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 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. 

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.

Labor Migration in Asia: Fair recruitment, training, and development

This ADBI-OECD-ILO joint publication captures new and emerging trends in labour migration in Asia, with a focus on recruitment, training and development.

This report is based on the discussions at the 14th ADBI-OECD-ILO Roundtable on Labor Migration in Asia: Maximizing the Impact of Labor Migration on Development, held on 28-29 May 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. The annual roundtable brings together labour experts and policymakers from across Asia to discuss trends in labour migration and emerging policy and issues on migrant workers. 

Chapter 1 reviews labour migration trends through the end of 2024, highlighting shifts by origin, destination, and student mobility. Chapter 2 examines recent trends and challenges in migrant worker recruitment in the region. Chapter 3 explores emerging models of pre-departure skills training for labour migrants in Asia and the Pacific. Finally, Chapter 4 highlights remittances as a key source of external finance that supports development and poverty reduction, while also noting risks such as brain drain, trade imbalances, and economic overreliance on remittances. Statistical annexes provide updated economy-specific notes and comparative tables on country-level migration flows.