The Ministry of Labor in Libya has decided to regulate migrant labor by establishing profitable companies responsible for managing migrant workers. These companies will be responsible for the workers’ residency, health, and wages, replacing the current situation where workers manage their own affairs. This system resembles the sponsorship system in the Gulf countries.
Proposal Summary The report discusses the Ministry of Labor’s attempt to regulate migrant labor in Libya, which amounts to millions of workers, most of whom have no official registration or legal status. Many of these workers enter through illegal migration routes and can be found in several markets. The concept of recruitment companies is new in Libya, aiming to replace the practice of day laborers waiting on street corners for work.
When will filming take place and why? Filming will take place after the assignment.
How will the story be shot (Story structure)? The film starts with Libyans visiting the Ministry of Labor to register their companies, through which they seek to employ migrant workers. It will also feature main markets where day laborers gather, or places where workers wait daily for job opportunities.
Suggested interviewees and questions:
Employment Company Manager
- What motivated you to enter this field?
- Can you meet the workers’ needs while making a profit from their employment?
Worker
- Are you ready to work for a company instead of doing day labor?
- What is the minimum wage for working in a company?
Legal Expert and Human Rights Activist focused on illegal migration issues
- Do you think the Ministry of Labor’s attempt to regulate migrant labor will also meet the workers’ rights?
- How can the workers’ rights be guaranteed within the Libyan legal framework?
Ministry of Labor
- How many companies have registered to employ migrant workers?
- What are the registration criteria for companies to be allowed to employ workers?
- How many registered migrant workers are there, and what percentage does that represent of the actual labor force in the Libyan market?