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Resettlement & Other Pathways to Safety / Labor Mobility
Around the world, many thousands of refugees have the skills and experience to apply for jobs that would allow them to relocate to safe, new countries and begin to rebuild their lives. Due to policy and logistical hurdles, however, these employment-based immigration pathways are generally unavailable to refugees. RefugePoint is working to increase access to labor mobility so that refugees can reach safety and stability while using their skills to contribute to their new communities.
We work simultaneously on direct services, field building, and systems change to help refugees access labor mobility opportunities.
Providing direct support to refugees through various methods.
Launched in 2018, RefugePoint’s labor mobility program connects refugees to job opportunities that enable them to safely relocate to a safe, new country. Through Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), RefugePoint partners with the Government of Canada and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to help qualified and experienced refugees living in Kenya to immigrate to Canada through work-based visas.
Through the EMPP, refugees are able to relocate to Canada on a path to permanent residency, advance their careers, rebuild their lives, and benefit communities facing labor market shortages. RefugePoint helps to match refugees with skills and experience as nurse aides, medical assistants, patient attendants, chefs, cooks, front desk clerks, carpenters, construction laborers, and others trained in skilled trades with employers in Canada.
Supporting other organizations to expand programs to reach more refugees.
We use the learning from our direct service work in this sector to help build the capacity of other organizations to establish and expand labor mobility programs around the world. We provide technical assistance, host organizations to observe our program, and deploy RefugePoint staff to support other labor mobility programs.
Influencing policy and decision-makers to drive large-scale change.
RefugePoint is a leading voice on labor mobility globally. In addition to our direct casework in Kenya, we engage in major international forums, such as the Global Task Force on Labor Mobility. RefugePoint focuses on advocating that labor mobility pathways are as refugee-centered as possible and guided by the lived experience and technical expertise of individuals who have participated in these pathways. We prioritize elevating the voices and leadership of refugees themselves to help shape and build refugee labor mobility efforts.
Launched in 2018, RefugePoint’s labor mobility program connects refugees to job opportunities that enable them to safely relocate to a safe, new country. Through Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), RefugePoint partners with the Government of Canada and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to help qualified and experienced refugees living in Kenya to immigrate to Canada through work-based visas.
Through the EMPP, refugees are able to relocate to Canada on a path to permanent residency, advance their careers, rebuild their lives, and benefit communities facing labor market shortages. RefugePoint helps to match refugees with skills and experience as nurse aides, medical assistants, patient attendants, chefs, cooks, front desk clerks, carpenters, construction laborers, and others trained in skilled trades with employers in Canada.
I will become a light to my family, community, and everyone. If I tell you what the Economic Mobility Pathway means, it means life to us.
1,158
As of October 2024, RefugePoint has assisted 1,158 individuals assisted with labor mobility casework.
287
As of October 2024, 121 job offers have been made through the Economic Mobility Pathways Project, resulting in 287 people (primary applicants receiving job offers plus their family members) securing a solution to their displacement through the program.
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Your gift will be used to deliver lasting solutions for refugees around the world, and help them rebuild their lives in safety.
