Geneva, Switzerland - The sixth meeting of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) Advisory Committee was held online from Geneva on 29 April 2026. Together, governments, employers' and workers' organizations, development partners and ILO experts reviewed progress and shaped priorities for the implementation of the Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy 2026–2030. They also welcomed Finland and Spain as the Initiative's newest members, further strengthening the Committee's global partnership, now extended to Bangladesh, Brazil, Finland, France, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, Qatar, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.

Opening the meeting, Gladys Cisneros, Chief of the ILO Migration Branch, welcomed all participants and extended a special welcome to the new member States. She noted that the past year had been "particularly intensive and productive" in advancing implementation of the Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy. Highlighting an increasingly complex migration landscape, she stressed the importance of ensuring that "decent work, and in particular fair recruitment, remained central to international migration governance," particularly ahead of the upcoming International Migration Review Forum (IMRF). 

A significant part of the meeting focused on an overview of progress and priorities for 2026 under the four pillars of the Fair Recruitment Initiative: Enhancing global knowledge; Improving laws, policies and enforcement; Promoting fair business practices; and Empowering and protecting workers. It highlighted key advances in knowledge generation, policy and regulatory support, private sector engagement, and worker protection. These included the adoption of the FRI Strategy 2026–2030, new ITCILO training tools and analytical work on recruitment costs and migrant worker protection, alongside ongoing technical assistance to countries to strengthen legislation, enforcement and recruitment governance systems, including digitalization and support for regional frameworks such as ECOWAS and ASEAN. In parallel, efforts to promote fair business practices were advanced through updated guidance for private employment agencies, partnerships with employers’ organizations and sectoral initiatives on responsible recruitment, while work on empowering and protecting workers focused on strengthening Migrant Worker Resource Centres, expanding training for labour attachés and unions, and improving access to services and justice for migrant workers, with further initiatives planned for 2026 across all areas. 

The Secretariat also provided updates on global migration processes, including preparations for the upcoming International Migration Review Forum (IMRF). While fair recruitment and the regulation of recruitment fees and related costs continue to feature prominently in negotiations on the IMRF outcome declaration, the ILO will also co-organize several side events during the Forum, ensuring that the perspectives of governments, employers and workers remain visible in global migration discussions.

Furthermore, during a roundtable, participants shared national and institutional developments, initiatives and reflections related to the objectives of the Fair Recruitment Initiative. They discussed progress made at national and regional levels, exchanged lessons learned, identified priorities for future action and proposed ways to further strengthen implementation of the Initiative. Contributions highlighted innovative policy reforms, digital recruitment systems, strengthened labour inspection, regional cooperation, practical guidance for employers, and new approaches to prevent recruitment abuses and forced labour.

The meeting concluded with a call for expressions of interest for the next Advisory Committee Co-Chair, continued exchanges of national experiences and preparations for future discussions on evaluations and emerging developments. Members reaffirmed their shared commitment to implementing the Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy 2026–2030 and to advancing fair, ethical and rights-based recruitment practices worldwide.