and social protection continue to undermine self-reliance and the realization of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

"Ten years after their adoption, the Guiding Principles remain as relevant as ever," said Gladys Cisneros, Chief, ILO Labour Migration Branch. "At a time when displacement is at record levels, access to decent work is essential not only for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, but also for strengthening host communities, fostering social cohesion and supporting inclusive economic development."

To mark the anniversary, the ILO is launching a new series of knowledge products aligned with the pillars of the Guiding Principles. Drawing on national experiences, the series highlights concrete actions, practical steps and lessons learned to support governments and social partners in implementing the Guiding Principles in diverse contexts.

The first four publications released today focus on:

• Governance frameworks for inclusive access to labour markets and support for self-reliance - lessons and good practices from Uganda;
• Economic and employment policies for inclusive labour markets through data-driven adaptation of labour market integration, with experience from Germany;
• Economic and employment policies for inclusive labour markets through integration in national systems, with experience from Kenya; and
• Labour rights and equality of opportunity and treatment, with a case study from Colombia.

Together, these publications form part of a growing repository of good practices demonstrating how countries are translating the Guiding Principles into action. The new series aims to support policymakers, employers' and workers' organizations, and development partners by providing evidence-based examples of what works in expanding access to decent work and promoting inclusive labour markets in displacement contexts. Additional knowledge products covering other pillars and country experiences will be released in the coming months.

As World Refugee Day approaches, the ILO calls for renewed commitment to policies that enable refugees and other forcibly displaced persons to access decent work and contribute their skills and talents to the communities in which they live.

This year's theme, "Until Everyone Is Safe," underscores that protection and inclusion go hand in hand. Access to decent work is a cornerstone of safety, dignity and hope, helping to rebuild lives and foster more resilient, inclusive and prosperous societies for all.