Canada announced on April 6, 2022 that it, together with other states' leaders, as well as with the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration, the International Chamber of Commerce, Fragomen, Talent Beyond Boundaries, and RefugePoint, held the first meeting of the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility to launch labour immigration avenues accessible to refugees.
Durable solutions in third countries through labour migration programs can save millions of displaced persons and refugees in need of safety and protection. To increase the number of skilled refugees welcomed into Canada while reducing labour shortages where Canada needs them most, the Task Force will engage global stakeholders from governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society.
The Task Force will conduct activities throughout the year to identify opportunities to implement and increase labour pathway initiatives. Further, it will work to identify and resolve the operational and policy challenges associated with their implementation. There will also be a great deal of collaboration so that pilot programs can become official programs.
Also, the Task Force will prepare a detailed report in 2024 documenting its work and successes and outlining policy and operational considerations for scaling and institutionalizing complementary pathways to employment for refugees.