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. 

Rapid assessment on access to labour justice for migrant workers in Ghana

This study examines how Ghanaian migrant workers access labour justice and seek remedies for employment-related grievances, both in Ghana and in destination countries. Conducted under the ILO’s Integrated Programme for Fair Recruitment (FAIR Phase III) and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, it is based on mixed methods research, including desk review, key informant interviews with relevant institutions, and focus group discussions with returnee migrants. The study maps existing formal and alternative grievance and dispute resolution mechanisms, assesses their effectiveness, and identifies structural and practical barriers that limit migrant workers’ access to justice.

Against the backdrop of Ghana’s evolving migration landscape, marked by increasing labour migration to the Gulf and Middle East, particularly among women in domestic work, the study analyses the national legal and institutional frameworks aligned with international labour standards. Despite the existence of these mechanisms, migrant workers often face significant obstacles, including limited awareness of their rights, high financial costs, bureaucratic delays, weak enforcement, and fear of retaliation or deportation. These challenges are especially acute for women, who encounter gender-specific risks such as restricted mobility, social stigma, and heightened vulnerability to exploitation and abuse.

The study further highlights the role of trade unions, civil society organisations, and recruitment agencies in supporting migrant workers, while underscoring persistent gaps in coordination, resourcing, enforcement, and outreach. It concludes that improving access to labour justice requires stronger law enforcement, expanded legal aid and digital complaint mechanisms, enhanced pre-departure information and training, and closer cross-border cooperation between Ghana and destination countries to ensure safe and effective access to remedies throughout the migration cycle.

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.

Media anthology in the Ghana-Nigeria labour migration corridor

This media anthology is the result of a unique collaboration between journalism students from the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UNIMAC) in Ghana and Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) in Nigeria. Through a joint exploration of reporting on labour migration across the Ghana–Nigeria corridor, the students have produced an insightful body of work that reflects the complexity of labour migration in West Africa, highlighting the many facets of this topic through different narratives formats and co-produced by teams of students from both institutions.  

Supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), this initiative seeks to foster cross-border collaboration in journalism, enabling future media professionals from both origin and destination countries to portray the full spectrum of the migration experience, beyond the limited perspectives often found in international media. Through such partnerships, including the twinning of journalism schools, the ILO is investing in the next generation of journalists, equipping them to produce quality reporting on labour migration. 

Ghana: Country profile and national roadmap: Analysis of recruitment policy, processes and practices, an action plan for fair recruitment

This Recruitment Country Profile is a study on the legal and regulatory framework governing the recruitment and placement of migrant workers in Ghana that provides a comprehensive analysis of the existing national system, identifies gaps, and offers concrete recommendations to strengthen governance of recruitment based on workers’ rights.

Supported by the Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment – Phase III (FAIR III), it represents an analytical and participatory effort to strengthen the governance of recruitment of migrant workers in Ghana. Grounded in the ILO’s General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment and relevant international labour standards, it identifies key normative and institutional gaps in the current framework and proposes measures to align national legislation and policies with international standards. Through documentary analysis and tripartite stakeholder consultations, the study serves as a practical and strategic tool for guiding public policy, strengthening coordination among actors, and advancing fair recruitment.

The second part of the document is showcasing a National Roadmap to promote fair recruitment in Ghana, an effort to enhance labour migration governance and ensure the protection of migrant workers’ rights. Developed through a consultative process involving key stakeholders, the roadmap provides a strategic framework for fostering fair and transparent recruitment practices in Ghana.

It aims to align Ghana's national policies and practices with international labour standards and human rights relevant to fair recruitment, ensuring that migrant workers, whether in Ghana or abroad, are protected from exploitation, abuse, and discrimination and can enjoy decent and productive employment. In addition to more robust regulatory oversight, it supports the integration of fair business practices among employers, ensures a strong role for workers’ organizations, and engages media professionals to raise public awareness on labour migration and recruitment issues.