Government Briefing on Migrant Labour in Algeria

🗓️ Published on: 22 April 2026

Initial Positive Signals from the Government

In an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on 21 April 2026, a government meeting chaired by Mr. Seifi Ghrieb was announced. The meeting focused on several socio-economic issues, including a draft executive decree on social security reimbursements, as well as a presentation on the employment of foreign labour in Algeria.

From a trade union perspective—particularly that of the Trade Union Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP)—this development is welcomed with cautious approval. Notably, the government referenced the alignment of national legislation with the International Labour Organization Convention No. 97 of 1949 on migrant workers, which enshrines the principle of equal treatment between national and foreign workers.

While this reference reflects a formal acknowledgment of an issue long defended by COSYFOP and its affiliated unions, it remains at the level of general acknowledgment, without concrete translation into effective policy measures.

Sustained Trade Union Advocacy Amid Legal Gaps

This development cannot be separated from the sustained efforts of COSYFOP and its affiliated unions, which remain, to date, the only trade union force in Algeria to have consistently and systematically addressed violations affecting migrant workers.

Over the past year alone, the confederation submitted two formal complaints to the Committee of Experts of the International Labour Organization- one in April and another in August 2025. These complaints highlighted Algeria’s failure to comply with its international obligations, particularly those related to the Migrant Workers Convention cited by the government itself.

COSYFOP’s action has not been limited to reporting violations. It has also put forward concrete proposals, including a call for the adoption of a dedicated national law regulating the status of migrant workers, as well as the establishment of a clear legal framework on asylum—especially considering Algeria’s ratification of the Geneva Convention. These demands remain unanswered to date, despite the growing scale and complexity of the issue, as well as its serious implications for human dignity.

Furthermore, a solidarity resolution in support of Sub-Saharan African migrants in Algeria was adopted during the African Conference of Public Services International, following a direct initiative by Algerian affiliated unions—namely SNAPAP (National Autonomous Union of Public Administration Workers) and SNATEG (National Autonomous Union of Electricity and Gas Workers). The resolution called on the Algerian government to take urgent measures to protect migrant rights and to put an end to hate speech and racist campaigns targeting them.

A Concerning Reality Requiring Urgent Legislative Action

Field and union reports issued by COSYFOP paint a deeply concerning picture of the situation of migrant workers in Algeria. Documented evidence points to organized hate campaigns on social media, driven by networks exploiting migrant populations—particularly those from Sub-Saharan Africa—for financial gain.

Cases of severe labour exploitation have also been recorded, especially in the construction and agricultural sectors. In many instances, employers refuse to pay wages and resort to reporting workers to security authorities as a means of coercion or to evade their obligations.

In this context, human rights reports from Niger indicate that more than 40,000 Sub-Saharan African migrants were deported over the past year. This figure highlights both the scale of the phenomenon and the risks of a predominantly security-based approach, rather than a legal and social response.

This reality calls for a comprehensive policy shift by public authorities—one that ensures proper regulation of the labour market, protects the fundamental rights of migrant workers, and upholds the country’s international commitments.

Statement from the President of the Confederation

Commenting on the outcomes of the meeting, Raouf Mellal, President of COSYFOP, stated:

“Referring to the ILO Migrant Workers Convention is a positive step, but it means nothing without clear legal implementation that guarantees rights in practice.”

He further added:

“We will continue to closely monitor this issue in coordination with our partners, and we will not accept superficial or temporary responses. Any future legislation must result from genuine social dialogue involving workers’ representatives, not unilateral decisions driven by employer interests.”

He concluded:

“The real challenge today is not acknowledging the problem, but having the political courage to address it in line with principles of justice and human dignity.”