How digital technology can protect migrant workers from forced labour and exploitation

Digital technology can be a game changer in migrant worker protection. But where to start? What digital products are already out there? How to make sure that technology delivers real benefits? A new research under the ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative provides answers.

This infographic report features tips and advice on how to design, develop and promote digital products for migrant workers. It is based on the ILO research “Use of digital technology in the recruitment of migrant workers” (2021).

Temporary labour migration: Two studies on workers’ perspectives and actions

This report gathering two studies on workers organizations’ experience with temporary labour migration is part of a larger ILO project to gather knowledge on temporary labour migration.

The views on temporary labour migration vary greatly, including among ILO constituents. In light of the various concerns that the complex dynamics of temporary labour migration raise, it is crucial for the Office to capture constituents’ perspectives to enrich the debate. This document is an input from the Workers’ side to this process.

Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers in an Irregular Situation and Preventing Irregular Labour Migration: A Compendium

The Compendium presents the situations that can lead migrant workers into irregularity, the rights of migrant workers in irregular situations, and the relevant international standards and good practice. It highlights laws, policies and practices that can help prevent irregular labour migration, and facilitate respect and promotion of the human rights of all migrant workers, regardless of status”. The Compendium is not intended to be exhaustive but is instead a living document that will be regularly updated with new examples and experiences. It seeks to encourage the sharing of good practices by states, social partners, and other actors concerned and to contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular migration.
Some of the references will be further updated in early 2022.

ITC-ILO Online Course: Trade Union Manual to Promote Migrant Workers’ Rights and Foster Fair Labour Migration Governance

Introduction to the course

International migration has been on the rise within Africa. In 2019, there were 26.3 million international migrants in Africa - an increase of 17.2 million since 2010. Movement across national borders in search of decent work is one of the key drivers of international migration. Throughout the migration and recruitment process, migrant workers are exposed to undue hardships and abuses in the form of low wages, poor working and living conditions, limited access to social protection, denial of freedom of association and workers’ rights, discrimination as well as social exclusion. Migrant workers’ contributions to the economies of their host and origin countries many times remains unaccounted for – yet migrant workers generate tremendous benefits to both.

In this context, there is a need therefore for a comprehensive and balanced approach to labour migration governance. Well-governed labour migration can contribute to sustainable development for countries of origin, transit and destination, and can provide benefits and opportunities for migrant workers and their families. In this regard, the ILO in collaboration with the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP) and the African Union (AU), developed the Trade Union Manual to promote migrant workers’ rights and foster fair labour migration governance in Africa intended to achieve this objective. The self-guided toolkit complements the ILO training programmes and capacity building activities for Trade Unions aiming at strengthening their role in promoting a rights-based approach to labour migration.

Who attends this course?

The course is designed for officials, policy-makers and practitioners of public institutions and ministries dealing with migration, trafficking and/or forced labour; representatives of employers' and workers’ organizations; representatives of public and private employment agencies; staff of NGOs and civil society organizations; experts from international agencies and other key actors concerned with these issues.

Objectives of the toolkit

Participants will learn about:

• Regional policy, legal frameworks and programmes on labour migration
  governance in Africa
• International instruments and international labour standards relevant to migrant workers
• The importance of social dialogue in labour migration governance
• Trade union initiatives to promote fair recruitment, and gender-responsive policy implementation
• The role of trade unions in Africa and abroad and recommendations in terms of providing support to migrant workers
• Trade union international good practices

Methodology and certification

The course consists of a number of online modules offered via the ITCILO e-Campus online platform-

This course provides a flexible learning journey as it is completely asynchronous, composed of several self-guided modules.

At the end of course and after successfully completing the final quiz, participants will be granted a certificate of participation.

Structure

The toolkit is composed of 14 training modules, each module has examples of international good practices and highlights the role that workers’ organizations play in each thematic area.

 

Download the PDF version of Trade Union Manual to Promote Migrant Workers' Rights and Foster Fair Labour Migration Governance

 

Module 1.

ILO’s Mandate, AU on Labour Migration, Tripartism and Social Dialogue, Data and Trade Union Networks in Africa on Labour Migration

Module 2. 

