The Business Mechanism Awareness Meeting was entitled “Enhancing Public-Private Dialogue on the Business Case of Migration: Finding the interface between governments and business in order to maximize opportunities and minimize challenges”. The meeting took place at Fédération des Enterprises Romandes in Geneva on 19 April 2016. See below for documents related to the event.
Agenda
Brochure
Summary Report
Photos from the event:






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Enhancing Public-Private Dialogue on the Business Case for Migration:
“Strengthening public-private dialogue to rethink labour migration policies and international skills mobility in the framework of the GFMD”
Concept Note (FR)
Concept Note (EN)
Agenda
Summary Report
Photos from the event:









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The Global Forum on Migration and Development Summit took place from 10-12 December 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh under the chairmanship of the Government of Bangladesh.
Please find the report of the 2016 GFMD Chair here. In Dhaka, the Business Mechanism was endorsed as a permanent feature of the GFMD. For the first time, the private sector was invited to participate as an independent GFMD stakeholder. Ms. Linda Kromjong, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), delivered the report on the work of the GFMD Business Mechanism at the GFMD Opening Ceremony. Find her full statement below.
The speakers on the panel represented governments, private companies, business associations, as well as the civil society. They highlighted the need for international skills mobility and for fair and ethical recruitment practices.
Programmes for matching skills to labour market needs were also presented. See below for all documents related to the event. In addition, read the IOE’s communication, as well as CFGI’s press release.
Opening Statement by Linda Kromjong
2016 Speaker Biographies
Summary Report
Concept Note
The Business Mechanism launched a position paper during a well-attended business meeting. Entitled The Business Case for Migration the paper addresses the recommendations and roles of the private sector in promoting a coherent and comprehensive migration strategy and toward meeting the global compact on migration.
The Business Case for Migration paper highlights six key policy issues:
- the global need for workforce mobility;
- the matching of skills to labour market needs;
- fair recruitment and decent work opportunities;
- integration and social welfare of migrants;
- the role of entrepreneurship and circular migration for development; and
- engagement in public discourse to promote positive perceptions of migrants.
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The Business Mechanism, coordinated by the IOE, is the ideal platform to enhance public-private dialogue and deepen the engagement of international companies in the development of migration policy. Endorsed as a permanent feature of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, the Business Mechanism articulates the priorities of the private sector and brings its expertise in promoting more transparent, effective and humane migration policies, taking into account labour market needs and economic perspectives.
The Business Advisory Group, in collaboration with its partner Japan Tobacco International (JTI), hosted a Business Meeting on 3-4 April 2017 to discuss four business priorities in migration debates.
These topics include:
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The need for skills mobility
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Responsible Recruitment
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Innovation for migrant and refugee access to labour markets
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The role of entrepreneurship and circular migration
The meeting in April was held in two parts:
- 3 April: Business Workshop : Define the business contribution to the international migration debates
- 4 April: Dialogue with all GFMD stakeholders (Governments, International Organizations and civil society)
Click for a full SUMMARY REPORT of the event & See below for other documents related to the event.
Speaker Biographies
Agenda
Logistic Note
Concept Note
Watch the video below for a summary about the GFMD Business Mechanism Meeting in Geneva
https://youtu.be/ECCmS0CCjxU
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Interview with speakers:
https://youtu.be/98oRq_sgh_0https://youtu.be/9AZ1AsUzpu4
On June 29, the Business mechanism Meeting was held. Through the Business Mechanism, the private sector is invited to join nearly 200 Governments as they define international migration governance. This conference was aimed at company practitioners (HR or CSR) and business federation representatives. It provided participants with a safe space to share experiences, learn about new trends and developments, network with peers and governments, and influence the business position on important dossiers. The outcome of the meeting will input the United Nations global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration that members states will start negotiating in 2018.
At the Summit, the GFMD Business Mechanism launched a Business Paper entitled: Toward a Global Compact on Migration: Perspectives on Labour Migration from the GFMD Business Mechanism.
The paper builds upon “The Business Case for Migration” launched at the 2016 GFMD Summit. The focus was the relationship between labour market needs and migration policy. The paper was based upon a survey of 210 global organizations. The goal of the 2017 Business Mechanism paper is to deepen and elaborate the recommendations within the context of the Global Compact on migration to be adopted in 2018 by United Nations member states. See below for all documents relevant to the event.
