Empowering Change: Ghana Adapts ILO Toolkit on Forced Labour and Fair Recruitment Reporting

Posted at March 20th 2024 12:00 AM | Updated as of March 20th 2024 12:00 AM

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Inaugural FAIR III Project Advisory Board Meeting Sets Course for Fair Recruitment in Ghana

Posted at December 7th 2023 12:00 AM | Updated as of December 7th 2023 12:00 AM

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ITC-ILO Online Course: Trade Union Manual to Promote Migrant Workers’ Rights and Foster Fair Labour Migration Governance

Introduction to the course

International migration has been on the rise within Africa. In 2019, there were 26.3 million international migrants in Africa - an increase of 17.2 million since 2010. Movement across national borders in search of decent work is one of the key drivers of international migration. Throughout the migration and recruitment process, migrant workers are exposed to undue hardships and abuses in the form of low wages, poor working and living conditions, limited access to social protection, denial of freedom of association and workers’ rights, discrimination as well as social exclusion. Migrant workers’ contributions to the economies of their host and origin countries many times remains unaccounted for – yet migrant workers generate tremendous benefits to both.

In this context, there is a need therefore for a comprehensive and balanced approach to labour migration governance. Well-governed labour migration can contribute to sustainable development for countries of origin, transit and destination, and can provide benefits and opportunities for migrant workers and their families. In this regard, the ILO in collaboration with the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP) and the African Union (AU), developed the Trade Union Manual to promote migrant workers’ rights and foster fair labour migration governance in Africa intended to achieve this objective. The self-guided toolkit complements the ILO training programmes and capacity building activities for Trade Unions aiming at strengthening their role in promoting a rights-based approach to labour migration.

Who attends this course?

The course is designed for officials, policy-makers and practitioners of public institutions and ministries dealing with migration, trafficking and/or forced labour; representatives of employers' and workers’ organizations; representatives of public and private employment agencies; staff of NGOs and civil society organizations; experts from international agencies and other key actors concerned with these issues.

Objectives of the toolkit

Participants will learn about:

  • Regional policy, legal frameworks and programmes on labour migration
    governance in Africa
  • International instruments and international labour standards relevant to migrant workers
  • The importance of social dialogue in labour migration governance
  • Trade union initiatives to promote fair recruitment, and gender-responsive policy implementation
  • The role of trade unions in Africa and abroad and recommendations in terms of providing support to migrant workers
  • Trade union international good practices

Methodology and certification

The course consists of a number of online modules offered via the ITCILO e-Campus online platform-

This course provides a flexible learning journey as it is completely asynchronous, composed of several self-guided modules.

At the end of course and after successfully completing the final quiz, participants will be granted a certificate of participation.

Structure

The toolkit is composed of 14 training modules, each module has examples of international good practices and highlights the role that workers’ organizations play in each thematic area.

 

Download the PDF version of Trade Union Manual to Promote Migrant Workers' Rights and Foster Fair Labour Migration Governance

 

Module 1.

ILO’s Mandate, AU on Labour Migration, Tripartism and Social Dialogue, Data and Trade Union Networks in Africa on Labour Migration

Module 2. 

Global Policy Frameworks guiding labour migration governance in Africa

Module 3.

Global Instruments on the protection of migrant workers (UN and ILO Instruments)

Module 4.

Regional policy, legal frameworks and programmes on labour migration governance in Africa                                     

Module 5

Gender equality and women’s empowerment in labour migration governance

Module 6.

Women migrant domestic workers’ particular challenges in working in private households. The need for targeted TU actions

Module 7.

Enhancing fair recruitment practices and regulations

Module 8

Labour exploitation and abuse of migrant workers

Module 9

Skills partnerships, migrant workers’ skills development, portability and recognition, certifications of skills and qualifications

Module 10.

Organizing migrant workers: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, key obstacles and good practices

Module 11.

Promoting social protection of migrant workers

Module 12.

Working and living conditions of migrant workers particularly working time, wages, occupational safety and health, violence and harassment, HIV/AIDS

Module 13.

