The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Somalia in partnership with the ILO Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM), organised a Knowledge Sharing workshop on ratification, domestication, and reporting of International Labour Standards social dialogue & tripartism from 20 to 21 March 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop played an indispensable role in elevating the understanding and awareness of Parliamentarians, the Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs, and social partners of Somalia regarding the paramount importance of the decent work agenda, including standard setting, social dialogue, and tripartism.

The knowledge sharing workshop brough together 30 participants, from Upper and Lower House of the Parliament, social partners, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Somalia. The workshop served as a knowledge hub, fostering in-depth discussions and illuminating key areas of focus. Accordingly, it successfully enhanced the understanding of international labour standards among participants, particularly in relation to promoting decent work and protecting the rights of workers, with a specific focus on migrant workers.

This workshop was particularly of relevance and timely as Somalia had ratified seven conventions on 8 March 2021, including labour migration related conventions namely the Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97) and the Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143), and conventions with express provisions on migrant workers such as the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) and the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No 190). Hence, participants gained valuable insights into their responsibilities and obligations associated with ratifying, domesticating, implementing and reporting on these standards.

The knowledge sharing workshop made notable progress in meeting reporting obligations, specifically for Somali constituents. Through engaging discussions and comprehensive reviews of the prepared Article 22 reports, areas requiring further attention and improvement were identified, ensuring targeted interventions and advancements. This progress contributes to the overall goal of strengthening compliance with international labour standards and reinforcing the commitment of Somali stakeholders to uphold workers' rights.

Fortified with enhanced knowledge and tools, participants were better equipped to advocate for a decent work agenda and actively contribute to the ratification, implementation, and reporting of international labour standards. Lastly, the event served as a valuable platform for collaboration and dialogue, promoting knowledge sharing, exchange of experiences, and identification of areas for collective action. By bringing together key stakeholders, the workshop created an environment conducive to ongoing collaboration, ensuring sustained efforts in advancing the decent work agenda and improving labour standards in Somalia. This workshop also resulted to the signing of the first Decent Work Country Programme for Somalia, on June 10, 2023, on the side-lines of the International Labour Conference (ILC 2023)