Guatemala has taken a significant step toward strengthening the labor inclusion of refugees, asylum-seekers, and other foreign nationals through the modernization of the Platform for Work Permits for Foreign Nationals (PEX), a tool developed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MINTRAB) with technical support from the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) and funding from the Government of Spain.
The new version of the platform modernizes and streamlines the application process for special work permits, allowing procedures to be completed more quickly, easily, and accessible, including from mobile devices. This reduces access barriers that have historically limited the use of this service, facilitating access to formal employment and strengthening the socioeconomic integration of people in situations of human mobility.
Beyond digitizing the process, the updated platform strengthens the institutional capacity of the State to provide more efficient, accessible, and inclusive public services. It also serves as an example of how technological innovation can expand effective access to rights and contribute to durable solutions for refugees and host communities.
The modernization of the PEX Platform is part of the project "Facilitating Labor Inclusion for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees in Guatemala," implemented by MINTRAB with technical support from the General Secretariat of the OAS, through its Department of Access to Rights (DAR), and funded by the Government of Spain through the MIRPS Fund.
The Acting Director of the OAS Department of Access to Rights, Claudia González Bengoa, highlighted the Organization's commitment to continue supporting Member States in strengthening their institutional capacities to promote solutions for refugees and other populations in situations of human mobility. "Socioeconomic inclusion is one of the most sustainable solutions for refugees, and this project demonstrates how innovation, institutional strengthening, and international cooperation can create real opportunities for people to rebuild their lives while contributing to the development of host communities," said Acting Director González.
Guatemala's Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Miriam Roquel, emphasized her Government's commitment to strengthening public services and promoting access to employment for refugees, asylum-seekers, and other foreign nationals.
"The platform we are launching today is not simply a digital tool; it is a modern, user-friendly platform that is accessible from any mobile device and designed to bring services closer to people without technological or geographical barriers," said Minister Roquel. "It is a tangible expression of a policy aimed at ensuring that no one is excluded from the right to work because of their migratory status or because they have been forced to leave their country of origin," she added.
The project was made possible through the financial support of the Government of Spain, a strategic partner that has contributed to strengthening States' capacities to implement projects that promote protection, integration, and solutions for refugees, displaced persons, and host communities throughout the region. In this regard, Spain's Ambassador to Guatemala, Clara Girbau Ronda, stated: "Spain is proud to contribute to the MIRPS Fund, as it reflects an important objective of our foreign policy strategy: our commitment to supporting refugees and displaced populations through the multilateral system."
The launch event also benefited from the valuable support of the Governments of the Republic of Korea and Portugal, whose contributions complement international cooperation efforts aimed at strengthening socioeconomic integration in MIRPS countries.
MIRPS Fund
The MIRPS Fund is the dedicated voluntary contribution fund of the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework (MIRPS) for forced displacement in Central America and Mexico. It was approved by the OAS Permanent Council on May 27, 2020, in fulfillment of the mandate issued by the OAS General Assembly held in Medellín, Colombia, in 2019. The MIRPS Fund is administered by the Department of Access to Rights (DAR).
The MIRPS Fund serves as one of the mechanisms for mobilizing and channeling voluntary financial contributions to enable the seven MIRPS countries, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama, to fulfill the commitments undertaken within this regional process. Through a shared responsibility approach, the Fund helps address the challenges posed by forced displacement in the region while protecting and improving the living conditions of people who have been forced to flee and of the communities that host them.
The Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework (MIRPS) is an innovative mechanism for implementing the Global Compact on Refugees by facilitating regional cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination, promoting greater responsibility-sharing in prevention, protection, and durable solutions in response to increasing forced displacement in Central America and Mexico. The Technical Secretariat of MIRPS is jointly led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department of Access to Rights within the Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy.
Reference: E-086/26
