Promising practices for fair recruitment in Côte d'Ivoire: Development of an international placement service by the Youth Employment Agency

Côte d’Ivoire's Youth Employment Agency (Agence nationale pour l’insertion et l’emploi des jeunes), with ILO support, has developed an international placement service to promote fair recruitment and labour migration.

This initiative comes in response to the significant informal recruitment sector in Côte d’Ivoire, despite existing regulatory frameworks. Historically a labour immigration destination, the country has seen a rise in emigration in recent years, with a substantial portion of the youth workforce (63 per cent aged 14-35) seeking decent work opportunities abroad, often leading to irregular migration.

The Agence Emploi Jeunes, under the Ministry of Youth, focuses on job placement, regulation of private employment agencies, and supporting job creation and skills development. Following a systemic organizational assessment in April 2023, the need for a dedicated international placement service was identified. This led to a strategic workshop in November 2023, where operational guidelines and a roadmap for implementation were established.

In May 2024, Ivorian representatives learned from Morocco's successful international placement practices, which were then adapted and finalized for local implementation. By February 2025, staff training and the launch of nine pilot sites were completed, resulting in 25 successful international placements. This initiative highlights the importance of local ownership, international collaboration, and strong political commitment in advancing fair recruitment practices.

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