Advocating for equality of treatment and opportunities, and contributing to labour market integration and combating discrimination in diverse multi-ethnic workplaces and multilingual contexts

Module 14.

Impact of COVID-19 on labour migration

 

Start the course here.

 

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Trade Unions Manual to Promote Migrant Workers’ Rights and Foster Fair Labour Migration Governance in Africa

International migration has been on the rise within Africa. In 2019, there were 26.3 million international migrants in Africa - an increase of 17.2 million since 2010. Movement across national borders in search of decent work is one of the key drivers of international migration. Throughout the migration and recruitment process, migrant workers are exposed to undue hardships and abuses in the form of low wages, poor working and living conditions, limited access to social protection, denial of freedom of association and workers’ rights, discrimination as well as social exclusion. Migrant workers’ contributions to the economies of their host and origin countries many times remains unaccounted for – yet migrant workers generate tremendous benefits to both.

In this context, there is a need therefore for a comprehensive and balanced approach to labour migration governance. Well-governed labour migration can contribute to sustainable development for countries of origin, transit and destination, and can provide benefits and opportunities for migrant workers and their families. In this regard, the ILO in collaboration with the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP) and the African Union (AU), developed the Trade Union Manual to promote migrant workers’ rights and foster fair labour migration governance in Africa intended to achieve this objective.

The toolkit is composed of 14 training modules, each module has examples of international good practices and highlights the role that workers’ organizations play in each thematic area.

 

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Labour Mobility and Regional Integration in East and Horn of Africa

This report analyses the role of the East African Community (EAC) Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Common Market (CMP) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region (FMP) in facilitating labour mobility in the East and Horn of Africa (EHoA) region. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the legal and policy context of protecting the rights of migrant workers in the EHoA region, focusing on the EAC CMP and IGAD FMP and national labour provisions of the case study countries, namely Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. It also discusses the opportunities and challenges of overlapping memberships for the implementation of the IGAD FMP and acceleration of the EAC CMP in relation to labour mobility and migrant workers’ rights based on the experiences of Kenya and Uganda. It also explores the impact of overlapping memberships and COVID-19 on labour mobility while taking into account gender considerations.

 

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Comparative Reintegration Outcomes between Forced and Voluntary Return and Through a Gender Perspective

This report presents the outcomes of two combined research projects: 1) “Comparative reintegration outcomes in forced and voluntary returns”, and 2) “Understanding and implementing gender-sensitive sustainable reintegration”. The aims of these projects were to study differences in reintegration outcomes between forced and voluntary returnees, and male and female returnees in various return contexts and by identifying other factors that affect reintegration outcomes at the individual, community and structural level.

The projects were commissioned by IOM under the EU-IOM Knowledge Management Hub, funded by the European Union, and designed and implemented by a research team based at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG), Maastricht University.

Research for this report was conducted in six countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, El Salvador, the Gambia, Nigeria and Somalia), using a mix of methods. The methodology consisted of the analysis of quantitative data collected by IOM country missions and the research team using the RSS tool, and the analysis of qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with returnees, family members of returnees and key informant interviews.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - EN

REPORT - EN

COUNTRY PROFILES - EN

RESUMEN EJECUTIVO - ES

INFORME FINAL - ES

PERFILES DE PAÍS - ES

 

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National Assessment of Labour Migration Policies, Legislation, Practices, and Structures in Nigeria

Nigeria, with over 140 million inhabitants, is a country of origin, transit, and destination for diverse migratory configurations, both internal and international – seasonal labour migration, undocumented or irregular migration, internal displacements, human trafficking, female migration, and migration of skilled professionals. There is a general lack of current information on demographic dynamics in the country, however, particularly concerning data on both stocks and flows of migrants within and outside the country. 

In this context, this report covers data collection and analysis, which looks at data sources on international migration and intraregional migration, with emphases on Nigerian migrants and migrant workers. There is an overview of recruitment and support services, as well as policy formulation and challenges.  International structures and inter-institutional collaboration are discussed based on an in-depth evaluation of the institutional structures in Nigeria. In addition, a background of migrants’ remittances and forms of remittances are analysed, taking into consideration remittance flows and uses, as well as the policy measures necessary to enhance the impact of remittances. 

