Joining Forces with IOM to Strengthen Labour Mobility Pathways for Refugees
TBB is thrilled to announce our formal partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to strengthen labour mobility pathways as a durable solution for refugees and other displaced people around the world.
IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration. With 174 member states and a presence in over 100 countries, the Organisation is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.
Working together for refugee labour mobility
TBB and IOM share a belief that displaced populations can help fill critical skills gaps globally when we remove the barriers that have traditionally prevented them from accessing skilled migration.
For several years, we have collaborated on piloting labour mobility schemes for refugees, providing integration and settlement services, travel arrangements, and other activities to assist displaced people moving internationally through labour mobility schemes. Now, this collaboration will take the form of an official partnership.
TBB and IOM will coordinate, collaborate, and consult with one another on technical advice to governments, promotion of the Talent Catalog, and research and thought leadership on displaced talent mobility, as well as potentially pursuing joint projects and joint funding opportunities. Together, we will continue to expand and scale opportunities for refugees to access labour mobility, ensuring safe migration pathways.
Partnership a key to scale
Already, more than 300 Talent Catalog registrants – and their families – have been able to use customised skilled pathways to resume their careers and rebuild their lives in countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The partnership between IOM and TBB will help us to scale these efforts.
“This partnership is a critical component in scaling up our impact,” said Steph Cousins, CEO of Talent Beyond Boundaries. “Our goal is to transition from helping hundreds of displaced people safely move for work each year, to thousands."
“For too long, the public has been given a false narrative about people on the move- that they are simply a burden. We have worked to overturn this narrative by highlighting their skills, facilitating visa pathways, and enabling employers to recruit from this untapped talent pool.”
“Labour mobility pathways are a win-win solution for addressing labour shortages at all skill levels and tapping into new talent while safeguarding protection of migrants” said IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, Ugochi Daniels.
“This partnership will undoubtedly help us implement positive change in the lives of millions around the world.”
Joint advocacy to level up our impact
Both TBB and IOM were in attendance this week at at a High-Level Forum on Legal Pathways to Protection and Resettlement, hosted by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, and including representatives from the EU Member States, the US, Canada, the UK, UNHCR, civil society organisations, refugees, and businesses involved in complementary labour pathways.
Part of the Forum was dedicated to promoting complementary pathways linked to work, and to sharing insights from existing good practice. The Commission specifically noted that this topic is gaining momentum at both EU and international level.
David Manicom, representing both TBB and Fragomen as our Director of Global Advocacy for Displaced Talent, addressed representatives saying: “These pathways are not theoretical. They are in place, and refugees are flowing to eager and smart employers now. This is rational, fair, dignified, and safe.”
”We can, if we choose, spend tens of billions of dollars per year keeping refugees half alive, half-fed, their children half in school; their futures dimming each day and the lure of traffickers and boats growing stronger. Or, we can adjust mechanisms already in place and grow the logistical partnerships to bring them to work in needed jobs as our tax-paying neighbours, helping local businesses flourish.”
“Given that, rather than building pilot projects as small as possible, why would we not be building them as robust initial phases designed to grow big, fast? The world’s forcibly displaced leave homes and belongings behind when they flee - but they carry their talents with them. Now is the right time. We’re ready.”
Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs, confirmed that the members of the Commission have “Agreed on the need to expand legal migration opportunities, including how refugees can access jobs in Europe. We will be working closely with the Global Task Force [on Refugee Labour Mobility] to this end.”
IOM and TBB are already working together with funding from the European Commission to expand labour mobility pathway opportunities into Ireland, Belgium, Portugal and the UK. Both organisations are also core members of the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility, Chaired by the Government of Canada, and will continue to use this group to advocate for the expansion of pathways around the world.
TBB is excited to work in closer collaboration with IOM under this new partnership to scale labour mobility pathways for refugees and other forcibly displaced people around the world.
