Reporting on Forced Labour, Fair Recruitment, and Labour Migration. An ILO toolkit for journalists. ECOWAS contextualized edition.

This toolkit provides practical guidance for journalists reporting on forced labour, fair recruitment, and labour migration in the ECOWAS region. It aims to support more accurate, balanced, and evidence-based media coverage, helping to counter misinformation, challenge harmful narratives, and highlight the socio-economic contributions of migrant workers.  

Developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), it was produced with contributions from media professionals, international organizations, and regional experts, and draws on lessons learned from previous media engagement initiatives. It provides both conceptual explanations and practical tools, including reporting guidelines, ethical considerations, and real-world examples to support journalists in navigating complex migration-related topics. 

The publication was developed within the framework of the Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment (FAIR III), the Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM West Africa II), and the Action for Improving Labour Migration Governance in Nigeria (ACTION). It reflects field-based experience and regional priorities, ensuring its relevance for stakeholders across West Africa. It ultimately contributes to strengthening informed public discourse, improving migration governance, and advancing decent work for migrant workers. 

Technical report on fair recruitment of migrant workers with disabilities

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is committed to advancing fair recruitment practices that respect human rights and promote decent work for all. Since its launch in 2014, the ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) has sought to ensure that recruitment processes are con-ducted in a fair, transparent, and inclusive manner, guided by international labour standards and rooted in the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

This technical report on fair recruitment of persons with disabilities, with a specific focus on migrant workers, represents an important step toward filling a critical knowledge gap at the intersection of disability inclusion, migration, and recruitment. While the ILO’s General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment underscore the importance of non-discrimination, explicit guidance on the inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly mi¬grant workers, remains limited.

By examining existing literature, identifying key challenges and good practices, and situating these within the framework of relevant ILO standards, this brief seeks to lay the groundwork for more inclusive recruitment policies and practices.
 

References

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.54394/BUNS0985

Media-friendly glossary on migration: Fair recruitment and forced labour - Ghana edition

Supported by the Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment – Phase III (FAIR III), the ILO Media-Friendly Glossary on Migration has been specifically adapted for the Ghanaian context to serve as a guideline for journalists, researchers, trainers, and other actors in Ghana who write about labour migration, especially in the context of recruitment and forced labour.

It is important to define common ground and avoid confusion and misunderstanding that can arise in using migration-related terminology. This version of the glossary aims to promote rights-based terminology to encourage rigorous and balanced media coverage and ensure that the narratives produced reflect the multiple dimensions of labour migration. It contains both general terminology relating to labour migration and specific terminology relevant when describing labour migration in Ghana.

Reporting on forced labour and fair recruitment: An ILO toolkit for journalists in Ghana

In 2020, the ILO launched a Global Media Toolkit on Reporting on Forced Labour and Fair Recruitment to strengthen media engagement on issues of labour migration. The toolkit is a useful resource for journalists, providing a guide for media professionals on how to report accurately and effectively on forced labour and fair recruitment issues.

Supported by the Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment – Phase III (FAIR III), the Global Media Toolkit has been contextualized and adapted for use in Ghana. It is designed to help journalists and other media practitioners in Ghana to effectively report on labour migration and promote fair recruitment practices.