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| Khumbula Ndaba, ILO Country Director, speaks during a media briefing on labour migration in Nairobi on September 23, 2026. |
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has called for stronger protection of African migrant workers, particularly those employed in the Gulf region, amid concerns over poor working conditions, discrimination and inadequate social protection.
ILO Country Director Khumbula Ndaba said African governments, workers’ and employers’ representatives are working towards a common position ahead of the second AU-GCC+ Labour Migration Dialogue scheduled for October 5-6 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Ndaba spoke in Nairobi during a two-day tripartite meeting bringing together governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations to consolidate African priorities ahead of the dialogue.
He said the meeting was intended to ensure African countries present a coordinated position on the protection of migrant workers and the governance of labour migration.
“The reason for our coming here today is to prepare for a Doha meeting which is coming on the 5th and 6th of October in Dar es Salaam,” Ndaba said.
The dialogue will bring together African Union member states and countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as Jordan and Lebanon, to discuss labour mobility and the protection of migrant workers.
Ndaba said many African migrant workers in destination countries continue to experience challenges, including intolerable working conditions and discrimination.
“One of the limitations that we have identified as we send migrant workers to the GCC countries is that they face intolerable working conditions, discrimination of various sorts and all sorts of other forms of unpalatable working conditions,” he said.
The meeting is expected to develop a Common African Tripartite Statement outlining key priorities and recommendations for consideration at the Dar es Salaam dialogue. The Nairobi meeting is part of preparations for the 2026 Doha Dialogue, which will focus on fair and sustainable labour mobility between Africa and the GCC+.
Ndaba said migrant workers should enjoy decent working conditions and protection under international labour standards, noting that female migrant workers should also be recognised for the professional services they provide.
He said existing bilateral labour migration agreements between African countries and destination states were in some cases too weak to adequately protect workers.
“Those bilateral labour agreements are often too weak and they do not contain the necessary protection measures for migrant workers,” Ndaba said.
He cited wages, social protection and pensions as some of the areas requiring greater attention in bilateral agreements.
Ndaba also called for clear mechanisms to address challenges faced by migrant workers and provide them with support while working abroad.
The ILO has previously identified gaps in bilateral labour migration agreements involving African countries and GCC, Jordan and Lebanon, including issues around implementation and monitoring mechanisms.
On rising concerns over African migrants working in other African countries, Ndaba cautioned against blaming migrant workers for economic challenges facing host countries.
He said governments should examine the underlying causes of unemployment and other economic difficulties instead of making migrant workers scapegoats.
“Migrant workers are here to provide a service or come to those countries to provide a service,” he said.
Ndaba said the Dar es Salaam meeting is expected to produce a framework for improved migration governance between Africa and GCC countries, as well as guidelines for negotiating bilateral labour agreements.
He said such agreements should contain basic provisions on workers’ rights, international labour standards and protection of female migrant workers.
“Female migrant workers must be respected because we have seen a lot of abuse and those abuses are not accepted,” Ndaba said.
The ILO said the broader Doha Dialogue process seeks to promote safe, orderly and regular labour mobility while strengthening cooperation between African countries and destination countries in the Gulf, Jordan and Lebanon.
Ndaba also urged African governments to improve economic opportunities at home so that young people can access decent employment without being compelled to seek opportunities abroad.
The Nairobi meeting brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers from African Union member states alongside regional institutions and social partners to formulate a coordinated African position ahead of the October dialogue.
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