Labour Migration Mobility Itcilo

Supporting the Social and Professional Reintegration of North African Return Migrants @Itcilo

Return migration continues to be one of the least considered aspects in migration policy, despite its crucial socioeconomic significance not only for countries of origin, but also for all countries of destination. Policies addressed to returnees have to take into account the pre‐ and post‐return conditions faced by migrant workers. They also need to address the reasons for emigration in the first place and for return afterwards, the duration of stay abroad and all those elements that can affect the capacity of reintegration in the home country. They should consider the employment and investment opportunities for the return migrants, with concern for the relations with the local population, especially in sensitive areas such as post‐conflict regions. They should service both migrants who return temporarily and permanently, with a development‐oriented approach that places migrants’ skills, rights, aspirations and know‐how at the centre of the discussion. This project aims to address the social and professional reintegration of return migrants by strengthening the capacity of policy level stakeholders in North Africa to design and facilitate evidence-based return migration policies.