Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy 2026-2030: The way forward, from policy to practice

The Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) was launched by the ILO in 2014 to ensure fair recruitment of workers at the national and international level, bringing renewed visibility to this important issue. Over the years, the FRI has become a central pillar of the ILO’s Fair Migration Agenda and has strengthened collaboration among governments, employers, and workers to ensure transparent recruitment practices that protect workers' rights and uphold international labour standards through social dialogue and fair treatment. 

The Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy 2026–2030 sets a clear path forward: moving from principles and guidance to practical implementation and enforcement, to make fair recruitment a reality for all workers, across all sectors and countries, within and across borders. The new strategy was conceived as an inclusive process, reflecting evidence and data collected across countries, key migration corridors and high-risk sectors to ensure targeted interventions that tackle emerging challenges. 

This work builds on a decade of experiences, achievements, and lessons learned. This new strategy has also benefited from the rich exchanges and inputs generated during the Global Conference “Fair Recruitment Initiative: The way forward, from policy to practice”, held in May. This conference, that brought together government officials, employers' and workers' representatives, recruitment agencies, international organizations, and researchers provided valuable guidance for moving from policy commitments to practical implementation. This tripartite high-level discussion served as a platform to review progress, explore practical solutions, and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders. The event marked the launch of this new strategy, reaffirming a common commitment to advancing fair recruitment through collective action. 

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Policy brief: Fair recruitment of Lao migrant workers: A comparative review with international labour standards and guidelines

This policy brief offers a comparative analysis of the labour migration governance framework in relation to international standards and guidelines and provides recommendations to help ensure fair recruitment and decent work for Lao migrant workers.

The ILO Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia programme has been working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labour Social Welfare to strengthen policy and legislation related to the recruitment of Lao migrant workers since 2020. To support this effort, a comparative analysis of the labour migration governance framework was undertaken in relation to key international labour standards and guidelines, including the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) and the ILO General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment. 

Although the Lao policy and legal framework was found to be in alignment with international labour standards and guidelines in many respects, the analysis identified significant legislative and implementation gaps. These include incomplete prohibitions on worker-paid recruitment fees and related costs, challenges in enforcing penalties and providing remedies for abuses, procedural and capacity challenges in dispute resolution, and lack of clarity and in the responsibilities of government agencies.

The policy brief recommends that the Lao Government consider ratifying the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) to take the next steps forward in improving protection of the rights of Lao migrant workers during recruitment and placement. The ILO stands ready to provide any further technical support required by the Lao Government and social partners to facilitate the process of ratification for Convention No. 181 in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Thematic Note: Ensuring fair recruitment for migrant care workers

This Note explores some of the key fair recruitment challenges for migrant care workers and outlines key policy priorities.

Measuring Sustainable Development Goal indicator 10.7.1 on the recruitment costs of migrant workers: Results of the 2019 Philippine survey on overseas Filipinos

The report presents an assessment of the pilot process on measuring SDG indicator 10.7.1, undertaken by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in collaboration with the ILO.

The survey findings provide an indication on the burden of recruitment costs to overseas Filipino migrant workers. Results shed light on possible impacts of existing policies to protect Overseas Filipino Workrs (OFWs) as well as indicating future areas and target groups of policy focus when tackling issues related to high recruitment fees and related costs of Filipino migrant workers going to work abroad.

ILO Brief: ILO Guidance Note on Migrant Worker Resource Centres (MRCs)

Migrant Worker Resource Centres (MRCs) provide critical information and services for migrant workers throughout the migration cycle. This Guidance Note presents the key principles of the ILO approach, and provides insights for the establishment and operation of MRCs, capacity building of MRC staff, design and implementation of service provision, effective communications and outreach, and monitoring and evaluation and sustainability.

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Promising practices for fair recruitment in Bangladesh: Digitised management of recruitment agencies

This document highlights promising practices for fair recruitment in Bangladesh with a focus on the use of digital technology for increased management of recruitment agencies and facilitating access to labour justice.