A very beautiful but heavy jacket: The experiences of migrant workers with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression in South-East Asia

The study reveals migrant workers with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) in South-East Asia benefit from labour migration, yet experience discrimination.

Among the millions of migrant workers who move between countries in South-East Asia and beyond, little is known about the motivations and experiences of migrant workers who are also people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expression (SOGIE) including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

This report fills that gap. It draws on surveys and interviews with 147 migrant workers with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, exploring their experiences across the migrant work journey as they travel from countries of origin such as Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Viet Nam to work in countries of destination in South-East Asia (especially Thailand), East Asia, and beyond.

The report also explores how labour migration policies and practices can acknowledge or address these experiences while protecting and promoting the rights of migrant workers with diverse SOGIE.

A comprehensive analysis of policies and frameworks governing foreign employment for Nepali women migrant workers and migrant domestic workers. Exploring the migration policymaking process with a specific focus on bans and restrictions on foreign employme

One of the principal causes and risk factors for forced labour and trafficking, identified by past research led by the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Work in Freedom (WiF) Programme, is restrictive and gender-insensitive migration policies. These include restrictions on movement in the form of bans and restrictions on the departure of women migrant workers and migrant domestic workers from origin countries to seek foreign employment.

In the ILO’s efforts to support the construction of regular migration pathways for women migrant workers and migrant domestic workers which respect their safety, dignity, wellbeing and human and labour rights and which allow them to enrich their own lives, the lives of their families and communities back home, the Work in Freedom Programme of ILO Country Office for Nepal commissioned this present review between February and June 2020 as a comprehensive analysis of legal and policy frameworks governing foreign employment for women migrant workers and migrant domestic workers. This review is an update of ILO’s previous study of migration bans, 'No Easy Exit: Migration Bans Affecting Women from Nepal' published in 2015, but fills an important research gap by focusing on the policy formulation phase itself. The findings identify and characterize the ways in which stakeholders (governmental and otherwise) formulate policy narratives, negotiate policies and regulations and invoke knowledge claims in order to justify regulatory and policy interventions related to women migrant workers, migrant domestic workers and associated thematic areas – including anti-trafficking frameworks, frameworks combatting forced labour, domestic work and more.

Policy Brief on Practices and Regulations of Recruitment to Domestic Work

The policy brief highlights common recruitment practices and regulations observed along recruitment pathways to domestic work in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Jordan and Lebanon.

The purpose of this policy brief is to respond to the rising interest in improving recruitment practices and regulations in order to reduce vulnerability to human trafficking and forced labour. In some cases, examples from other regions have been highlighted. Given the complexity of cross jurisdictional recruitment practices and regulation this brief presents common practices and regulations, pointing to where and how they can constitute better practices. The mapping and analysis are based on research and lessons learned from the ILO’s Work in Freedom Programme recruitment pilots within South Asia or from South Asia to the Middle East. There are two sections to this brief, first – describing common recruitment practices and regulations and second – giving examples of better recruitment practices and corresponding regulations.

Pathways for empowering employment: Diversity and challenges for women migrant workers of Bangladesh

The study focuses on short term overseas employment of semi-skilled and low-skilled workers because most Bangladeshi female workers fall under this category. It covers only regular migration because there is insufficient data available on irregular, undocumented migration.

Committed to ensuring the protection and empowerment of women migrant workers in alignment with the outlined targets, the Government of Bangladesh recognizes the need to explore new employment markets and additional trade opportunities that are safe and that provide dignified work opportunities. For this reason, UN Women (in collaboration with the International Labour Organization and financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) commissioned these two studies: an analysis of Japan as a potential destination for work for Bangladeshi women and an analysis of caregivers in health care and beauticians in beauty parlours as two potential formal labour sector occupations.

Gender equality in labour migration law, policy and management (GEM Toolkit)

Promoting better media reporting relating to returning Nigerian migrant workers

This information brief was developed by the FAIRWAY Programme of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and covers key findings and recommendations from a media monitoring study, looking at the coverage of Nigerian returning migrants over the period of May 2020 - February 2021.

Regional operational guidelines on fair and ethical recruitment in ASEAN. Improving regulation and enforcement: A resource for regulators

The regional operational guidelines provide guidance to government regulators on fair recruitment practices, licensing private recruitment agencies, monitoring recruitment processes, and acting on complaints related to the recruitment process. Developed within the framework of the ILO general principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment, these regional operational guidelines are relevant to both countries of origin and destination.

Labour migration plays an important role in fostering economic and social development in the ASEAN region. Fair and ethical recruitment can protect migrant workers from experiencing labour rights’ violations, including trafficking and forced labour. However, recruitment is often an imperfect process, characterized by fraudulent and exploitative practices. These imperfections have been particularly damaging to the interest of workers seeking jobs across national borders.

The new ILO regional operational guidelines on fair and ethical recruitment provide guidance on licensing of private recruitment agencies, the monitoring of recruitment processes, effective inspection and enforcement mechanisms, and acting on complaints. The regional operational guidelines have been developed as a practical resource for regulators in the ASEAN region and are intended to apply to both countries of origin, and destination, depending on the context.

Facilitating Journeys: The role of intermediaries in labour migration process from Nepal

What happens after the decision to migrate for work has been made? What steps do prospective migrants take, where do they obtain information and what services do they seek? This infographic is based on qualitative research amongst migrant workers that examines the wide range of intermediaries that workers encounter in their migration journey.

As part of its Integrated Programme on Fair recruitment (FAIR), a global programme supported by the Swiss Development Cooperation, the ILO in Nepal commissioned a study amongst prospective and returning migrant workers to document their experience and in particular their interaction with various intermediaries that are involved in the migration process. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews with 32 men and 9 women migrant workers, originating from 5 provinces, that were either abroad or had recently returned to Nepal.

This infographic illustrates the collection of narratives from migrant workers and builds a picture of their experiences after deciding to migrate. Who do workers interact with as they prepare their journeys? Where do they gather information? How do they prepare for interviews and who supports the processing of job applications and contracts? How are visas obtained, and where do workers receive orientation and training? What costs do these various services amount to? Furthermore, what network of intermediation and support do workers connect with one they have reached their destination? And, finally, who do workers turn to settle outstanding issues upon return to Nepal?

Analysis Report of Recruitment Reviews from Nepali migrant workers

This report explores recruitment practices of recruitment agencies based on the reviews from 1,593 reviewers provided to Recruitment Advisor.

The study found that:

- Sub-agents and middlemen continue to play an important role in facilitating the migration of Nepalis in foreign employment.

- Migrant workers are paying high recruitment and other related fees.

- Majority of migrant workers took pre-departure training.

- Migrant workers continue to be deceived about their job, salary, and benefits. 

- Passports of the workers were withheld by the employer. 

- Migrant workers were deprived of freedom of association and right to return. 

- Most migrant workers less informed about recruitment agency and employer.

The report also proposes ways forward regarding the identified problems.