Moreover, the report covers the current national legislation and international norms regarding labour migration and the bilateral agreements existing between Nigeria and other African countries. In conclusion, recommendations have been provided on all the relevant issues contained in the report pertaining to data collection, recruitment and support services, institutional structures and inter-institutional collaboration, migrants’ remittances, and national legislation and international norms in order to formulate a comprehensive action plan detailing the way forward for labour migration management in Nigeria.

 

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An Exploratory Study on Labour Recruitment and Migrant Worker Protection Mechanisms in West Africa: The Case of Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal

The topics of ethical recruitment, defined as the recruitment of workers in a lawful, fair and transparent manner that respects their dignity and human rights, and labour migration, defined as the movement of persons from one State to another, or within their own country of residence, for the purpose of employment, go hand in hand. While labour migration can serve as a significant opportunity, it can also constitute a risk for those who partake in it. A risk may present itself if labour migration is undertaken as an end result of unethical recruitment practices, which may include practices that are non-transparent and fail to respect the dignity as well as human rights of workers. In such circumstances, workers may be at risk of exploitation during both the recruitment process and employment. Consistent adherence to ethical recruitment practices by all parties implicated in the recruitment process (including private recruitment agencies, employers and jobseekers) therefore significantly contributes to the reduction of these risks.

In West Africa, this correlation is particularly relevant as young West African migrants attracted by false promises of employment, high wages and decent working and living conditions are increasingly subjected to exploitative recruitment processes. Through this study, IOM seeks to shed light on this situation by assessing current recruitment practices and migrant worker protection mechanisms in place in the following case study countries: Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. This study explores and critically examines the existing evidence base on key aspects of the topic to inform potential policy and programmatic responses designed to enhance labour migration impacts for current and potential migrant workers located in as well as originating from West Africa. This publication entails both a desk-based review of the current published evidence base as well as insights derived from interviews with national stakeholders from the five case study countries.

This research publication was made possible through support provided by the Migration Resource Allocation Committee (MIRAC).

 

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Interregional meeting: Strengthening cooperation of trade unions from Africa and from Arab States to advance Fair Recruitment, Freedom of Association and Just Transition for Migrant Workers

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  • 3rd July 2023

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Background

Key documents

2019 Recruitment Costs Pilot Survey Report-Ghana, Measuring SDG Indicator (10.7.1)

This report presents the survey results and examines the recruitment costs, monthly earnings, and Recruitment Cost Indicator (RCI) of migrant workers taking into account their socio-demographic characteristics such as age, occupation, the industry of work, educational attainment, skills, and gender.

In 2019, the Ghana Statistical Service conducted the Recruitment Cost Pilot Survey (RCPS) in four administrative districts, namely, Mampong Municipal, Asante Akim North in the Ashanti Region, and Berekum and Techiman in the Bono and Bono East regions, respectively. The study was mainly designed to pilot an ILO recommended survey methodology to collect data on recruitment costs and monthly earnings of migrant workers from purposely selected districts, in a bid to calculate the SDG indicator 10.7.1 (Recruitment Cost Indicator). This report, therefore, presents the survey results, as it examines the recruitment costs, monthly earnings, and Recruitment Cost Indicator (RCI) of migrant workers taking into account their socio-demographic characteristics such as age, occupation, the industry of work, educational attainment, skills, and sex.

The results of this pilot study show that the survey methodology adopted for this study is suitable for estimating the RCI as required for measuring the SDG indicator 10.7.1. The study shows that the RCI levels, derived from average recruitment costs and monthly earnings for migrant workers, could plausibly be a function of skill level, country of destination, or educational level of the migrant worker. This is because lower levels of RCI could be associated with highly-skilled workers, highly educated migrant workers, and developed countries due largely to commensurate high monthly earnings, a result that resonates with our a-priori expectation.

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) implemented the study in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) with funding from the European Union.

 

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