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.

Asegurar la contratación equitativa durante la pandemia de la COVID-19

En el presente informe se destacan los principales desafíos de la contratación nacional e internacional de trabajadores durante la pandemia de la COVID-19, la respuesta de la OIT así como las políticas y medidas recomendadas. En el anexo se describen las prácticas de las partes interesadas para promover la contratación equitativa durante la pandemia de la COVID-19.

Modulo sobre costos de contratación en la EMIF Sur y prueba del indicador 10.7.1 de los ODS. Reporte de resultados

En 2019, la OIT y el COLEF colaboraron para medir los costos de contratación en los que incurrían los migrantes centroamericanos en México. Se añadió dicho módulo a la encuesta anual del COLEF (EMIF Sur). El módulo se basó en la metodología empleada por OIT-Banco Mundial para medir el Indicador de Costos de Contrata­ción (RCI) del Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible 10.7.1. En este reporte se muestran los resultados de dicho ejercicio y se elaboran recomendaciones para su futura realización en otros corredores migratorios.

Protecting migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The infographic seeks to inform on the need to protect migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing recommendations for policy makers and ILO constituents.

It provides facts and figures on Guatemalans abroad, return of Guatemalans in the US-Mexico corridor, family remittances and areas for action to promote bilateral cooperation between countries of origin and destination, inclusion of migrant workers in national responses and social dialogue.

Use of digital technology in the recruitment of migrant workers

This research report shows that digital technology can play a significant role in making safe labour migration and fair recruitment a reality. It also gives valuable recommendations for how to make this happen.

Digital technology could be a game changer in migrant worker protection. The number of internet users around the globe continues to climb and the development of information and communications technologies (ICT) has been unprecedented since the onset of COVID-19. This has resulted in new digital products, including those aimed at migrant workers, such as apps, websites and web portals, internet radio, and electronic tickets.

How can digital ICT facilitate safe labour migration and fair recruitment? To answer this question, the ILO partnered with the United Nations University Institute in Macau to better understand why and how migrant workers use digital technology. A mixed-method study was carried out during the second half of 2020. It included a desk review, a survey, focus groups, key informant interviews, and a landscape analysis of relevant existing digital products.

Based on the research, the ILO is currently developing a short summary tool featuring tips and advice on how to design, develop and promote digital products for migrant workers. The ILO is also organizing a workshop for relevant stakeholders to share lessons from the research and discuss their implications. Participants in the workshop will jointly develop a roadmap setting out the next steps in unleashing the potential of digital technology for migrant workers.

The research is part of the Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment (FAIR, phase II), which falls within the framework of the ILO’s Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) .