This high-level conference discussed pressing issues related to migration, including:
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The need for skills mobility
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Responsible Recruitment
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Innovation for migrant and refugee access to labour markets
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Entrepreneurship and circular migration
Summary Report
Speaker Biographies
Agenda
In addition to the Business Meeting, the private sector also played an active role in the other days of the summit. Business representatives are also invited to attend the Government days, as well as the Common Space programme of the Summit. These platforms serve as multi-stakeholder spaces to discuss pertinent migration topics.
For the full statements made by business participants at the GFMD, see the links below.
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Secretary General (IOE), Linda Kromjong
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Deputy Director General for Policy (ILO), Deborah Greenfield
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Chair (Business Advisory Group), Austin Fragomen
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Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for International Migration, Louise Arbour
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On 12-13 October 2017, governments, civil society and private sector stakeholders will meet at the UN in Geneva for the 6th Thematic Session on the compact for safe, orderly and regulation migration. The topic of this session is entitled: Irregular migration and regular pathways, including decent work, labour mobility, recognition of skills and qualifications and other relevant measures.
The GFMD Business Mechanism will attend this session to promote a GCM that takes into account labour market needs and addresses private sector interests.
For more information about the event, please visit the UN website.

The UN General Assembly , in September 2016, adopted the New York Declaration, in which Member States committed to engage in a process of negotiations, leading to the adoption by the General Assembly in 2018 of a Global compact for migration (GCM). This instrument aims to improve international governance standards around migration. Global, regional and sub-regional stakeholders have been invited to participate in consultations. A report from this meeting will be submitted as part of those consultations.
This event will be the primary opportunity for employers in the region to understand what the GCM is, what its potential impacts are likely to be, and contribute their perspectives on the key priorities for business.
The event is organized by the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce, in cooperation with the UAE Mistry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the International Organisation for Migration, in partnership with the International Organisation of Employers and the GFMD Business Mechanism.
GCM Business Event Registration Form – 13th Oct 2017
Agenda, Governance of Temporary Labour Migration in the Gulf
Regional workshop in Tunis on 2-3 July to strengthen private and public cooperation on migration policies.
Business and migration: Strengthening the dialogue between the Private Sector and Governments is the theme of the July regional workshop in Tunis organised by the Business Mechanism of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).
The Business Mechanism, coordinated by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), is the ideal platform to enhance public–private dialogue and deepen the engagement of international companies in the development of migration policy. As the permanent private sector track of the GFMD, the Business Mechanism articulates the priorities of the private sector and brings its expertise in promoting more transparent, effective and humane migration policies, considering labour market needs and economic perspectives.
The Tunis meeting aims to compile business input on labour migration and regional integration. The outcome will be presented at the GFMD Summit in November in Quito, Ecuador.
Comptez parmi les dirigeants d’entreprises d’Afrique du Nord qui participeront à l’atelier régional des 2 et 3 juillet prochains à Tunis pour renforcer la coopération public-privé dans le domaine des politiques migratoires.
« Entreprises et migrations : intensifier le dialogue entre le secteur privé et les gouvernements » est le thème de l’atelier régional organisé en juillet à Tunis par le Forum des entreprises du Forum mondial sur la migration et le développement (FMMD).
Le Forum des entreprises, une initiative coordonnée par l’Organisation internationale des employeurs (OIE), constitue la plateforme idéale pour renforcer le dialogue public-privé et accroître la participation des entreprises internationales à l’élaboration des politiques migratoires. En tant qu’enceinte permanente du secteur privé au sein du FMMD, le Forum des entreprises articule les priorités du secteur privé et met à profit son expertise en faveur de politiques migratoires plus transparentes, efficaces et humaines, qui tiennent compte des besoins du marché et des réalités économiques.
La réunion de Tunis vise à mettre en commun les contributions des entreprises dans les domaines de la migration de la main-d’œuvre et de l’intégration régionale. Les résultats seront présentés au Sommet du FMMD qui se tiendra en novembre à Quito, en Équateur.
Veuillez vous inscrire ici ou directement auprès de Bouchra Marclay (marclay@ioe-emp.com).
Vous trouverez plus d’informations sur le programme sur le lien suivant : Programme Complet de l’atelier du 2 au 3 juillet 2019
Vous trouverez plus d’information sur l’atelier sur le lien suivant : Note Explication de l’atelier du 2 au 3 juillet 2019
For more info visit the event page:
All Day
Event Details
GFMD 12th Summit, Quito, Ecuador.
