The ILO believes that there is a need for better harmonization and coordination between employment, education/training and labour migration policies. The ILO Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration also underlines the importance of ensuring “coherence between labour migration, employment and other national policies, in recognition of the wide social and economic implications of labour migration. One of the most important areas of work include the carrying out of labour market needs assessments identifying existing supply and demand for migrant workers. Countries could also be advised to enhance administrative capacity through specific labour migration units or services, usually within the Ministry of Labour.

The ILO also promotes the effective implementation of labour migration policies through the inclusion of labour markets institutions such as Labour Market Observatories, Wage-setting Mechanisms and other Working Conditions Services, Occupational Safety and Health Boards, Labour Inspection Services, Public Employment Services, Vocational Training Institutions, Social Security Institutes, Anti-Discrimination and Labour Market Integration Commissions.

Indeed, labour migration policies do not exist in isolation and are influenced by other national policy concerns. The ILO has therefore developed practical guidance on policy coherence between employment, education/training and migration policies.

• The guide has recently been piloted in Ghana.