International labour standards and migrant workers’ rights: A Guide for policymakers and practitioners

This ILO guide brings together the international labour standards most relevant to the protection of migrant workers’ rights. It offers practical guidance on how these standards apply throughout the migration experience, supporting rights-based labour migration and decent work for all.

Migrant workers make essential contributions to labour markets, economic growth and social protection systems worldwide. When labour migration is well governed, it supports productivity, skills development and inclusive and sustainable development in countries of origin, transit and destination. International labour standards provide a robust framework to ensure these contributions are fully realised, grounded in dignity, equality and decent work for all.

This Guide presents an overview of the international labour standards most relevant to migrant workers from the perspective of their rights throughout the migration experience. It brings together, in a single resource, the key principles, rights and protections set out in relevant ILO standards and explains how they apply at different stages of labour migration. The Guide covers fundamental principles and rights at work, fair recruitment, equality of opportunity and treatment, working conditions, social protection, and access to justice.

Drawing on the guidance from ILO supervisory bodies and illustrative examples from diverse regional and national context, the Guide serves as a practical reference for policymakers, social partners and practitioners. It supports the design and implementation of rights-based labour migration policies that promote decent work, fair migration and inclusive labour markets.