Drivers of migration

The drivers of migration in Africa stem from a complex set of factors that underlie the process. Multiple factors spur migration both within the continent and from the continent to other regions. Lack of socio-economic opportunities, poor governance, patronage and corruption, political instability, conflict, terrorism and civil strife as well as climate change, are major causes of migration for both skilled and low-skilled workers. The real or perceived opportunities for a better life, high income, greater security, better quality of education and health care at the destinations influence decisions to migrate. A number of other issues facilitate the process, or make migration an attractive option: lower costs of migration; improved communication, especially social media and the internet; greater information availability and the need to join relatives. Families and friends are among the factors which compound the drivers of migration.13

There are additional reasons specific for labour migration due to investment and trade related labour migration. This factor is expected to be increasingly influential as the intra- African trade and intra-African investment by African private sector is in an increasing trend, triggered by the establishment of industrial parks to attract foreign investment, among other investment policies. However, it is observed that trade and migration policy frameworks do not always consider labour and employment rights of migrant workers, if any, as it is the practice for trade agreements at global level and in other regions such as Europe, Asia and Latin America. Therefore, the establishment of guiding frameworks, legislation and policy on the insertion of labour provisions in these agreements in the African context is particularly needed.