Brasília – A series of workshops to support private sector companies in the implementation of policies focused on vulnerable migrants was launched by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Brazil.

The first training took place on Tuesday at the UN House in São Paulo, in partnership with the UN Global Compact Network in Brazil.

The workshop series is part of a project funded by the IOM Development Fund (IDF), with two main objectives: Improving legal assistance to migrants in Brazil, in partnership with the Office of the Federal Public Defendant (DPU, in Portuguese) and, promoting migrants’ early labour insertion in partnership with private partners. The training sessions are important for guiding partners and private companies to reassess existing policies and develop new initiatives to support international migrants’ insertion in the Brazilian labour market, thus building a cooperative system.

During the first semester of 2018, IOM and the UN Global Compact Network in Brazil interviewed 79 companies regarding their policies concerning international migrants. The outcome of this research (available here) led to the development of three training modules.

Module 1 works on sensitization regarding international migration, while Module 2 focuses on corporate human resource processes and how they can be redesigned to support migrants’ insertion and integration. Module 3 explores how social responsibility policies can improve a company’s performance and widely contribute to society as a whole.

“The double approach of this IDF project, focusing both on migrants’ legal protection and early insertion in the labour market, impacts the society’s reality deeply by targeting two of the migrant community’s main problems in a coordinated way,” said IOM Brazil Chief of Mission Stéphane Rostiaux.

The workshops are part of the IOM’s activities in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda. The project is related to four of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals:

• Goal 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Goal 10. Reduced Inequalities
• Goal 17. Partnerships for the Goals

Between now and February 2019, IOM will deliver five trainings in partnership with Integra Diversidade and with the support of multiple local actors. The next training will take place in Boa Vista, Roraima – the main point of entry for Venezuelans coming to Brazil.

For more information, please contact Marcelo Torelly, IOM Brazil, Tel. + (55) 61 3038 9065, Email: mtorelly@iom.int