Labour migration is no longer a marginal issue in the Western Balkans. It is becoming a structural feature of the region’s labour markets as populations decline and labour shortages deepen. Given that the foreign labour force will increasingly be needed to sustain economic activity and essential services, labour migration governance across the region will have to be adapted.
Legal frameworks vary in scope and consistency of application. Procedures may be unclear or administratively demanding, and post-entry follow-up and support for foreign workers are relatively limited. In practice, many foreign workers encounter bureaucratic hurdles, language barriers, and social isolation. These conditions may undermine retention in lawful employment and encourage irregular movement towards the EU.
This roadmap addresses that risk by outlining practical steps to keep legal labour pathways clear, predictable, and protective, and helps institutions detect problems early and respond proportionately. Credible screening, transparent recruitment and clear obligations lead to consistent post-entry follow-up and easier management of legal status. Employers can plan recruitment with more confidence, and workers are less exposed to deception, labour exploitation, precarious situations that may increase vulnerability, or sudden loss of lawful options. When these conditions are unmet, lawful pathways are more likely to break down due to misinformation, weak oversight, or loss of visibility after entry, thereby increasing the risk of irregular onward movement.
This roadmap has been developed in the framework of the regional project Preventing Secondary Irregular Migration Movements to the EU: Assessing the Situation and Developing a Roadmap for Improving the Screening of Foreign Workers in the Western Balkans (PSIMM) and aligns with wider EU policy efforts, emphasising practical cooperation, integrity of legal pathways, prevention of irregular movement, effective protection, and improved data interoperability as part of the region's approximation to the EU.
The document was drafted by an external expert, Ms Alida Vračić, in close cooperation with ICMPD internal experts, Madalina Lepsa Rogoz, Ivanka Hainzl and Veronika Bilger. Special thanks go to the experts Biljana Lubarovska, Gordana Grujičić, and Nermin Oruč for their contributions during the regional workshops.
