On 3-4 November, the Budapest Process held a virtual thematic meeting on Labour Migration. The meeting was attended by over 60 participants including experts in the field as well as country representatives and international organisations. Briefing papers supported the delegates in the sessions.
The event was an opportunity for participants to take a closer look at labour migration in the Budapest Process regions and how to best cooperate on labour mobility topics, understanding what jobs and skills-building opportunities currently exist for labour migrants. Three main sessions structured discussions: (1) Labour migration regimes at the time of COVID-19; (2) From skills matching to skills partnerships; and (3) Informal work and the gig economy.
Structural challenges to labour mobility and opportunities for further actions were discussed in the sessions, including how national structures have adapted in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Delegates recommended to organise follow-up activities to the session on skills partnerships.
