We are organising a national conference on international labour mobility – register by 29 October

The Slovak Republic is actively developing its approach to labour mobility to promote economic development of the country. The new Migration Strategy from June 2025 focuses on streamlining access for migrants from non-EU/EEA countries, particularly those with skills needed in shortage professions, while also emphasizing 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 a national conference entitled Sustainable Labour Mobility in Action: Bilateral Pathways for a Prosperous Slovakia in Bratislava, Slovakia, on 11 November 2025 to

• support evidence-based policymaking, programme development, and current trends by showcasing international good practices and lessons learned in bilateral labour mobility governance;

• and facilitate direct engagement between Slovak stakeholders and international partners to support designing bilateral labour mobility pathways from priority countries.

Organised as 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 vital element in practical implementation of labour mobility partnerships. Therefore, after the conference, 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 the support by the EMN Slovakia.

Simultaneous interpreting from/to English and Slovak will be available. The conference is held as in-person event only.

Registration is ongoing on this link by 29 October:

Draft conference agenda is available here:

The conference aims also to accentuate a coordinated national approach as vital element in practical implementation of labour mobility partnerships. Therefore, after the conference, 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 the support by the EMN Slovakia.