Global Policy Frameworks guiding labour migration governance in Africa

Module 3.

Global Instruments on the protection of migrant workers (UN and ILO Instruments)

Module 4.

Regional policy, legal frameworks and programmes on labour migration governance in Africa                                     

Module 5

Gender equality and women’s empowerment in labour migration governance

Module 6.

Women migrant domestic workers’ particular challenges in working in private households. The need for targeted TU actions

Module 7.

Enhancing fair recruitment practices and regulations

Module 8

Labour exploitation and abuse of migrant workers

Module 9

Skills partnerships, migrant workers’ skills development, portability and recognition, certifications of skills and qualifications

Module 10.

Organizing migrant workers: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, key obstacles and good practices

Module 11.

Promoting social protection of migrant workers

Module 12.

Working and living conditions of migrant workers particularly working time, wages, occupational safety and health, violence and harassment, HIV/AIDS

Module 13.

Advocating for equality of treatment and opportunities, and contributing to labour market integration and combating discrimination in diverse multi-ethnic workplaces and multilingual contexts

Module 14.

Impact of COVID-19 on labour migration

 

Start the course here.

 

Trade Unions Manual to Promote Migrant Workers’ Rights and Foster Fair Labour Migration Governance in Africa

International migration has been on the rise within Africa. In 2019, there were 26.3 million international migrants in Africa - an increase of 17.2 million since 2010. Movement across national borders in search of decent work is one of the key drivers of international migration. Throughout the migration and recruitment process, migrant workers are exposed to undue hardships and abuses in the form of low wages, poor working and living conditions, limited access to social protection, denial of freedom of association and workers’ rights, discrimination as well as social exclusion. Migrant workers’ contributions to the economies of their host and origin countries many times remains unaccounted for – yet migrant workers generate tremendous benefits to both.

In this context, there is a need therefore for a comprehensive and balanced approach to labour migration governance. Well-governed labour migration can contribute to sustainable development for countries of origin, transit and destination, and can provide benefits and opportunities for migrant workers and their families. In this regard, the ILO in collaboration with the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP) and the African Union (AU), developed the Trade Union Manual to promote migrant workers’ rights and foster fair labour migration governance in Africa intended to achieve this objective.

The toolkit is composed of 14 training modules, each module has examples of international good practices and highlights the role that workers’ organizations play in each thematic area.

 

Establishing Ethical Recruitment Practices in the Hospitality Industry

This document provides practical guidance for the hospitality industry on how to ethically recruit international migrant workers within business enterprise operations and supply chains. It has been developed by IOM in partnership with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

This guidance aligns with ethical recruitment principles from IOM’s IRIS Ethical Recruitment initiative and the IRIS Standard, which is a global, multi-stakeholder standard that defines and establishes an operational benchmark for ethical recruitment. It is also closely aligned with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s Principles on Forced Labour: (a) every worker should have freedom of movement; (b) no worker should pay for a job; and (c) no worker should be indebted or forced to work.

This guidance is global in nature and designed primarily for hotels. It is applicable to both multinational enterprises and small- and medium-sized enterprises. It can also serve as a resource for other tourism-related industries, as the principles of ethical recruitment are universal.

 

Guidance Notes and Tools

Guidance Note A: Establishing Ethical Recruitment Practices in the Hospitality Industry
Guidance Note B: Building the knowledge and capacity of hotels to implement ethical recruitment
Guidance Note C: Working with civil society and including migrant worker voice
Tool 1: Working with labour recruiters and employment agencies
Tool 2: Interviewing migrant workers about their recruitment and employment experiences
Tool 3: Incorporating ethical recruitment into procurement practices
Tool 4: Access to remedy and business grievance mechanisms
Tool 5: Frequently asked questions about migrant workers and recruitment

 

IRIS Handbook for Governments on Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection: Chapter 4 – Advancing inter-State cooperation

This resource is the fourth chapter of the IRIS Handbook for Governments on Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection. With direct relevance to inter-State labour migration governance mechanisms and processes, it provides governments with practical guidance on how to integrate, mainstream and prioritize ethical recruitment in these cooperative activities.

