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. 

Technical report on fair recruitment of migrant workers with disabilities

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is committed to advancing fair recruitment practices that respect human rights and promote decent work for all. Since its launch in 2014, the ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) has sought to ensure that recruitment processes are con-ducted in a fair, transparent, and inclusive manner, guided by international labour standards and rooted in the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

This technical report on fair recruitment of persons with disabilities, with a specific focus on migrant workers, represents an important step toward filling a critical knowledge gap at the intersection of disability inclusion, migration, and recruitment. While the ILO’s General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment underscore the importance of non-discrimination, explicit guidance on the inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly mi¬grant workers, remains limited.

By examining existing literature, identifying key challenges and good practices, and situating these within the framework of relevant ILO standards, this brief seeks to lay the groundwork for more inclusive recruitment policies and practices.
 

References

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.54394/BUNS0985

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).

Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy 2026-2030: The way forward, from policy to practice

The Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) was launched by the ILO in 2014 to ensure fair recruitment of workers at the national and international level, bringing renewed visibility to this important issue. Over the years, the FRI has become a central pillar of the ILO’s Fair Migration Agenda and has strengthened collaboration among governments, employers, and workers to ensure transparent recruitment practices that protect workers' rights and uphold international labour standards through social dialogue and fair treatment. 

The Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy 2026–2030 sets a clear path forward: moving from principles and guidance to practical implementation and enforcement, to make fair recruitment a reality for all workers, across all sectors and countries, within and across borders. The new strategy was conceived as an inclusive process, reflecting evidence and data collected across countries, key migration corridors and high-risk sectors to ensure targeted interventions that tackle emerging challenges. 

This work builds on a decade of experiences, achievements, and lessons learned. This new strategy has also benefited from the rich exchanges and inputs generated during the Global Conference “Fair Recruitment Initiative: The way forward, from policy to practice”, held in May. This conference, that brought together government officials, employers' and workers' representatives, recruitment agencies, international organizations, and researchers provided valuable guidance for moving from policy commitments to practical implementation. This tripartite high-level discussion served as a platform to review progress, explore practical solutions, and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders. The event marked the launch of this new strategy, reaffirming a common commitment to advancing fair recruitment through collective action. 

Content available in English, español and français.