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. 

Policy brief: Registration, Licensing, and Inspection of Private Recruitment Agencies for Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia

This policy brief examines the registration, licensing, and inspection of private recruitment agencies in Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia to improve regional migration management. The research, based on studies of Ugandan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, Kenyan migrants in Somalia's education sector, and Ethiopian hospitality workers in South Sudan, identifies key challenges. The brief's findings include that private recruitment agencies face significant constraints, such as extended processing times that exceed client deadlines and erode profit margins. Additionally, government revocation of licenses prevents agencies from performing crucial labour monitoring functions. In the absence of recruitment agencies, employers in Somalia and South Sudan often use professional, social, and family networks to facilitate migration, which can lead to a lack of effective mechanisms for monitoring labour conditions and addressing grievances. To address these issues, the brief recommends that Employers' Business Membership Organizations (EBMOs) advocate for legislative amendments to clarify roles and responsibilities, establish effective grievance mechanisms, and enhance inter-ministerial coordination to streamline licensing processes. It also suggests that EBMOs engage with private recruitment agencies and facilitate dialogue among them.