According to the latest global estimates from the International Labour Organization, between 2013 and 2017, high-income countries experienced a slight drop in the number of migrant workers from their countries. In contrast, upper-middle-income countries saw an increase in this indicator.[1]

This situation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected all forms of human mobility. The migrant worker population is one of the groups most affected by the closure of national borders and the disruption of travel around the world. The mobility of these migrant workers is a key factor in countering the contraction of the global economy resulting from the pandemic.

Since 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Labour and Professional Development of Panama (MITRADEL for its Spanish acronym) have been carrying out joint actions based on the global initiative of the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS) to promote the ethical recruitment and protection of migrant workers. In order to contribute to the strengthening of these actions among multiple stakeholders, work is also being done within the framework of the Promoting Ethical Recruitment in the Hotel and Tourism Industry project, implemented by IOM and funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the United States State Department.

"Respect for workers' rights, fundamentally respect for the rights of migrant workers, whether they have the proper work permit or without a work permit, must be a fundamental norm of the ethical conduct of all public servants, starting with us who are the labour inspectors," said Carlos Landero, National Director of Labour Inspection of MITRADEL. "They are hired without their permits and believe that they do not have the right to claim their acquired rights, but they do and we public officials must enforce them."

In this context, IOM and MITRADEL held a mixed session with virtual and on-site participants on May 26th, 2021, for MITRADEL labour inspectors regarding Ethical Recruitment and Contracting as a Means of Guaranteeing Workers' Rights with the goal of raising awareness of human rights and fundamental workers' rights, with an emphasis on migrant workers. Twenty labour inspectors from the Panama City region participated in the event. The live broadcast was viewed by 21 people, including inspectors from other regions of the country.

For Gonzalo Medina, Project Officer at IOM in Panama, "ethical recruitment helps prevent human trafficking and forced labour. The commitment of all of those involved will allow the good governance of migration and the economic development of countries, as well as the current context of labour migration, national and international regulations that protect the rights of all working people."

Jonathan Santana, Director of International Relations of the Ombudsman's Office, explained the protection and assistance services that migrants in Panama can access.

Dayra Campos, Secretary General of the National Commission against Human Trafficking, highlighted the work of labour inspectors in the early detection of human trafficking cases and labour exploitation.

A second training session will be held for MITRADEL labour inspectors soon, organized within the framework of the Promoting Ethical Recruitment in the Hotel and Tourism Industry project.

For more information contact IOM's Communications Team in Panama at iompanama@iom.int