An ASTRA representative is participating in the “Global Dialogue on Stakeholder and State Approaches to Labour Migration”, taking place in Tirana from 29 September to 1 October 2026. The dialogue brings together representatives of state institutions and civil society organisations from ten partner countries to exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation in labour migration governance.
The event is held under the global programme “Shaping Development-Oriented Migration” (MEG), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The programme supports the development of migration policies that uphold migrants’ rights, promote gender equality and address the needs of communities in countries of origin and destination.
At the opening of the event, Olta Manjani, Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation of Albania, highlighted the growing importance of labour migration:
“Labour migration is becoming an increasingly important part of the response to labour market needs.”
Speaking about the direction of migration policy development, she stated: “Our goal is to build a labour migration governance system that is predictable, transparent and rights-based.”
She particularly emphasised the contribution of civil society organisations to identifying problems and protecting migrants: “Civil society brings practical experience, direct contact with migrants and an understanding of gaps in their protection that are not always visible from an institutional perspective.”
In the closing message of his remarks, Dr Iven Schad, First Secretary and Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Tirana, shared a reflection from his colleague: “Global challenges require cooperation, but solutions ultimately need to be grounded in local realities.” This message highlights the importance of connecting international experience with workers’ specific needs and the capacities of institutions in each country.
During the three-day dialogue, participants are exploring three interconnected areas: the impact of migration on families and communities remaining in countries of origin, responses to precarious immigration situations, and the protection of emigrants’ rights through cooperation between countries of origin and destination. The programme also examines exploitative recruitment practices and risks throughout the labour migration cycle — from preparation for departure and employment to return.
For ASTRA, these topics are directly connected to supporting migrant workers, preventing labour exploitation and human trafficking, and improving access to justice. Participation in the dialogue provides an opportunity to exchange experiences from frontline work, connect with other organisations and institutions, and explore solutions that can contribute to more effective protection of workers’ rights in Serbia. A particular strength of this event is that it brings together institutions and organisations from migrant workers’ countries of origin and destination.