The new EU-ILO project “Effective Governance of Labour Migration and its Skills Dimensions” aimed to help Ukrainian and Moldovan migrant workers was launched on 27 May 2011 in the Ministry of Social Policy, Ukraine.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Vasyl Kostrytsya, ILO National Coordinator in Ukraine and official launch of the project was given by Mrs Laura Garagnani, Head of Operations of EU Delegation to Ukraine. She mentioned the EU and its neighbours to have a strong mutual interest in cooperating in migration issues - both bilaterally and regionally. Ukraine and Moldova are two countries that need to regulate emigration and immigration – to ensure current and future labour skills and support development objectives. Mrs. Garagnani highlighted the tripartite partnership, which brought together the expertise of the International Organisation for Migration, the International Labour Organisation and the World Bank into this project as an innovative joint venture which had the seeds for success.
Mr. Vasyl Nadraga, First Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine thanked the ILO for the long- lasting and fruitful cooperation and underlined the timeliness of the EU-ILO project as the country requires coherent migration policy aimed at strengthening the capacity to regulate labour migration and promote sustainable return of Ukrainian migrants, with a particular focus on enhancing human resources capital and preventing skills waste.
Mr. Mark Levin, Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Central and Eastern Europe in Budapest stressed that tripartite mechanism is key for social dialogue on the formulation of national or regional migration policies. On behalf of the Director-General of the ILO, Mr. Levin thanked the European Commission for its generosity in supporting this important project. He underlined the European Commission is a key strategic partner of the International Labour Office both in Europe and globally.
Mr. Olivier Adam, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative for Ukraine stressed: “….migration is more likely to benefit all when it is safe and through regular channels, therefore safeguarding the rights of migrants is the core issue for the Global Migration Group, which consists of 14 United Nations agencies.” Mr. Adam pointed the role of mobility of people that reduces labour market imbalances, promotes the exchange of expertise and ideas and allows for the training of younger generations. He thanked the Delegation of EU in Ukraine for continuous support of the UN projects and initiatives in Ukraine.
The launching event was followed by the first tripartite Project Steering committee meeting. It started with the ILO team presentation of the Project objectives, and planned activities. The Inception Report was also presented to the PSC member for their comments and endorsement.
During the discussion, the steering committee members confirmed their commitments to the project objectives and expressed their hope for effective project implementation.
Please find more information about the Project here.
Contacts:
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