Programme Origin
Launched in 2024, “Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa” (THAMM Plus) is the successor to the original THAMM programme, expanding and deepening its scope across Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. It was created to respond to persistent youth unemployment, skills mismatches, and limited job prospects in North Africa, while also addressing Europe’s labour market shortages.
THAMM Plus adopts a holistic approach to labour migration and mobility, aligned with the Global Compact for Migration, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the German Skilled Immigration Act. Its aim is to institutionalise safe, fair, and needs-based labour migration pathways, linking employability, vocational training, and governance reforms. The programme builds directly on the achievements of THAMM, which piloted mobility schemes and developed standardised procedures for labour migration in North Africa.
Funders and Participating Organisations
THAMM Plus is co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The programme is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Agency for International Cooperation), and the International Labour Organization (ILO), in close partnership with national ministries and employment agencies.
In Egypt, the key partner is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates (MoFAEEE). In Morocco, the programme works with the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills (MIEPEEC) and the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Competencies (ANAPEC). In Tunisia, it collaborates with the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MEFP) and the National Agency for Employment and Self-employment (ANETI). In Germany, the principal partner is the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
Progress to Date
By mid-2025, THAMM Plus had begun work at both policy and operational levels:
- Improved employability and training: Participants from partner countries are benefiting from technical qualifications, language courses, and soft skills training to prepare for jobs domestically and abroad. In Tunisia, harmonised occupational health and safety (OSH) training modules were launched for construction and maintenance, linked to mobility opportunities in Italy and Germany. This effort aligns curricula with ILO standards while reducing occupational risks.
- Evidence-based policymaking: Tunisia has integrated labour migration into its National Population and Employment Survey, with THAMM Plus support. A redesigned sampling plan now better captures labour mobility dynamics, ensuring policymakers have accurate data to guide reforms.
- Governance strengthening and institutional capacity: Partner institutions in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia are developing the ability to independently design and manage labour mobility programmes. This includes digitalisation of migration processes, improved coordination among institutions, and closer links with German employers.
- Partnership development: New institutional and private-sector partnerships have been created through job fairs, workshops, and study visits. These networks connect vocational schools, chambers of commerce, employment agencies, and employers across North Africa and Germany.
Major Takeaways and Lessons Learned
- Importance of a holistic approach: By linking training, mobility, and governance reforms, THAMM Plus avoids fragmented interventions and creates long-term structures for fair migration.
- Integration of international standards: Embedding ILO conventions and methodologies into training (such as OSH modules) and statistics strengthens sustainability and alignment with global best practices.
- Data for policymaking: Including labour migration in employment surveys ensures policies are grounded in evidence, a necessary step to design effective and ethical migration pathways.
- Partnerships drive sustainability: Networks between origin-country institutions, German employers, and vocational schools are key to institutionalising mobility schemes and ensuring both labour market relevance and migrant protection.
What’s Next
Running until 2027, THAMM Plus will continue expanding its activities in three main directions:
- Scaling training and employability measures: Embedding THAMM Plus curricula into national training systems in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, ensuring that migration-related skills development becomes systemic.
- Deepening institutional reforms: Further supporting the digitalisation of migration management systems and the adaptation of labour mobility procedures to the German Skilled Immigration Act.
- Expanding coverage: Building on OSH training in Tunisia and mobility schemes in sectors like construction, maintenance, and hospitality, with potential for replication in other industries.
Resources and Further Reading
Blog Post: Towards Better Inclusion of Labour Migration in Employment Statistics in Tunisia
Blog Post: Supporting mobility of heavy vehicle drivers between Morocco and the European Union
Blog Post: Egypt launches second phase of regional labour mobility programme