Geneva, 14 November 2024 – Last week, the International Labour Organization (ILO) marked a significant milestone with a panel discussion celebrating 10 years of the Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI). Key stakeholders, including representatives from states, employer and worker organizations, reflected on the Initiative’s key achievements and future directions.

The event has been co-hosted by the two co-chair of the FRI Advisory Committee: Mexico, represented by Jorge Arturo Ríos Badillo, Director General for Institutional Relations at Mexico’s Secretariat of Labour and Social Security, and Qatar, represented by Mr. Mahmood Al Siddiqi Representative of Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development and Labor and Social Affairs. Mexico emphasis FRI’s origins, challenges and the importance of national adoption of fair recruitment principles, highlighting Mexico’s achievements through the Jóvenes Construyendo en el Futuro program, which has trained over 2 million youth. Qatar recalled FRI’s impact on policy, stressing the importance of effective implementation and announcing Qatar’s commitment to lead by hosting next year’s ILO fair recruitment annual training.

Key Milestones

This event was an opportunity to highlight the key achievements of the FRI, only noting that over the past 4 years, the ILO has supported at least 20 countries in adopting and revising national laws on fair recruitment. Overall, there have been 133 new ratifications of relevant conventions by Member States since the FRI’s inception. Through these achievements, the FRI also seeks to reduce forced labor, recognizing that unfair recruitment practices are one of the primary entry points. Other important milestones include the adoption of the General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment in 2016 and the Definition of Recruitment Fees and Related Costs in 2018, whilst the webinar marked the launch of two new FRI knowledge products: The Fair Recruitment Roadmap: A Guide for National Action and the second edition of the Global Study on Recruitment Fees and Related Costs.

Fair Recruitment at the National Level and the Road Ahead

The event was an opportunity for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing on strategies for implementing fair recruitment at the national level. The session featured representatives from Ghana, the United States, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), each bringing unique perspectives to the table.

Ms. Sandra Ofosuapea from Ghana’s Ministry of Employment highlighted Ghana's initiatives, including the pilot and adaptation of the fair recruitment roadmap to the national context in consultation with key national stakeholders, with the support of the FAIR III programme. Ms. Rebert of the U.S. Department of Labor emphasized the link between fair recruitment and worker voice, advocating for labor standards, social dialogue, and gender equality in recruitment practices nationally and internationally. Representing the ITUC, Ms. Jordania Ureña showcased successes like the “zero recruitment fees” campaign, underscoring trade unions’ role in protecting workers. Finally, Ms. Winet of the IOE emphasized the need for transparency, responsible recruitment, and collaboration among all stakeholders to build trust and drive meaningful change.

The event underscored the ongoing commitment of the ILO and its social partners and stakeholders to the advancement of fair recruitment practices globally, reflecting on a decade of progress and setting the stage for future initiatives. As the ILO continues its efforts, the focus remains on ensuring that recruitment practices align with international labour standards, creating opportunities for decent work for all and in turn enhancing overall labour market functioning. 

Additional links to consult

• See the full recording of the 10 Years of the Fair Recruitment Initiative event
• Check out the FRI’s latest resources and upcoming events on the Fair Recruitment Knowledge Hub. 
• Discover the Fair recruitment portal
• Explore the National Roadmap: a guide of national action
• Read the second edition of the Global study on recruitment fees and related costs
• Discover the Key achievements of the initiative over the last decade
• General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment and definition of recruitment fees and related costs
• ILO Global business network on forced labor
• Report: Profits and poverty: the economics of forced labour
• Due diligence toolkit on fair recruitment
• ITUC – Recruitment advisory 
• IOE – Fair recruitment guide