OEA - CIDI - Resolución CIDI CAM doc 161

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COMMISSION ON MIGRATION ISSUES OAS/Ser.W CIDI/CAM/doc.161/26 10 February 2026

Original: Spanish.

CONCEPT NOTE

THEMATIC SESSION ON: “SOCIOECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS AND LABOUR MOBILITY” ( Date: 23 February 2026)

(Prepared by the Chair of the CAM with the support of the Technical Secretariat)

I. INTRODUCTION Migration in the region has become a structural reality that directly affects the economic, social, and labor dynamics of countries of origin, transit, destination, and return.1 / Human mobility is a central component of development, and its effective management is essential to strengthening social resilience and advancing toward more coherent and effective systems of governance.2 / In this context, the socioeconomic integration of migrants becomes a strategic priority.

Migrants, including migrant workers and their families, make substantial contributions to economic and social development through their participation in employment, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the transfer of knowledge and skills. Their full participation in labor markets under conditions of regularity, protection, and dignity not only promotes their autonomy and well-being, but also strengthens productivity, economic diversification, and social cohesion in host countries. Regional evidence shows that when adequate labor mobility frameworks and coherent integration policies are in place, these contributions can enhance productivity, address labor shortages, and generate shared benefits for both countries of origin and destination, provided that interinstitutional cooperation, alignment between labor supply and demand, and effective recognition of skills are promoted.3 / To this end, it is essential to design policies that recognize the economic and human potential of migrant populations and that contribute to ensuring their protection, well-being, and inclusion. Mandates issued by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), and the Summits of the Americas

have repeatedly emphasized the importance of promoting public policies grounded in human rights that recognize migrants’ contributions to sustainable development and strengthen their social and economic inclusion. Socioeconomic integration and labor mobility thus represent both a priority public policy challenge and a strategic opportunity to strengthen labor markets, reduce informality, and promote inclusive and sustainable growth in the Americas.

II. REGIONAL CONTEXT: RECENT CHANGES IN HUMAN MOBILITY

1 International Organization for Migration (IOM). World Migration Report 2024. 2 International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM Strategic Plan 2024–2028. 3 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Nine Keys to Promote Labour Mobility . Migration Blog, 23 December 2024. https://www.iadb.org/es/blog/migracion/9-claves-para-impulsar-la-movilidad-laboral2 Patterns of human mobility in the Americas have undergone profound transformations in recent years, shaping a regional landscape characterized by a significant reorientation of migratory flows and by increasing processes of permanence and settlement in various countries across the region. These changes reflect not only the diversification of routes and destinations, but also the consolidation of intraregional migration dynamics, driven by economic, political, humanitarian, and environmental factors that have redefined mobility on the continent. These shifts point to a substantive change in mobility and settlement decisions, closely linked to the search for economic opportunities, employment, and family reunification within the region. An increasing number of migrants and refugees express the intention to remain and establish themselves on a more permanent basis in host countries, consistently identifying economic and labor-related factors as central determinants of their decisions. In this context, the lack of decent work opportunities, barriers to accessing documentation, and labor informality become critical elements that directly influence decisions related to secondary movements, return, or prolonged stay.4 / These constraints not only hinder socioeconomic integration, but also directly affect

decisions regarding secondary mobility, unplanned return, or extended stays under conditions of vulnerability. The interaction of these factors highlights the need to strengthen regulatory frameworks, expand regularization pathways, and promote inclusive employment policies that enable sustainable integration and reduce the precarity associated with human mobility in the region.5 /

III. SOCIOECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND LABOUR MOBILITY: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES The socioeconomic integration of migrants and refugees has become a central component of regional migration governance. Available evidence shows that when adequate conditions for regularization, access to documentation, and employment opportunities are in place, migrant populations contribute significantly to economic growth, productivity, and labor market diversification in host countries.

