CARICOM Advances Plans for Freedom of Movement Policy

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has partnered with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to advance a regional labor migration policy through a new consultancy initiative. This initiative supports CARICOM’s goal of creating a single economic unit by enabling the free movement of capital, services, technology, and skilled professionals across member states, excluding the Bahamas and Montserrat, which opted out.

Launched virtually on Tuesday, the consultancy, titled “Free Movement of Persons in the CARICOM Region: Undertaking Labour Market Analysis to Develop a Comprehensive Labour Migration Policy,” will explore the effects of climate change on jobs and mobility, identify opportunities and challenges, and propose strategies to enhance employment in the region. Findings will inform evidence-based policies to facilitate smooth labor migration.

The study involves data collection, stakeholder consultations, and sectoral analysis, with reports due by April, followed by a validation workshop to align recommendations with regional goals. Key participants include CARICOM ambassadors, labor commissioners, statistical officers, and other stakeholders.

Leo Preville, CARICOM Single Market (CSM) Director, emphasized the importance of evidence-based policies in achieving free movement within the region. ILO specialist Abdelmalik Muhummed highlighted that migration, when effectively managed, can drive socio-economic development, workforce growth, and social justice.

The initiative is supported by the Caribbean Congress of Labour, Caribbean Employers’ Confederation, CARICOM Private Sector Organization, and the University of the West Indies, which form the project’s steering committee.