EMN Slovakia national conference: Sustainable labour mobility in action - Bilateral pathways for a prosperous Slovakia

The Slovak Republic is actively developing its approach to labour mobility in order to promote the economic development of the country. The new Migration Strategy adopted in June 2025 focuses on streamlining access for migrants from non-EU/EEA countries, particularly those with skills needed in shortage professions, while also emphasising integration efforts. The country is facing significant labour shortages across key sectors, prompting a need to explore new avenues for international labour mobility. In response, the country is considering the development of bilateral labour mobility agreements with selected non-EU/EEA countries. These efforts aim to build structured, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships that address Slovakia’s workforce needs while ensuring the protection and rights of migrant workers. To date, the Slovak Republic has limited experience in designing, negotiating, and implementing such agreements. 

In this context, the European Migration Network (EMN) Slovakia, coordinated by IOM Slovakia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic as a member of EMN Slovakia, is organising the national conference: ‘Sustainable Labour Mobility in Action: Bilateral Pathways for a Prosperous Slovakia’ in Bratislava, Slovakia, on 11 November 2025. The conference will support evidence-based policymaking, programme development, and current trends by showcasing international good practices and lessons learned in bilateral labour mobility governance, as well as facilitate direct engagement between Slovak stakeholders and international partners to support designing of bilateral labour mobility pathways from priority countries. 

Organised as an in-person event under the auspices of the State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, Mr Marián Valentovič, the conference will bring together policymakers, state administration and municipality representatives, embassies, labour mobility experts, trade unions, employers, and migrant-led organisations based in Slovakia, as well as representatives from interested EMN Member or Observer countries. A key focus will be on identifying functioning examples of bilateral labour mobility cooperation, with particular attention to mechanisms for protection, monitoring, and coordination. 

The conference will feature speakers from EU Member States as destination countries for labour migrants, as well as from non-EU countries that are home countries for labour migrants. The conference aims also to accentuate a coordinated national approach as a vital element in the practical implementation of labour mobility partnerships. Therefore, after the conference, the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic is convening a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Labour Migration and Integration of Foreigners (MEKOMIC), an advisory body to the Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, which aspires to play a significant role in shaping Slovakia’s labour mobility and integration policies, with support from EMN Slovakia. 

Registration will be confirmed via email within 3 working days by the organisers. 

Late registrations may be submitted to ncpslovakiaiom [dot] int (ncpslovakia[at]iom[dot]int)