The project is implemented by the International Labour Organization together with Moldovan and Ukrainian constituents, the International Organization for Migration and the World Bank.

The project is part of the European Union’s thematic programme of cooperation with third countries in the areas of migration and asylum.

Labour Migration in Ukraine and Moldova

Migration flows from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have significantly increased during the last two decades.

The State Statistics Committee of Ukraine Migration survey (2008) identified up to 1.5 million Ukrainians who worked abroad in the period 2005-2008. Around 3 million people made at least one trip abroad for the purpose of employment during the above period. Nearly half of them (48.5 percent) went to the Russian Federation and approximately as many to EU countries, primarily the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics in Moldova suggest that the labour force fell by half a million workers during the last 20 years. The main destination countries include Greece, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Labour force mobility impacts directly the skills' pools in the countries of origin and destination, thus influencing considerably their economic and social situation.

Legal labour migration can be a win-win solution for both home and destination countries, as well as for individuals, while irregular migration exposes migrants to the risk of exploitation.

The development and implementation of rights-based migration policies and programmes is essential in governing labour migration.

Effective Governance of Labour Migration and its Skills Dimensions

The Project “Effective Governance of Labour Migration and its Skills Dimensions” in Ukraine and Republic of Moldova will seek to develop the capacity of relevant actors in the Government, Parliament and Workers’ and Employers’ organizations to contribute to adequate migration management.

Main objectives and key activities

Strengthening Moldova and Ukraine’s capacity to regulate labour migration and promote sustainable return, with a particular focus on enhancing human resources and preventing skills waste, by:

• Building capacity to analyze the skills shortage and oversupply as a result of migration;
• Enhancing the capacity of migration sending countries to balance migration flow and return with local and international skills needs;
• Building capacity to negotiate and manage rights based labour migration schemes, including agreements on social protection;
• Building capacity to govern labour migration, by enacting relevant legislation and engaging social partners.

For more detailed information about the Project please download a leaflet.

Project Office in Ukraine

Address: 8/10 Esplanadna Str., room 808

Kyiv, 01001, Ukraine

Tel./Fax: +380 44 226 29 38

E-mail: minenko@ilo.org,

migration@ilo-dp.kiev.ua