As millions of Horn of Africa citizens seek work in the Middle East, the Gulf, and beyond,the issue of labour practices has become a great concern to the region,it’s on this background that IGAD organised a high level Ministerial Conference to discuss this issue of Employment and labour migration.

Speaking while opening the Conference,IGAD Executive Secretary General Dr.Workneh Gebeyehu said there were many lives at risk due to unplanned and illegal labour migration driven by despair, risk deadly routes like the Red Sea, which has claimed over 3,400 lives in the last 10 years.

“As IGAD, we must secure fair conditions for our workers abroad and create jobs at home so our people can thrive where they belong” Said Dr. Workneh.

On his part the ILO Horn of Africa Executive Director called for harnessing the benefits of labour migration for regional integration and social justice.

In giving his official remarks Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Hon Dr.Alfred Mutua welcomed the Honourable Ministers,heads of delegations and the Delegates to Kenya.

” I would also like to express much gratitude to thd Secretariats of both IGAD and ILO horn of Africa for organising the Conference ” said Hon Mutua

 Dr.Mutua added that the Minesterial  conference was very important as a stepping stone from the Djibouti Declaration and seek ways of accelerating the Declaration while seeking ways to strengthen labour moblity and Social Protection across the region.

The Minesterial Conference concluded with a joint communiqué.which called for Fair Recruitment, Social Protection and Safe Migration across the region.