By Mariatou Ngum
The Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment(MoTIE) Hon. Baboucar Ousmaila Joof recently launched the strategic labour migration documents at the Sunset Beach Hotel.
The launched national documents are: Labour Migration Strategy, the Labour Migration Action Plan 2022- 2026, the Ethical Recruitment Guide- lines and the Predeparture Training Manuals for Labour Migrants.
These documents, developed be- tween 2019 and 2022, are envisaged to not only address and mitigate vulnerabilities in migration but also enhance labour migration management in The Gambia and the national efforts to combat trafficking in persons.
In his statement, Minister Joof described the launching and the documents as a clear testimony of a tangible outcome of the technical assistance received by the Ministry of Trade resulting from genuine partnership and collaboration. “I, therefore, wish to recognise and appreciate the technical assistance from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) team while encourag ing them to look beyond the launching of these invaluable instruments towards the implementation processes both in terms of institutional arrangements and human capacity building,” he said.
In her remarks, Sharon L. Cromer U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia thanked the organisers for giving her the opportunity to participate in the event, and to shine a spotlight on irregular migration, a global challenge that affects millions of lives, tears apart families, and fuels an industry that preys on the vulnerable.
The day, she said, was also an opportunity to recognise the hard work of the individuals and institutions committed to better migration management in The Gambia. “We celebrate the efforts of IOM and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment- with support from the United States Bureau of Populations, Refugees and Migration and the Government of Italy- in developing four foundational policy documents that will strengthen national efforts to combat the exploitation of migrants and halt trafficking in persons in The Gambia,” she stated.