The chapter covers a broad range of relevant topics including: the value and benefits of inter-State cooperation in international labour recruitment governance; the landscape of relevant labour migration mechanisms and processes (including labour migration agreements and inter-State consultation mechanisms); and specific guidance and examples of how to advance and prioritize ethical recruitment in these endeavours. Guidance is intended for government officials in their capacities as negotiators, regulators, inspectors, labour attachés and consular officials at different levels of administration (national, subnational) and across relevant portfolios (labour and employment, migration, foreign affairs, etc.).

The IRIS Handbook is IOM’s flagship global guidance tool for governments on ethical recruitment and migrant worker protection. It builds directly on the Montreal Recommendations on Recruitment: A Road Map towards Better Regulation with more detailed measures for consideration, and profiles relevant concrete actions that governments around the world have taken.

 

IRIS Handbook for Governments on Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection: Chapter 3 – Strengthening the effectiveness of inspectorates

This resource is the third chapter of the IRIS Handbook for Governments on Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection. It provides governments with practical guidance on how to strengthen the effectiveness of inspectorates to ensure that migrant workers are empowered and protected during the inspection process.

The chapter covers a broad range of relevant topics including setting up an effective inspectorate in law and practice (legal framework, monitoring and enforcement strategy, resources, process and decision-making, collaborative approaches) and migrant-sensitive inspection approaches and methods (facilitative conditions for migrant workers, inspection modalities, interview techniques). Guidance is intended for government officials in their capacities as inspectors at various levels of administration (national, subnational) and across relevant portfolios (labour, migration, consumer protection, etc.). It can be applied in countries of origin, transit and destination.

The IRIS Handbook is IOM’s flagship global guidance tool for governments on ethical recruitment and migrant worker protection. It builds directly on the Montreal Recommendations on Recruitment: A Road Map towards Better Regulation with more detailed measures for consideration, and profiles relevant concrete actions that governments around the world have taken.

 

IRIS Handbook for Governments on Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection: Chapter 2 – Implementing and improving licensing frameworks

This resource is the second chapter of the IRIS Handbook for Governments on Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection. It provides governments with practical guidance on how to implement and improve the administration of private international labour recruiter frameworks, with an emphasis on ensuring recruiters are competent in and accountable to ethical recruitment principles.

The chapter covers a broad range of relevant topics including: knowledge of ethical recruitment standards (information and educational options); licence application and assessment (screening process, eligibility and requirements); licence features and conditions; and accountability measures (oversight and transparency).  Guidance is intended for government officials in their capacities as regulators and inspectorates of private labour recruiters at various levels of administration (national, subnational) and across relevant portfolios (labour, immigration, consumer protection, etc.). It can be applied in countries of origin, transit and destination.

The IRIS Handbook is IOM’s flagship global guidance tool for governments on ethical recruitment and migrant worker protection. It builds directly on the Montreal Recommendations on Recruitment: A Road Map towards Better Regulation with more detailed measures for consideration, and profiles relevant concrete actions that governments around the world have taken.

 

IRIS Handbook for Governments on Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection: Chapter 1 - Adopting a rights-based regulatory approach to international labour recruitment

This resource is the first chapter of the IRIS Handbook for Governments on Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection. It provides governments with practical guidance on how to adopt and strengthen a rights-based framework to regulate private international labour recruiters and uphold migrant worker protection. The chapter covers a comprehensive range of themes including: regulatory measures (key definitions and terms, legal status of labour recruiters, ethical rules of conduct); enforcement and oversight (mandating authorities and sanctions); and access to justice (complaint mechanisms and complementary measures). Guidance is intended for government officials in their capacities as policymakers and regulators at various levels of administration (national, subnational) and across relevant portfolios (immigration, labour, foreign affairs, etc.). It can be applied in countries of origin, transit and destination.

The IRIS Handbook is IOM’s flagship global guidance tool for governments on ethical recruitment and migrant worker protection. It builds directly on the Montreal Recommendations on Recruitment: A Road Map towards Better Regulation with more detailed measures for consideration, and profiles relevant concrete actions that governments around the world have taken.