GENEVA (ILO News) – To mark this year’s International Migrants Day on 18 December the International Labour Organization (ILO) has announced the four winners of its 2024 Global Media Competition on Labour Migration, including a special prized on forced labour.
The competition aims to promote quality reporting on labour migration issues including forced labour, as balanced and ethical reporting play an important role in addressing stereotypes and misconceptions, as well as highlighting the positive contribution migrant workers make in their origin and destination countries. 

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, the Competition awarding a special prize dedicated to reporting on forced labour and trafficking in persons, knowing that migrant workers are tree time more at risk of forced labour than national workers.

The following five pieces were awarded in the Professional and Student categories:

Professional category:

1. Investigation from inside the camps of torture of Moroccans in Myanmar: “Hell Valley”, by Salma Chatt, published in Voice of Morocco (24 May 2024) 
2. Business of poverty: How Ukrainian refugees are being exploited throughout the EU, by Kristina Vejnbender, Olivia Samnick, Miglè Krancevičiūtė,  Mariya Merkusheva, published in International Women’s media Foundation (29 July 2024) 

3. Commune rurale de Boussouma : la diaspora trace les sillons du développement, by Balboné Abdoulaye, published in Sidwaya (28 October 2024) 

   Special prize on forced labour:

4. Harrowing tales of survivors trapped in the web of trafficking, by Babatunde Titilola, published in Punch (14 July 2024)

   Student category:

5. “How are we going to escape?”: Behind the Glitz and Glamour of Australia's Work and Holiday Visa, by Lily Kristanto, published in ABC News (12 October 2024)

The ILO received more than 430 entries from 92 countries. An independent panel of four judges reviewed the entries based on the criteria of creativity, accuracy and balance, protection of migrants and positive portrayal of labour migration. The winning entries were selected from a shortlist of finalists , which the judges praised for the quality of the reporting.

The winning articles provide a balanced and innovative perspective on the challenges and benefits of labour migration, shedding light on the personal stories of migrant workers. By amplifying their voices and experiences, these pieces bridge borders and foster greater understanding of the realities faced by migrant workers and their communities.

The stories showcase the importance, of good governance of labour migration and protection of migrant workers’ rights in line with International Labour Standards as well as with the ILO’s General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment and Definition of Recruitment Fees and Related Costs.

The competition contributes to some of the targets of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the Global Compact for Refugees, which include improving working conditions for migrant workers and positively influencing public narratives on migration. The competition is organized in partnership with the International Trade Union Confederation, the International Organisation of Employers, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Federation of Journalists, Equal Times, Solidarity Centre, the United States Department of Labor , and Migrant Forum in Asia. The competition is supported by the ‘Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment – Phase III  ’ (FAIR III) and the  Bridge Project – Phase II.

Disclaimer

The ILO recognizes the quality of the competition entries submitted. However, the responsibility for opinions expressed and names and terms used in the competition entries rests solely with their authors, and reproduction of the entries does not constitute an endorsement by the ILO of the opinions expressed and names and terms used in them.