Human mobility has long shaped Saint Lucia’s social, economic and demographic development. Migration affects labour markets, household welfare, diaspora engagement, remittance flows and national resilience, particularly in the context of climate change, economic volatility and demographic change. In response to global, regional and national imperatives, the Government of Saint Lucia, with financial support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Development Fund and technical assistance from IOM Caribbean, is implementing the project Strengthening migration regulatory and legal frameworks in Saint Lucia and promoting good migration governance.

Recognizing both the opportunities and risks associated with migration, the Government of Saint Lucia, in partnership with the IOM, has developed a national gender-sensitive migration policy. The Policy positions Saint Lucia to manage migration as a driver of sustainable development, resilience and social inclusion. It represents the outcome of a broad, inclusive and participatory consultations that reflect the voices, expertise and experiences of government institutions including the National Migration Policy Development Committee (NMPDC); regional and international partners such as Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States stakeholders; diaspora groups; civil society organizations engaged during the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Regional Migration Policy Framework (RAMP) process; the private sector; academia; and IOM migration policy experts. 

Policy development process and evidence base

The development of Saint Lucia’s National gender-sensitive migration policy was guided by five of the seven key stages outlined in the policy cycle of the IOM Essentials of Migration Management Handbook, including policy data research and analysis for policy making, policy formulation, consultation and adoption. The Policy was presented to the Government of Saint Lucia and other key stakeholders during the period October 2025 to March 2026 for review and validation, after which it was published and finalized for adoption. The final two stages – implementation and monitoring and evaluation – will be carried out by the Government of Saint Lucia. 

The policy development process benefitted from a mixed-method, evidence-based approach. It drew on a review of national legislation, sector policies and international and regional frameworks relevant to migration governance and was complemented by analysis of available quantitative migration data to identify key trends and gaps. The Policy also reflects findings from the IOM Migration Governance Indicators Profile: Saint Lucia. Stakeholder feedback and inputs from the participatory consultations were synthesized thematically and integrated using a gender and social inclusion lens to ensure the Policy represented national priorities, institutional capacities and the differentiated experiences of migrants.

Migration policy implementation and governance framework

Policy goal

To ensure migration in Saint Lucia is adequately measured, monitored and managed through a gender-sensitive, rights-based and development-oriented framework that promotes inclusion, protects vulnerable groups and harnesses migration for national resilience and sustainable growth.

Policy guiding principles

• Human Rights and Protection: Migration governance upholds the dignity, safety and equal treatment of all migrants and ensures protection from exploitation, trafficking and gender-based violence, with access to justice and essential services.

• Gender Equality and Social Inclusion: Gender and social inclusion are mainstreamed across migration actions to address differentiated vulnerabilities and ensure no migrant is excluded from protection or services.
• Evidence-based Policy: Migration decisions are informed by reliable, disaggregated data and evidence to support effective and gender-responsive outcomes.
• Policy Coherence and Whole-of-government Approach: Coordinated action across government and stakeholders ensures consistent, rights-based migration management.
• Development Orientation: Migration is leveraged as a driver of sustainable development through remittances, diaspora engagement, skills mobility and decent work.
• Alignment with Regional and International Frameworks: The Policy aligns with the CARICOM RAMP, the GCM and the SDGs, ensuring that Saint Lucia’s approach to migration governance is coherent with regional priorities and global standards.
• Public Awareness and Sensitization: Information, education and advocacy, communication, sensitization, public relations, advertising and all possible information and data transfers must be principles inherent in the Policy.

Priority thematic areas

• Labour Migration and Decent Work: Facilitate fair recruitment, strong protection and full integration of migrant labour to maximize national and family benefits, while eliminating gender disparities and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable groups.
• Migration Data, Monitoring and Evidence-based Research: Build a robust evidence base and monitoring framework to measure migration flows, outcomes, vulnerabilities and policy impact in a gender-sensitive way.
• Protection, Human Rights and Social Inclusion: Support all migrants, especially vulnerable groups, by providing access to comprehensive protection mechanisms, rights and social inclusion, free from discrimination and stigma.
• Migration, Diaspora and Development Synergies: Leverage migration and diaspora in support of sustainable development, economic growth, knowledge exchange and resilience, while minimizing adverse effects.
• Migration in Crises and Environmental/Climate-related Mobility: Strengthen institutional readiness and policy mechanisms to anticipate, mitigate and manage migration associated with crises and environmental change in a manner that is protective and gender-sensitive, and which offers durable solutions.
• Remittances and Development: Strengthen the contribution of remittances to national development by reducing transaction costs, expanding financial inclusion and promoting the productive, gender-responsive use of remittances to enhance household resilience, economic opportunity and sustainable growth in Saint Lucia.
• Return and Reintegration: Develop comprehensive reintegration support systems to facilitate the sustainable economic and social reintegration of returnees, ensuring dignity and inclusion.
• Border Management and Safe and Orderly Migration: Strengthen Saint Lucia’s capacity for integrated, rights-based border management and ensure safe, orderly and regular migration while preventing irregular flows and protecting vulnerable migrants.

Policy institutional governance framework

The NMPDC functions as the interministerial coordinating body overseeing policy development, approval, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, playing a central role in the effective governance and implementation of migration policy. The committee is responsible for providing strategic guidance to ensure alignment with national migration priorities and to facilitate the achievement of thematic objectives.

Key functions of the NMPDC

• Establish thematic subcommittees to address priority areas and thematic issues in migration;
• Maintain sustained focus on cross-cutting concerns, including the gender, governance and environmental dimensions of migration policy;

• Oversee the execution of a costed action plan, ensuring resources are allocated and activities are tracked efficiently;
• Guide the application of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to measure progress against outcomes;
• Coordinate with stakeholders on an ongoing basis to foster collaboration and ensure that all key actors remain engaged throughout the policy cycle.