The Impact of the New UK Immigration System on Human Trafficking into the UK

This paper explains how the immigration system opens up the potential for human trafficking and exploitation of individuals on a massive scale globally, orchestrated by organised crime gangs, criminals, scammers, profiteers and unscrupulous employers.

Workforce recruitment and labour supply

Produced by ALP in partnership with the UK Home Office, this guide provides specific, practical guidance for all UK recruiters, HR professionals and employers on actions that must and should be taken in respect of their existing workforce and future recruits in response to changes to the UK Immigration system.

Just Good Work

Just Good Work is a free interactive mobile app, giving job-seekers and workers critical information and advice for everything needed on the journey to work, from recruitment, to employment and life in a new destination, to moving on or returning home.

Making Fair Recruitment a Reality!

This video chronicles the ILO’s effort to establish a corridor to recruit fairly workers from Nepal to Jordan to work in the ready-made garment sector. It highlights the power of the various actors in a supply chain to make positive change when they work together to achieve a common objective that benefits each of them.

Definition of recruitment fees and related costs

This video outlines the definition of recruitment fees and related costs, adopted by a Tripartite Meeting of Experts, held in Geneva in November 2018. The definition recognizes the principle that workers shall not be charged directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fees or related costs for their recruitment. This comprehensive definition is guided by international labour standards and should be read together with the General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment.

Ensuring Fair recruitment, what the ILO has achieved, an infostory

A recruitment process is only fair when carried out within the law and in line with the International Labour Standards, but most importantly when it respects human rights.

Building on ILO’s extensive experience in improving labour migration and preventing forced labour, the Fair Recruitment Initiative was launched in 2014 to protect workers from abuse and exploitation, while also responding to labour market needs.

As the ILO launches the second phase of the Fair Recruitment Initiative, we look at how it has reformed recruitment laws and practices around the world, and has improved workers’ lives.

General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment and definition of recruitment fees and related costs

The principles and guidelines aim to inform the current and future work of the ILO and of other organizations, national legislatures, and the social partners on promoting and ensuring fair recruitment. The principles and guidelines were developed by a Tripartite Meeting of Experts, held in September 2016.

The definition of recruitment fees and related costs recognizes the principle that workers shall not be charged directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fees or related costs for their recruitment. This comprehensive definition is guided by international labour standards and should be read together with the principles and guidelines. The definition was adopted by a Tripartite Meeting of Experts, held in Geneva in November 2018.

Together this guidance forms a comprehensive approach to realizing fair recruitment through development, implementation and enforcement of laws and policies aiming to regulate the recruitment industry and protect workers’ rights.

This guidance is developed within the framework of the Fair Recruitment Initiative, which aims to help prevent human trafficking, protect the rights of workers (including migrant workers) from abusive and fraudulent practices during the recruitment and placement process, reduce the cost of labour migration and enhance development gains.

ILO ILM statistics database

This page presents statistical information on migrant worker stocks, inflows and outflows. 

ILO Global estimates on international migrant workers: Results and methodology

This third edition of the ILO Global estimates on international migrant workers: Results and methodology presents the most recent estimates on the stock of international migrant workers, disaggregated by age, sex, country-income group and region, and the estimation methodology. The reference year is 2019. The report predates the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, which has affected the magnitude and characteristics of international labour migration. The estimates offer a benchmark against which the COVID-19 driven changes can be analysed in the future.

The periodic publication of this report provides information on recent trends on labour migration and therefore contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as supporting policymaking at the country, regional and global levels.