Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On October 1, 2024, a workshop to validate standard operating procedures on ethical recruitment was officially opened by Mr. Ferdinand Bashikako, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation. This event marked a crucial milestone in Burundi’s efforts for safer and better regulated labor migration.
During her speech, Mrs. Grace Marie Diane Kaze, Head of Migrant Protection and Assistance at the World Organization for Migration (IOM), emphasized on the importance of this workshop. She said that this event represents a turning point in collective efforts to improve migration conditions, especially in a developing country like Burundi, where the majority of the population is young and rural.
She added that Burundi faces many challenges, including a predominantly agricultural economy, high unemployment and political instability. These conditions have pushed many Burundians to migrate to Gulf countries in search of better opportunities. However, these irregular migrations expose migrants to various risks and vulnerabilities.
She said that Burundi recognizes the importance of regulating this mobility and is committed to establishing binding legal frameworks to ensure ethical labor migration.
The International Organization for Migration expressed its pride in supporting this initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, she said.
Mrs. Kaze clarified that the validated document is not simply a recommendation, but a practical reference framework to be used by all actors involved in labor migration, whether from the public or private sector.
In his speech, Permanent Secretary Ferdinand Bashikako appreciated IOM for its continued support to the Government of Burundi in the field of migration. He also expressed his gratitude to the members of the Advisory Committee who had contributed to the elaboration of the document.
He stressed that standard operating procedures will transform the quality and rigour of the ethical recruitment of migrant workers. By implementing these standards, Burundi aims at strengthening the regulation of the program and ensuring that the best interests of the migrant worker are respected.
Finally, he urged the participants to make observations and recommendations to enrich the document before its final validation. He encouraged all stakeholders to take ownership of these standard operating procedures and implement them quickly to ensure effective regulations of the sector.
After the speeches, the document was analyzed and validated with a few amendments, thus marking a significant step towards a responsible management of migration in Burundi.