Under the Chairmanship of Ecuador, the 12th GFMD Summit, Quito, Ecuador was held on the 21-24 January 2020 at the Centro de Convenciones Metropolitano de Quito. The theme for the 2019 Summit was, “Sustainable approaches to human mobility: Upholding rights, strengthening state agency, and advancing development through partnerships and collective action”.
The GFMD Summit is an annual multi-stakeholder international conference led by member states that bring together business representatives, government officials, civil society and international organisations. More than 1000 delegates attended the 12th GFMD Summit.
The Business Advisory Group on Migration scheduled an ambitious programme with the view of influencing the outcome on consistent and transparent migration policies that reflect sound business practices. Speakers from global businesses, government representatives and academics led the discussions in the scheduled events.
The program for the 12th GFMD summit: 21-24 January :
Tech Garden: Tech and innovation start-ups showcasing their businesses in HR, Fintech, Edtech. Leveraging technology solutions for migration governance.
Tuesday 21 January:08.30-12.30 hrs: Mentoring for Start-ups (Swissotel).11.00-12.30 hrs: The Global business meeting (Swissotel)12.30-13.30 hrs: Business Luncheon (Swissotel, Quito)14.00-15.00 hrs: Registration/accreditation15.00-17.00 hrs: Opening ceremony17.00-17.30 hrs: Launch of the Tech Garden Wednesday 22 January:08.30-09.30 hrs: Regional Roundtable Middle East (Looking forward).09.30-10.30 hrs: Regional Roundtable Africa (Stock-taking and Looking forward).11.00-12.30 hrs: Flagship Business event on “The impact of migration policies on the ability for businesses to recruit or retain skills”14.00-15.00 hrs: Regional Roundtable Latin America (Stock-taking and looking forward).15.00-16.00 hrs: Regional Roundtable for Asia (Looking forward). Thursday 23 January:09.00-13.00 hrs: Common space. Private sector led sessions13.30-14.30 hrs: Start-up pitching sessions. Judging.14.30-16.30 hrs: Common space cont.17.00-18.00 hrs: Presentation of Tech Award.18.00 hrs: Closing Ceremony The Business program was well received by business delegates who shared their experiences, disseminated information and re-invigorated discussions relating to skills mobility, skills development and re-development, skills recognition and skills equivalence. The findings and lessons learnt from the regional activities in 2019 of the Business Advisory Group steered the discussions. The topics addressed business realities in skills gaps, regular migration paths and the legal framework on migration. The Business Advisory Group on Migration registered over 60 private sector delegates.
Business Event Agenda
Business Roundtables
Tech and Innovation
Speakers
Photos
Location
Quito, Ecuador
Speakers
Roberto Suarez-Santos
Secretary-General,
International Organization of Employers
Ms Ellen Yost
represented Mr. Austin Fragomen,
Chairman of the Business Advisory Group on Migration
Ms Yanira Caraza
Events & Analyst Co-ordinator, Latam, Seedstars
Stephan Cryne
President & CEO of Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC)
Alberto Echavarria Saldarriaga
Vice President National Employers Association of Colombia (ANDI)
Ms. Ronnie Goldberg
Senior Counsel, United States Council of International Business (USCIB)
Santiago Gomez
Community Events Manger LATAM, Seedstars
Ambassador Neveen El-Husseiny, Minister Plenipotentiary
Director for Refugees, Migration and Combating Human Trafficking, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo, Egypt
Natalia Hofmann
Director on Social and Labor Relations
Murtaza Khan
Managing Partner, Fragomen Middle East and Africa
Manuel Terán Moscoso
External Advisor, Federación Nacional de Cámaras de Industrias, Ecuador
Ms Ana Polanco
Expert in Technical Cooperation in the Migration Program,
Enabel Morocco (Belgium).
Ms. Lindiwe Sephomolo
Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Lesotho Employers and Business (ALEB)
Mohammed Touzani
Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc (CGEM)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPDm7hch-m0&feature=youtu.be
Bringing Business to the GFMD
Watch this video to learn more about bringing business to the GFMD. The GFMD Business Mechanism was endorsed at the 2015 GFMD Summit in Istanbul as a platform for businesses to engage with Governments and other stakeholders on migration. We address issues of workforce mobility, skills and labour market needs matching, fair recruitment and decent work conditions, social welfare and public perception.








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