Definition of recruitment fees and related costs

This video outlines the definition of recruitment fees and related costs, adopted by a Tripartite Meeting of Experts, held in Geneva in November 2018. The definition recognizes the principle that workers shall not be charged directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fees or related costs for their recruitment. This comprehensive definition is guided by international labour standards and should be read together with the General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment.

Ensuring Fair recruitment, what the ILO has achieved, an infostory

A recruitment process is only fair when carried out within the law and in line with the International Labour Standards, but most importantly when it respects human rights.

Building on ILO’s extensive experience in improving labour migration and preventing forced labour, the Fair Recruitment Initiative was launched in 2014 to protect workers from abuse and exploitation, while also responding to labour market needs.

As the ILO launches the second phase of the Fair Recruitment Initiative, we look at how it has reformed recruitment laws and practices around the world, and has improved workers’ lives.

Promising practices for fair recruitment

This promising practice is part of a series, and results from a stocktaking exercise undertaken five years after the launch of the Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI).

Law amendment concerning management of migrant workers in Thailand 

Revision of the Law on Contract-Based Overseas Workers 

Italian National Action Plan to tackle labour exploitation, unlawful recruitment and forced labour in agriculture 

Nepal – Bilateral labour agreements include provisions related to fair recruitment  

Bangladesh – Government capacity enhanced to promote fair recruitment in bilateral negotiations and arrangements 

Tunisia – Formation of a new body of inspectors for the recruitment industry  

India – Blacklisting employers and recruiters abroad to protect Indian migrant workers  

Piloting fair recruitment from Bangladesh to Qatar in the construction sector  

Fair recruitment pilot between Nepal and Jordan in the garment sector  

Mexico - Fair recruitment practice by recruitment agency adapted to COVID-19  

Code of Conduct on the fair recruitment of Filipino migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong (China)  

Code of Conduct in international supply chains by Responsible Business Alliance 

Commitment to fair recruitment and due diligence in the sugar and palm oil industry of Guatemala   (English) Guatemala – Compromiso con la contratación equitativa y la debida diligencia en el sector guatemalteco del azúcar y el aceite de palma (Español)

Zero recruitment fee policy for (migrant) workers in Jordan 

Guatemala – Outreach through trade unions including attention to COVID-19 (English) Guatemala – Difusión a través de los sindicatos, incluida la atención a la COVID-19 (Español)

Raising Pakistani migrant worker’s awareness of their right to fair recruitment

Establishing Fair Recruitment Processes: An ILO online training toolkit

In cooperation with ITC-ILO, the REFRAME project has produced a comprehensive modular training manual on fair recruitment to support its constituents to design, support and implement fair recruitment practices.

This training course is available as an interactive version (online) and as individual downloadable modules (PDF). It contains five modules covering different aspects of fair recruitment. This training manual is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
 

General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment and definition of recruitment fees and related costs

The principles and guidelines aim to inform the current and future work of the ILO and of other organizations, national legislatures, and the social partners on promoting and ensuring fair recruitment. The principles and guidelines were developed by a Tripartite Meeting of Experts, held in September 2016.

The definition of recruitment fees and related costs recognizes the principle that workers shall not be charged directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fees or related costs for their recruitment. This comprehensive definition is guided by international labour standards and should be read together with the principles and guidelines. The definition was adopted by a Tripartite Meeting of Experts, held in Geneva in November 2018.

Together this guidance forms a comprehensive approach to realizing fair recruitment through development, implementation and enforcement of laws and policies aiming to regulate the recruitment industry and protect workers’ rights.

This guidance is developed within the framework of the Fair Recruitment Initiative, which aims to help prevent human trafficking, protect the rights of workers (including migrant workers) from abusive and fraudulent practices during the recruitment and placement process, reduce the cost of labour migration and enhance development gains.

ILO ILM statistics database

This page presents statistical information on migrant worker stocks, inflows and outflows. 

Asegurar la contratación equitativa durante la pandemia de la COVID-19

En el presente informe se destacan los principales desafíos de la contratación nacional e internacional de trabajadores durante la pandemia de la COVID-19, la respuesta de la OIT así como las políticas y medidas recomendadas. En el anexo se describen las prácticas de las partes interesadas para promover la contratación equitativa durante la pandemia de la COVID-19.

Modulo sobre costos de contratación en la EMIF Sur y prueba del indicador 10.7.1 de los ODS. Reporte de resultados

En 2019, la OIT y el COLEF colaboraron para medir los costos de contratación en los que incurrían los migrantes centroamericanos en México. Se añadió dicho módulo a la encuesta anual del COLEF (EMIF Sur). El módulo se basó en la metodología empleada por OIT-Banco Mundial para medir el Indicador de Costos de Contrata­ción (RCI) del Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible 10.7.1. En este reporte se muestran los resultados de dicho ejercicio y se elaboran recomendaciones para su futura realización en otros corredores migratorios.

Protecting migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The infographic seeks to inform on the need to protect migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing recommendations for policy makers and ILO constituents.

It provides facts and figures on Guatemalans abroad, return of Guatemalans in the US-Mexico corridor, family remittances and areas for action to promote bilateral cooperation between countries of origin and destination, inclusion of migrant workers in national responses and social dialogue.