PDAG and the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD)  organised International Skilled Mobility and Migration: Pathways, Geopolitics and Welfare Architecture at the India International Centre in New Delhi.

The conference shared early findings from Link4Skills, a Horizon Europe-funded research project led in India by IIMAD. The project studies new skilled-migration routes between India and European countries, including Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

Policymakers, diplomatic representatives, industry bodies, international organisations, researchers and practitioners came together to discuss how India can build safer and more effective international labour-mobility systems. The sessions examined whether India’s training systems match overseas labour demand, how migration is becoming part of trade and international partnerships, and what institutions are needed to protect workers.

Participants identified several challenges, including difficulties in recognising qualifications, limited language preparation, fragmented migration data and weak coordination among governments, employers and training institutions.

The conference underlined that international agreements alone cannot create successful migration pathways. They must be supported by clear recruitment systems, reliable certification, social protection and strong worker-welfare measures. PDAG used the conference to connect research on global labour demand with practical policy discussions on skills, migration governance and migrant protection.