International labour standards and migrant workers’ rights: A Guide for policymakers and practitioners

This ILO guide brings together the international labour standards most relevant to the protection of migrant workers’ rights. It offers practical guidance on how these standards apply throughout the migration experience, supporting rights-based labour migration and decent work for all.

Migrant workers make essential contributions to labour markets, economic growth and social protection systems worldwide. When labour migration is well governed, it supports productivity, skills development and inclusive and sustainable development in countries of origin, transit and destination. International labour standards provide a robust framework to ensure these contributions are fully realised, grounded in dignity, equality and decent work for all.

This Guide presents an overview of the international labour standards most relevant to migrant workers from the perspective of their rights throughout the migration experience. It brings together, in a single resource, the key principles, rights and protections set out in relevant ILO standards and explains how they apply at different stages of labour migration. The Guide covers fundamental principles and rights at work, fair recruitment, equality of opportunity and treatment, working conditions, social protection, and access to justice.

Drawing on the guidance from ILO supervisory bodies and illustrative examples from diverse regional and national context, the Guide serves as a practical reference for policymakers, social partners and practitioners. It supports the design and implementation of rights-based labour migration policies that promote decent work, fair migration and inclusive labour markets. 

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. 

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.

Thematic report on labour migration from the 2019 Kenya population and housing census Analytical Report on International Labour Migration

The "Thematic Report on Labour Migration from the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census," published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, serves as Kenya's first comprehensive monograph specifically dedicated to international labour migration. Guided by the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, the report analyzes the scale and patterns of workforce movement to support evidence-based policymaking aligned with national aspirations like Vision 2030 and global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals. By providing disaggregated data on migrant characteristics and employment conditions, it seeks to improve migration governance and maximize the developmental benefits of labour mobility within the East and Horn of Africa region. Findings from the 2019 census indicate that Kenya hosted 419,135 immigrants, with 225,197 identified as international labour migrants, the majority of whom originate from East African Community states like Uganda and Tanzania. Regarding emigration, approximately 327,000 Kenyans left the country in the 15 years prior to the census, with 56 per cent moving for employment-related reasons, primarily to the Arabian Gulf, which also serves as a major source of remittances for 1.2 per cent of Kenyan households. While the foreign-born working-age population exhibits a labour force participation rate of 67.9 per cent, the report notes significant gender disparities and highlights the need for continued improvement in tracking migration-related indicators through stronger inter-agency coordination.

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.

ILO indicators of forced labour - 2025 revised edition

The revised 2025 edition of the ILO Indicators of Forced Labour provides frontline actors with practical tools to detect forced labour. Grounded in decades of research, it highlights the most common indicators and explains how to interpret them in real-world contexts. This concise guide can also support referral and formal indetification processes, prosecution and data collection.

Forced labour remains one of the most severe violations of human rights, affecting millions of people around the world. This booklet translates international standards into operational indicators to help practitioners identify potential victims and trigger further investigation. 

It outlines the most frequent signs of coercion and lack of consent, illustrated with real cases, and offers guidance on what to look for. Designed for labour inspectors, law enforcement, social workers, employers, and others who may encounter victims, these indicators are not exhaustive but serve as a flexible, evolving tool to support detection, referral, and data collection in the global fight against forced labour.

Combating forced labour - A handbook for employers and business

An ILO-IOE practical handbook to help companies and employer organizations prevent and address risks of forced labour. Grounded on international labour standards, it offers practical tools for due diligence based on the 11 indicators of forced labour.

Forced labour affects more than 27 million people worldwide, cutting across borders, sectors, and supply chains. Companies and employer organizations have a vital role to play in eradicating this pervasive abuse.

The ILO and IOE published the first edition of Combating Forced Labour: A Handbook for Employers and Business in 2008, followed by a second edition in 2015. This third edition provides updated, practical guidance to help companies identify, prevent, and mitigate risks of forced labour within their operations and supply chains.

It is grounded in international labour standards, including the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) and its 2014 Protocol, as well as internationally recognized frameworks on business and human rights: the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration).

The handbook uses the ILO definition of forced labour and its 11 indicators to help identify and assess risks in practice.

Who is it for?

The primary audience includes companies (management, human resources, procurement, legal, compliance, and sustainability officers); employer and business membership organizations (EBMOs); industry associations; multi-stakeholder platforms supporting responsible business conduct (RBC); and other actors involved in human rights due diligence (HRDD).