Summary (English)

The creation of Migrant Welfare Funds (MWFs) is a unilateral measure of countries of origin that has seen increasing interest, especially when limited labour and social protection is provided by destination countries.  MWFs are intended to protect migrant workers and facilitate migration for employment abroad and can provide a wide range of services and benefits, including some social protection benefits. 

This guidance note aims at providing policy guidance to countries of origin who wish to extend social protection to their nationals working abroad and their families, and that are exploring the possibility of establishing a MWF for that purpose. For countries that are considering establishing such a Fund, it puts forward considerations that should guide their design and practical implementation with respect to social protection. The note also provides some guidance with respect to the costs and fees of the other services and benefits provided by MWFs, but it will not address in detail whether MWFs are a suitable option for the purpose of addressing the other risks that migrant workers may face during the migration cycle.