CROSSING BORDERS, BUILDING LIVELIHOODS The insecure economic lives of migrants in Libya POLICY BRIEF – JULY 2024 INTRODUCTION Context Libya stands at a pivotal location along the Central Mediterranean Route, despite grave protection concerns. Over recent years, the route has witnessed significant migration movements, with thousands embarking from Libya towards Italy, often resulting in tragic casualties. Amidst political, security, and economic instability, over 800,000 people, both Libyan and non-Libyan, require humanitarian aid. Vulnerabilities for migrants persist, exacerbated by human trafficking and widespread rights violations, while the available protection space continues to shrink. Libya serves not only as a departure and transit point, but also as a destination country for migrants, primarily in search of economic opportunities. The country’s labour market dynamics, characterized by readily accessible job opportunities offering attractive wages, play a significant role in influencing its central position in the flow of money along migration routes. Migrant workers play a crucial role in the Libyan economy by filling gaps in sectors typically overlooked by the local workforce, including construction and domestic services. However, the economic inclusion of migrants in Libya is hindered by persistent challenges related to their vulnerable status as the majority of available employment opportunities for them are informal, adding to their irregular situation. Efforts are underway to recognize and harness migrants’ contribution to the Libyan economy, with negotiations for bilateral agreements and a UN framework aimed at improving livelihoods. Yet, challenges persist regarding social security provisions and exploitation prevention. Research objectives and methodology The Mixed Migration Centre(MMC) conducted research in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung(FES) to investigate the multifaceted economic realities of migrants in Libya. It aims to present findings regarding(i) the economic significance of Libya for migrants in their migration journey,(ii) the economic and financial conditions of migrants in Libya, and(iii) the opportunities and risks migrants face in the Libyan labour market. The research findings are primarily based on 317 quantitative interviews carried out in 2023 with migrants who had stayed at least 3 months in Libya. Quantitative data was collected through 4Mi, which is MMC’s flagship data collection system, and contextualized by qualitative interviews with key informants as well as an extensive literature review. KEY FINDING 1. Economic factors strongly influence migrants’ decisions to move to Libya, while security concerns drive migration onward The primary reason given by respondents for leaving their country of origin was economic factors (77%), but they interplayed with other factors such as violence, insecurity and conflict(41%), and a prevailing culture of migration(39%). More than half of respondents(55%) decided to stop in Libya for work to finance their onward journey. While many respondents chose to travel to Libya for economic reasons, two-thirds(63%) left the country because of security reasons, while only 35% left to seek better working conditions and 22% because they were seeking to earn more money. 2. The majority of jobs available to migrants in Libya are in the informal sector, lacking stability and financial security Most respondents who earned money in Libya did not have a formal employment contract(92%) and were primarily making money through casual or occasional work(76%) in manual labour roles(see Figure 1). The informal and sporadic nature of migrant workers’ livelihoods is a consequence of legal and policy frameworks that limit access to the formal labour market for migrants, leaving the majority in a precarious employment situation.