Decent Work for Migrants in the Middle East

Project completed

The Middle East is one of the fastest growing migrant receiving and migrant transit areas where exploitation of migrant workers is widespread. The SDC supports a systematic migrant workers protection program with the aim to improve the situation of both men and women migrant workers in the Middle East. It contributes to the filling of legal, policy, institutional and structural gaps and to an effective implementation of existing legislation.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Near East
Employment & economic development
Migration
Labour migration
Migration generally (development aspects and partnerships)
01.05.2012 - 31.07.2015
CHF  4’060’000
Background
The basis for an effective protection of migrant workers is established through an improvement of labor market regulation. It is done, too, through support to reform efforts of the so-called ‘Kafala’-system (employment sponsorships), through the inclusion of domestic workers under the labor law and through supporting the policy dialogue between Asia and the Middle East.
Objectives
To improve the framework conditions for labour migration and redress the situation of vulnerable migrants, so as to empower migrants to become development actors.
Target groups

National labour authorities; trade unions, civil society organizations and the media; men and woman migrant workers.

Medium-term outcomes
  • Governments interests in providing access to labour rights have measurably increased on the basis of reformed and implemented policies
  • Non-state actors are empowered and motivated to actively defend migrants rights and access to reliable services
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Other International Organization
Private sector
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • International Labor Organization
  • International Organisation for Migration
  • Foreign private sector North
  • Swiss Private Sector
  • SDC Field Office


Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    4’060’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    3’765’407
Project phases Phase 3 15.07.2019 - 31.10.2024   (Current phase) Phase 2 01.01.2015 - 31.12.2019   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.05.2012 - 31.07.2015   (Completed)