Labor Mobility Partnerships (LaMP) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has initiated an intervention to catalyze the creation of a labor migration pathway from Guatemala to the cruise industry.  

This project consists of a 14-month pilot program for 100 Guatemalan workers. At its core, this project seeks to tackle the persistent shortages of skilled labor within the cruise industry, while simultaneously offering transformative opportunities to Guatemalan workers. Through participation in this program, workers stand to gain not only economic benefits for themselves and their families but also invaluable international experience, fostering personal growth and professional development. Central to this endeavor is the utilization of the US C1/D visa pathway, providing a legal and secure channel for circular labor mobility that provides a quality alternative to irregular migration.  

Our work focuses on growing a pool of cruise-qualified workers via cruise readiness training to open this new pathway. We work alongside the cruise industry to develop solutions that are aligned with their needs, while simultaneously preparing workers for the job and setting them up for success. Running in parallel to this training is a strategy to create a favorable recruitment ecosystem and a sustainable financial mechanism for future investment in cruise readiness training.  

The project encompasses a multifaceted approach designed to activate labor opportunities within the cruise industry and bolster the Guatemalan labor force. The results of this project will lay the groundwork for a larger pilot and the establishment of a stable, large-scale pathway that will help address the root causes of irregular migration. 

Please find here a short description of the program in English and Spanish. 

 

LaMP is currently looking for a consultant to coordinate this program. Click here for more information.

 

This project is implemented by LaMP in cooperation with the International Office of Migration (IOM) in Guatemala, under the project “Addressing the Root Causes of Irregular Migration” which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

 

 

 

 


For more information, contact:

Melissa Saucedo Huerta

msaucedo@lampforum.org