Developing, negotiating and implementing bilateral labour migration agreements

This course aims to reinforce the negotiation skills and techniques of officials involved in the adoption and follow-up of bilateral and/or multilateral agreements increasing the potential of Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs) in improving the governance of labour migration, promoting and protecting the rights of migrant workers, and enhancing migration and development linkages.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, participants are be able to:

• Discuss potential challenges for effective development and implementation of Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMAs) / Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and the way forward

• Appreciate the role, objectives, challenges and opportunities associated with adoption and negotiation of BLMAs

• Become familiar with key policy priorities that justify the need to adopt BLMAs

• Identify good practices in BLMAs and MOUs based on specific criteria drawn from international norms, and highlight agreements which could lead to better outcomes in terms of migration governance and protection of migrant workers

• Improve capacity for critical review of existing BLMAs and MOUs and negotiate for their revisions

• Understand the negotiation process and techniques of effective negotiation, including through the simulation of a negotiation agreement

CONTENT

Module 1: The case for Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding: Key Concepts

Module 2: Getting BLMAs right on paper

Module 3: Making BLMAs work better in practice

Module 4: Enhancing our negotiation skills

ACHIEVEMENT

Passing grade at least 60%

Group Work Role Play: Negotiating an Agreement

Final essay

NUMBER OF HOURS: 60