However, despite this demonstrated potential, structural gaps persist that limit the full contribution of migrants to development. In 17 countries across the region, the Refugee and Migrant Needs Analysis 6 / shows that although a significant proportion of the working-age migrant population is employed, labor market insertion occurs predominantly under conditions of informality, with low incomes, limited access to social protection, and heightened exposure to risks and rights violations. Among the most relevant structural barriers are the lack of recognition of qualifications and skills, discrimination in the labor market, gender gaps, and concentration in low-productivity sectors. These factors constrain upward labor mobility, restrict access to higher-quality employment, and reduce migrants’ ability to fully integrate into formal labor markets.7 / As a result, human capital that could otherwise make a substantial contribution to economic growth, innovation, and productive diversification in host countries remains underutilized. In this context, the institutional capacity of States emerges as a determining factor in effectively managing migratory flows and promoting sustainable integration processes. While several countries have made progress in modernizing their regulatory frameworks and establishing

4 Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V). RMNA 2024 – Refugee and Migrant Needs Analysis. September 2024. https://www.r4v.info/es/rmna2024 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid.3 regularization mechanisms, significant gaps remain that limit the implementation of comprehensive and sustainable policies.

Migrant Needs Analysis. September 2024. https://www.r4v.info/es/rmna2024 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid.3 regularization mechanisms, significant gaps remain that limit the implementation of comprehensive and sustainable policies. Advancing toward modern migration governance requires public policies that: recognize the economic, social, and cultural contributions of migrants; facilitate their labor market integration through agile regularization processes, skills recognition, and access to training; promote nondiscrimination and equal opportunities; strengthen interinstitutional coordination and regional cooperation; and integrate a development perspective throughout all phases of the migration cycle. In this regard, it is essential to have public policies grounded in objective data and comprehensive strategies that help reduce bias, transform negative perceptions, and facilitate the effective inclusion of migrant populations in host societies.8 / Accurate diagnostics and coordinated approaches are critical to guiding interventions that respond to the real needs of both migrants and receiving communities. Building on this, socioeconomic integration and labour mobility must be understood as core pillars of durable solutions, as access to decent work, sustainable livelihoods, and economic opportunities is an indispensable condition for strengthening social cohesion, reducing tensions, and promoting community resilience. Incorporating these dimensions into national and regional agendas is fundamental to advancing toward a modern, rights-based, and development-oriented migration governance framework.

IV. OBJECTIVE OF THE THEMATIC SESSION The socioeconomic integration of migrants and the promotion of labour mobility are central pillars of a modern, inclusive, and development-oriented migration governance framework in the Americas. Recognizing migrants and refugees as actors of development contributes to strengthening social cohesion, reducing structural inequalities, and fostering sustainable economic growth, particularly when access to decent work, dignified livelihoods, and the effective exercise of labour rights is ensured.

However, transforming these potential contributions into sustainable benefits remains a challenge for States in the region. Structural barriers persist, including labour informality, lack of

documentation, limited skills certification, discrimination, and social exclusion, all of which constrain the full economic and social integration of migrant populations. In this context, it is strategic to advance comprehensive public policies that develop employability pathways, promote equal treatment in the workplace, and strengthen evidence-based narratives that help prevent xenophobia. Within this framework, the objective of the thematic session is to foster technical and policy-oriented dialogue among Member States on the socioeconomic integration of migrants and labour mobility, with the aim of: ● Promoting comprehensive, human rights–based approaches to labour market integration and the economic inclusion of migrants. ● Exchanging experiences, good practices, and lessons learned related to employment, entrepreneurship, and labour mobility in the region. ● Identifying common challenges and opportunities for regional cooperation.

8 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) & Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). A Better World for Migrant Populations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington, D.C., 2023. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-04/UNDP_IDB_Migrants_esp.pdf4 This thematic session is held within the mandates of the Committee on Migration Issues and the priorities defined for the 2025–2026 period. It seeks to highlight approaches, experiences, and good practices that advance the socioeconomic integration of migrants from a strategic and collaborative perspective involving Member States, the private sector, and international organizations. The methodology combines technical presentations with a space for exchange among delegations, with a view to generating substantive inputs that may be considered in the deliberative processes of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development, in compliance with existing mandates.