Parliament Approves New Rules to Protect Mozambicans Working Abroad

The resolutions, unanimously approved by the parliamentary groups of Frelimo, Podemos, Renamo and the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), cover the protection of migrant workers, the fight against human trafficking and abusive working conditions, as well as the promotion of equal opportunities and treatment in destination countries.

Among the approved instruments is ILO Convention No. 181 on Private Employment Agencies, adopted on 19 June 1997, which establishes mechanisms to improve the regulation of worker recruitment and prevent labour exploitation.

Presenting the proposal, Minister of Labour, Gender and Social Action Ivete Alane explained that ratifying the convention would strengthen the operational capacity of private employment agencies and provide greater protection for Mozambicans recruited to work abroad.

"It will ensure the effective implementation of memoranda of understanding signed with countries receiving our workforce. It will also strengthen the labour regulatory framework, improve labour market regulation and reconcile competitiveness with workers' social protection," the minister said.

According to Alane, the new instruments are expected to promote decent work, improve working conditions and prevent exploitation by strengthening cooperation between Mozambican authorities and countries employing Mozambican nationals.

Parliament also approved ILO Convention No. 143, adopted on 24 June 1975, concerning Migrations in Abusive Conditions and the Promotion of Equality of Opportunity and Treatment of Migrant Workers.

The convention establishes measures to combat human trafficking, prevent the exploitation of migrant workers and promote equal rights and opportunities between foreign and national workers in their respective labour markets.

"This instrument requires a response to abuses that may occur throughout the migration process. It provides for identifying such situations, cooperation between states and measures against those organising illegal movements of workers and employment under unlawful conditions," Alane explained.

During the same session, lawmakers approved ILO Convention No. 97 on Migration for Employment, adopted on 1 July 1949, which seeks to ensure safer recruitment, migration and employment conditions, including mechanisms for providing information and protecting labour rights.

The approvals come amid increasing international mobility of Mozambique's workforce, driven by the search for employment opportunities in foreign markets. The Government has been establishing agreements and memoranda of understanding on labour mobility with countries including South Africa, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

According to the Government, expanding employment opportunities abroad must be accompanied by effective monitoring and protection mechanisms capable of preventing abuses from the recruitment stage through to workers' stay in destination countries.

"Labour mobility brings responsibilities that begin with recruitment and continue throughout a worker's stay abroad. The ambition to expand employment opportunities must be matched by the capacity to provide information, prevent abuses and cooperate with the authorities of destination countries," Alane emphasised.

Although opposition parties voted in favour of the resolutions, they criticised Mozambique's delay in ratifying the international conventions and questioned the Government's ability to ensure effective oversight of recruitment agencies and the safety of workers abroad.

Lawmakers expressed concerns about mechanisms for monitoring Mozambican citizens seeking employment outside the country, arguing that approval of the international instruments must be accompanied by concrete implementation measures.

With the approval of the three conventions, Mozambique seeks to align its labour legislation with international ILO standards, strengthening the legal framework for safer and better-regulated labour migration.

However, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on their implementation, the supervision of private employment agencies and cooperation with authorities in destination countries to ensure that Mozambican workers genuinely benefit from the protections established under the ratified instruments.