IOM and World Employment Confederation Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Global Labour Mobility

High-level event in Geneva brings together governments, international organisations, employers and private employment services to advance practical labour mobility pathways and skills matching

Published on 10th June 2026

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Employment Confederation (WEC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise and deepen their cooperation on international labour mobility. The signing took place at IOM Headquarters in Geneva, at an event convened by IOM with WEC as a key partner to explore how labour mobility pathways can be implemented effectively, responsibly, and at scale.

The MoU establishes a framework for structured collaboration through which IOM, as the UN Migration Agency and a system-shaping actor in the field, will convene and advance practical cooperation with WEC's global network of private employment services providers. By bringing together IOM's operational and policy expertise with WEC's deep roots in labour markets across the world, the partnership will support more effective, ethical and fair, and responsive labour mobility systems, including through implementation-focused corridor cooperation, skills matching, employer engagement, and worker support across the migration cycle.

"Effective labour mobility depends on closer alignment between policy frameworks, labour market realities, and operational delivery mechanisms," said Vincent Houver, Director of IOM's Department of Mobility Pathways and Inclusion. "IOM's partnership with the World Employment Confederation brings together international expertise and private sector networks to help translate shared commitments into practical pathways that work for governments, employers, and workers."

"Labour mobility is not just a policy challenge - it is an operational one," said Bettina Schaller, President, World Employment Confederation. "This partnership with IOM reflects WEC's commitment to ensuring that the private employment sector is a constructive and responsible partner in making talent pathways work for workers, employers, and societies alike."

Global labour markets are undergoing profound transformation, driven by demographic pressures, labour shortages in key sectors, evolving skills needs, and persistent mismatches between available workers and employer demand across regions. Yet translating international commitments into practical, efficient, and scalable pathways remains uneven, underscoring the need for stronger implementation partnerships.

The MoU signing was followed by a panel discussion, Making Labour Mobility Work: Delivering Talent Pathways in Practice with Employers and Private Employment Services, which highlighted an emerging implementation ecosystem bringing together governments, international organisations, employers, and private employment services to advance practical labour mobility solutions. The event convened voices from the OECD, the ILO, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Labour Centre, the Irish Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and the legal and employment services community.

Discussions focused on three core themes: how labour mobility pathways can be delivered in practice; the central role of employers and private employment services as operational partners in facilitating cross-border labour mobility and skills matching; and the practical entry points to improve the efficiency, responsiveness, and integrity of labour mobility systems, including through corridor cooperation, employer engagement, and worker support across the migration cycle.

Through the MoU, IOM and WEC commit to promoting ethical and fair recruitment practices, upholding relevant industry standards including the WEC Code of Conduct, and working together to strengthen labour migration corridors through practical delivery mechanisms such as skills matching, employer engagement, implementation-focused corridor cooperation, and support for workers across the migration cycle.

About the World Employment Confederation

The World Employment Confederation (WEC) is the global voice of the private employment services industry, representing national federations and multinational companies across more than 50 countries. WEC members collectively place more than 61 million people into employment each year, providing flexible and permanent recruitment, workforce management, HR services, and skills development. WEC advocates for labour markets that are adaptive, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of workers and employers alike.

About the International Organization for Migration

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading inter-governmental Organization in the field of migration. Established in 1951 and a Related Organization of the United Nations since 2016, IOM works with partners to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM has a presence in over 170 countries and works across all dimensions of migration, including labour mobility and fair recruitment.