Empowering consular officials, diaspora desk officers, and labour attachés in the Arab States to champion migrant workers’ protection

Beyond the Desk: Empowering Consular Officials, Diaspora Desk Officers, and Labour Attachés in the Arab States to Champion Migrant Workers’ Protection is a practical guide developed within the framework of the Ghana component of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment (FAIR II). FAIR, a global programme established in 2015 to support the implementation of the ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy, promotes fair recruitment practices in selected countries of origin and destination and across key labour migration corridors.

In its current phase, implemented with the support of GIZ, FAIR II seeks to strengthen stakeholder ownership and facilitate the replication and scaling up of promising practices in migration corridors where partners are committed to improving recruitment systems and outcomes. This guide has been developed specifically to support Ghanaian consular officials, labour attachés, and diaspora desk officers posted in the Arab States in protecting the rights of migrant workers in contexts shaped by Kafala and other sponsorship-based systems, while promoting respect for the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRWs).

While grounded in the experiences and institutional context of the Ghana–Arab States labour migration corridor, the approaches, tools, and guidance presented in this publication address challenges common to many countries of origin in the region. As such, the guide is intended not only as a resource for Ghana but also as a reference that can be adapted, expanded, and applied by other countries seeking to strengthen the capacity of their diplomatic and consular missions to support and protect migrant workers abroad. The work undertaken under the Ghana corridor reflects the four pillars of the ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy by strengthening knowledge and policy guidance on recruitment processes, supporting improvements in laws, policies and enforcement mechanisms, promoting fair business practices, and enhancing migrant workers’ access to reliable information and services throughout the recruitment process.

Designed for use in day-to-day mission practice, briefings, training programmes, and coordinated case management with partners in countries of origin and destination, this guide aims to support informed and practical decision-making while reinforcing a consistent and rights-based approach to migrant worker protection. It is hoped that the experiences and lessons generated through its use will contribute to stronger institutional cooperation, enhanced capacity-building efforts, and continuous improvements to recruitment and employment systems across the region, ultimately making labour migration safer, fairer, and more firmly grounded in dignity and human rights.

You can also access the online version of the guide.