The Republic of Panama, traditionally known as the "bridge of the world and heart of the universe", is a country of destination, transit and, to a lesser extent, of origin of migratory flows. From its pre-Columbian origins to the expansion of the interoceanic canal in the 2010s, the country has demonstrated the strong link between international migration and economic growth.

In the context of the contraction of the global economy, the mobility and ethical recruitment of migrant workers are a key factor for economic reactivation, considering that migrant workers were one of the groups most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, they account for almost two-thirds of the international migrant population.

For this reason and with the aim of promoting an intersectoral dialogue on labour migration in a national and international context and the influence that social media has when making the decision to migrate, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized on September 22 the forum Let's talk about Social Media and Labour Migration with representatives of the private sector, organized civil society, trade unions, and academia.

After the session began with the presentation of the context of labour migration as an engine of economic development in Panama by Marisol Linero, IOM consultant specialized in labour migration, the Director of Social Media Week, Fasal Ferrabone, presented the power of social media in society.

Subsequently, a panel was held on the importance of social media to promote a safe, risk-less and humane migration process. Among the panelists of the forum were Alfredo Mitre, Director of Employment of the Ministry of Labour and Professional Development (MITRADEL); Giovanna Araúz, representative of the Trade Union of Domestic Workers (SINGRETRADS); Samirah Armengol, Director of the International Coalition of Women and Families (CIMUF); Vanessa Calviño, Director of Strategic Communication of the National Border Service (SENAFRONT); Adriana Rincón, Director of the newspaper El Venezolano de Panamá; Victor Albornoz, Project Coordinator for Organización Sin Fronteras; and Mayteé Zachrisson, IOM's Media and Communications Assistant in Panama.

The panelists presented their strategies for the promotion of human rights, labour rights, specially focused on migrant workers, to prevent human trafficking and labour exploitation, as well as explaining how the communication of their rights can promote a safe, orderly, regular and dignified migration that benefits migrant workers and host communities.

"In Organization we work very closely with the labour sector, which includes the government, private sector and workers, to address the human rights of migrant workers and promote good practices that lead to decent and ethical recruitment, and the elimination of human trafficking," explained Ileen Lezcano, Operations Assistant and focal point of labour migration-related issues for IOM in Panama.

This activity was carried out within the framework of the Western Hemisphere Program, implemented by IOM and funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the United States Department of State. For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team via iompanama@iom.int