Zanzibar President Mwinyi: Doha Dialogue Calls for Fair Labour Mobility

• The Second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility convened in Dar es Salaam, with Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Mwinyi advocating for enhanced cooperation between African and GCC+ nations.
• Dr. Mwinyi stressed the need to translate political commitments into practical policies, agreements, and programs to ensure safe, fair, and beneficial labour mobility for migrant workers.
• Officials highlighted strengthening workers' rights, recruitment systems, bilateral agreements, occupational safety, access to justice, and social protection as key areas for action.
• The dialogue, hosted by Tanzania, Qatar, the African Union, and GCC states, emphasized collective responsibility and the importance of tangible results, joint projects, and progress measurement.
• Over 33 African, Gulf, and Arab countries participated, aiming to foster dignified labour mobility and protect the rights of African youth seeking employment in the Gulf.

Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Mwinyi, representing President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan at the opening, delivered a crucial address, urging African and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC+) countries to enhance their collaboration on labour mobility.

The Second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility recently convened in Dar es Salaam, bringing together officials and experts from over 33 African, Gulf, and Arab nations for a two-day meeting. The primary objective of this significant gathering was to translate existing commitments on labour migration into concrete, measurable cooperation among participating countries. Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Mwinyi, representing President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan at the opening, delivered a crucial address, urging African and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC+) countries to enhance their collaboration on labour mobility.

Dr. Mwinyi underscored the imperative of ensuring that such mobility is safe, fair, and mutually beneficial for all workers involved. He emphasized that mere political declarations on labour migration must evolve into actionable policies, robust agreements, and comprehensive programs designed to safeguard migrant workers and maximize the advantages of labour mobility. This call to action by Zanzibar President Mwinyi for fair labour mobility sets a clear tone for the ongoing discussions and future initiatives stemming from the Doha Dialogue.

In his remarks, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi highlighted several critical areas requiring immediate attention. He stressed the necessity of strengthening workers' rights, improving recruitment systems, and reinforcing bilateral labour agreements. Furthermore, he advocated for the use of reliable data as a foundational element for effective planning and management of labour mobility. The overarching goal, according to Dr. Mwinyi, is to improve the welfare of migrant workers, their families, and employers, while simultaneously fostering economic development in both origin and destination countries.

Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Zuhura Yunus, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Youth, Employment, and Persons with Disabilities), asserted that the success of the Doha Dialogue should be gauged by tangible actions rather than solely by commitments. She identified several pillars crucial for safe and productive worker movement between Africa and the Gulf, including stronger recruitment systems, occupational safety and health provisions, equitable access to justice, comprehensive social protection, and accurate labour mobility data. Ms. Yunus acknowledged the significant number of African youths seeking employment opportunities in the Gulf, underscoring the collective responsibility to ensure their safety and rights are protected throughout the migration process.

The Second Doha Dialogue, hosted by Tanzania in collaboration with Qatar, the African Union Commission, and GCC member states, operated under the theme, "Advancing Fair and Sustainable Labour Mobility between Africa and the Gulf (GCC+)." Qatar's Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman AlThani, emphasized that holding the dialogue in Africa itself signifies that labour mobility is a shared responsibility, involving both countries of origin and destination. Sheikha Najwa reiterated the call for tangible results, urging participants to identify joint projects, clearly assign responsibilities, and establish mechanisms for measuring progress.

She specifically pinpointed skills development and labour market pathways, fair recruitment practices, access to justice, and social protection as pivotal areas for closer cooperation. Dr. Sabelo Mbokazi, Head of Labour, Employment and Labour Migration at the African Union Commission, further reinforced the need for robust regional cooperation to safeguard the rights and interests of the increasing number of African youth seeking employment in Gulf countries. Tanzania has affirmed its readiness to collaborate with the African Union, Gulf countries, Jordan, and Lebanon to construct more resilient mechanisms for dignified labour mobility, promoting a framework based on mutual benefit and shared responsibility.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising clients involved in international recruitment or employing migrant workers between Africa and GCC countries should monitor the outcome of the Doha Dialogue. This initiative signals potential changes or strengthening of bilateral labour agreements, recruitment regulations, and worker protection frameworks, necessitating review of current practices for compliance.

Source: Original reporting via The Citizen