Libya and Niger signed Tuesday a memorandum of understanding that seeks to protect migrant workers through effective work visa issuance before employment and to better respond to Libya’s labor market needs, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“Bilateral collaboration plays a key role in promoting the labor rights of Nigerien migrants in Libya, to improve their working conditions and thereby to facilitate the remittances to their communities of origin, by an economy and contribute to the development of their home country through remittances,” said Barbara Rijks, Chief of Mission for IOM in Niger.
“It will also contribute to combat migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons and promote safe and regular migration pathways,” Rijks added.
Federico Soda, Chief of Mission for IOM in Libya, said it is essential to strengthen coordination and cooperation mechanisms on migration management and labor mobility across the countries’ borders.
“There are more than 600,000 international migrants in Libya, with Nigerien nationals the most prominent group at 20 percent,” he said.
“They play a pivotal role in supplying a critical workforce in the Libyan economy and contribute to the development of their home country through remittances,” Soda pointed out.