Asian and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States Explore Initiatives to Promote Regular Migration Pathways

26 June 2025, Kathmandu
The Asia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) corridor is among the world’s largest labour migration routes, sustaining economies across both regions. With over 25 million Asian migrants living and working in the GCC countries, strengthening migration pathways is essential, not only to safeguard migrant rights, but also to harness their skills for broader societal benefit.

It was in this context that the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security of Nepal (MoLESS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this week, convened the “Asia-GCC Dialogue on Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)” bringing together government representatives, international organizations, and non-state actors from across Asia and the Gulf region. The event provided a platform for countries and key partners to explore practical and comprehensive approaches to improve labour mobility and implementation of the GCM commitments.

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security of Nepal, Hon. Sharat Singh Bhandari, opened the event and underscored Nepal’s commitment to improving migration governance, saying that “Nepal is proud to be a champion country in the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. As a champion, Nepal has actively embraced the principles of the GCM and is committed to translating them into actionable outcomes.”

Participants engaged in interactive sessions delving into GCM objectives, with a focus on developing regular migration pathways, promoting fair recruitment and decent work, advancing skills development and recognition, and enhancing migrant welfare and access to social protection.

“Throughout these two days, we hope to share best practices that can help build on the work already achieved so far to strengthen labour governance across Asia and the GCC and ensure more is done to address ongoing issues and strengthen regular pathways between the two regions,” said Stuart Simpson, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

This dialogue is built on the outcomes of the 2023 Asia-GCC Senior Officials Meeting and the Second GCM Regional Reviews of Middle East and North Africa and Asia and Pacific. It also stressed the urgent need for safer and more regular migration pathways, and explored practical, rights-based solutions. The discussion emphasized the importance of regional platforms and South-South cooperation in building trust between labour-sending and receiving countries.

This dialogue also provided an avenue to discuss national and regional actions and prepare for the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), where global progress on migration commitments will be reviewed. Policy recommendations from this event will contribute to the 2026 review. The GCM provides a practical roadmap for aligning migration governance with national development priorities and global commitments under the 2030 Agenda.

The Government of Nepal and IOM reaffirmed their strong partnership in supporting safe, rights-based, and well-managed migration. IOM will continue to support governments and partners in implementing the GCM through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.