The ILO’s Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme programme is moving forward with its study on the registration, licensing, and inspection of Private Recruitment Agencies (PrEAs) in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda. As part of this process, BRMM convened two validation workshops: the first in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the second in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Stakeholders convened to assess the study’s findings and discuss practical recommendations, with the overall aim of strengthening regulation of PrEAs and better protecting migrant and local workers.

Why this matters

• Private recruitment agencies play a central role in facilitating labour migration. But without effective regulation, there is risk of exploitative practices: overcharging in recruitment, lack of transparency, poor working and employment conditions, and difficulty ensuring workers' rights and legal protections.
• A robust licensing and inspection regime, combined with proper registration, helps ensure accountability, fairness, and compliance with labour standards. For governments, it supports regulation of migration flows, decent work, and protection against irregular or abusive recruitment.
• For workers, stronger safeguards can help guarantee fair recruitment, transparent contracts, enforcement of labour rights, and access to remedy in cases of exploitation or abuse.

The BRMM programme is focusing on strengthening the capacities of countries in East and Horn of Africa to govern labour migration by using evidence-based policies, enhancing migrant workers' qualifications and skills, and actively engaging the social partners.