Labour overview in times of COVID-19: Impact on the labour market and income in Latin America and the Caribbean [Second Edition]

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated unprecedented changes in the world of work. While the crisis has affected all workers, migrants and their families, especially those with irregular migration status and/or engaged in informal work, face additional challenges. 

In this context, this Briefing Note has three objectives. First, it briefly analyses the labour landscape of migrant and refugee workers in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2010 and 2019. Second, it presents the results of a rapid assessment conducted by the ILO in Latin America and the Caribbean between August and October 2020. The assessment analyses the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour and socio-economic landscape, and the responses of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrant workers, government authorities, employers' organizations, trade unions and civil society organizations to the new situation. Finally, in the third part, the document proposes recommendations for good governance of labour migration and the socio-economic integration of migrants and refugees in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

10 good practices for a fair recruitment - CIERTO: Agency dedicated to the fair recruitment of agricultural workers

The fact sheets that integrate this document present ten recruitment Good Practices implemented by CIERTO and their relationship to the ILO General Principles and Operational Guidelines. Each one describes its procedure, establishes its direct and indirect benefits and describes its alignment with these General Principles.

With this document, CIERTO seeks to divulge effective and alternative models of labour migration recruitment in compliance with labour rights, laws and regulations that have a strong impact on the recruitment of migrant workers.

It represents a technical cooperation exercise that reflects on efforts to improve fair and ethical recruitment.

Central American migrant women in Mexico: Informality in recruitment and employment

This brief summarizes key findings from research undertaken by the ILO Global Action to Improve the Recruitment Framework of Labour Migration (REFRAME) project in 2018 (unpublished), with recent data included where available. The brief concludes with specific recommendations on how to improve conditions for this population to support the activities of the REFRAME project and the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

Ensuring fair recruitment for decent work - A mini guide for trade unions

This mini guide focuses on how can trade unions advance fair recruitment and what is fair recruitment. 

The mini guide is available in Arabic, French, English, and Spanish.

Guidance on bilateral labour migration agreements

Bilateral labour migration agreements if based on international labour standards can be a key tool in labour migration governance which ensures safe, orderly and regular labour migration.

To support the development of such agreements, this guidance was produced by a multi-stakeholder thematic working group under the United Nations Network on Migration, co-chaired by ILO with IOM.

It contains practical guidance grounded in international labour and human rights standards and drawing from real examples around the world. It shows how social dialogue benefits the development, implementation and monitoring of these agreements, and can be used as a basis for training and preparing for negotiation of bilateral labour migration agreements.

Practical guide on developing labour migration policies

This guide is intended to provide practical and succinct guidance on the process to be undertaken by ILO constituents governments, workers’ organizations, employers’ organizations, in consultation with civil society organizations and other relevant partners, during the course of developing or revising a national labour migration strategy, policy and/or action plan.

Decent work and social justice: The key to achieving safe, orderly and regular migration

Short document outlining the ILO's priorities for action in Latin America and the Caribbean, including promoting the integration of the "Fair Migration Agenda" into strategies to strengthen labour migration governance and working with governments, workers' organisations, employers' organisations and employment agencies, with the objective of ensuring that recruitment ―including international recruitment― is carried out in a fair, transparent and ethical manner, and with full respect for relevant international labour standards, as well as the ILO's General Principles and Guidelines for Fair Recruitment.

Global estimates of modern slavery: Forced labour and forced marriage

The 2021 Global Estimates reveal that, at any time during the reporting period, 49.6 million people were victims of modern slavery, either forced to work against their will or to live in a marriage without their consent.

Among the victims of modern slavery, forced labour accounts for 27.6 million and forced marriage for 22 million. According to the same report, a significant portion of forced labour cases can be attributed to abuses that occur during the recruitment phase. This report therefore calls for the promotion of fair and ethical recruitment to protect workers from abusive and fraudulent practices during the recruitment and placement process, including the charging of exorbitant recruitment fees and related expenses by unscrupulous recruitment agencies and labour brokers.

Illustrated guidelines for gender-responsive employment intensive investment programmes

This guide is the outcome of a study carried out on gender and public works, and has been developed using evidence from 43 EIIPs implemented in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean between 1995 and 2013.

Good practices include experiences in fair recruitment in Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Indonesia, Haiti, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers in an Irregular Situation and Preventing Irregular Labour Migration: A Compendium

The Compendium presents the situations that can lead migrant workers into irregularity, the rights of migrant workers in irregular situations, and the relevant international standards and good practice. It highlights laws, policies and practices that can help prevent irregular labour migration, and facilitate respect and promotion of the human rights of all migrant workers, regardless of status”. The Compendium is not intended to be exhaustive but is instead a living document that will be regularly updated with new examples and experiences. It seeks to encourage the sharing of good practices by states, social partners, and other actors concerned and to contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular migration.
Some of the references will be further updated in early 2022.