ITUC Policy Brief: a new social contract for migrant workers

Decent Work deficits, xenophobia, racism and discrimination, conflicts, insufficient mitigation and adaptation to Climate Change mean many people have no choice but to accept substandard employment or undignified working conditions.

A New Social Contract is more urgent than ever to create more inclusive societies and economies, where migrants and their families can work and live with dignity. Workers call for a rights-based governance of migration that is designed, implemented and monitored through social dialogue and with international labour standards – such as freedom of association and collective bargaining rights – at the forefront.

 

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Understanding patterns of structural discrimination against migrant and other workers in some countries of South and West Asia

This background paper reviews the literature that sheds light on the structural patterns of discrimination against migrant workers in some countries of South and West Asia. It also articulates recommendations that would help officials in UN agencies, international organizations, constituents and other civil society individuals and groups, while referring to the existing evidence of structural discrimination to support the application of international labour standards.

While references to international non-discrimination standards do occasionally surface in public discourses, this paper reviews evidence that discrimination in the world of work is not only characterized by socially deviant cases of discriminatory abuse, as reported in the media, but is rather intrinsic to the way various market economies and political systems are structured. This is manifested by indicators of privilege for some and indicators of deprivation for those at the bottom of the social and political hierarchies, including the interaction between both.

 

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Achieving fair and ethical recruitment: Improving regulation and enforcement in the ASEAN region

This report focuses on the efforts of ASEAN Member States to foster fair and ethical recruitment. It maps the laws and regulations, and moreover, the enforcement mechanisms States have employed, and reviews evidence of the results achieved.

Job information can be a rare commodity in the labour market – employers know what skills they need but not where to find them; while the workers know their skills but not who is in need of them. Intermediaries such as recruiters play a useful role in resolving this asymmetry of information. In the real world, however, the operation of the recruitment market is highly imperfect. Common recruitment-related abuses faced by migrant workers in elementary occupations include: paying exorbitant recruitment fees to recruiters, deception concerning the terms and conditions of employment contracts, processing fake documents, confiscation of passports or ID documents, and physical as well as emotional violence and threats. The ILO’s General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment, call on Member States to adopt appropriate legislation and policies to protect the rights of migrant workers.

In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, where labour migration has become prominent, fair and ethical recruitment can prevent migrant workers from experiencing abusive conditions, including trafficking and forced labour. This report focuses on the efforts of the ASEAN Member States to foster fair and ethical recruitment. It maps the laws and regulations of these Member States and the enforcement mechanisms they have employed, and reviews evidence of the results they may have achieved.

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Virtual Roundtable Discussion: Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers in Irregular Situations

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  • 21st November 2022

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  • Time : 3:00pm - 5:00pm

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Peer to peer knowledge sharing webinar on fair recruitment and labour inspection

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  • 24th May 2022

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  • Time : 4:00pm - 5:30pm

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Technical tripartite webinar for the ratification campaign of ILO Conventions on Employment Service, and Private Employment Agencies

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  • 12th May 2022

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  • Time : 10:00am - 12:00pm

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ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative and Alliance 8.7: Accelerating progress towards meeting SDG target 8.7. through fair recruitment promotion.

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  • 12th May 2022

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  • Time : 3:00pm - 4:30pm

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The ILO launches the second phase of the Fair Recruitment Initiative

Posted at April 8th 2021 12:00 AM | Updated as of April 8th 2021 12:00 AM

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Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing webinar on fair recruitment and labour inspection

Posted at July 12th 2021 12:00 AM | Updated as of July 12th 2021 12:00 AM

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ITC-ILO training: Monitoring and enforcement of recruitment regulations - Establishing Fair Recruitment Processes

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  • Understand governments’ responsibilities in regards to the monitoring and enforcement of recruitment regulations
  • Have an introductory knowledge of the use of monitoring as an enforcement mechanism and its contribution to ensuring the fair recruitment of workers
  • Recognize the key challenges associated with complaints mechanisms and access to justice for workers, including migrant workers
  • Explore the most commonly used legislative mechanisms for prosecuting recruitment abuses
  • Appreciate the particular role of trade unions and non-governmental organizations in promoting and monitoring fair recruitment
  • Become familiar with pilot initiatives of workers’ organizations to protect and empower workers during the recruitment and placement process
  • Become acquainted with self-regulation mechanisms adopted by private recruitment agencies

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