Policy brief: Registration, Licensing, and Inspection of Private Recruitment Agencies for Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia

This policy brief examines the registration, licensing, and inspection of private recruitment agencies in Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia to improve regional migration management. The research, based on studies of Ugandan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, Kenyan migrants in Somalia's education sector, and Ethiopian hospitality workers in South Sudan, identifies key challenges. The brief's findings include that private recruitment agencies face significant constraints, such as extended processing times that exceed client deadlines and erode profit margins. Additionally, government revocation of licenses prevents agencies from performing crucial labour monitoring functions. In the absence of recruitment agencies, employers in Somalia and South Sudan often use professional, social, and family networks to facilitate migration, which can lead to a lack of effective mechanisms for monitoring labour conditions and addressing grievances. To address these issues, the brief recommends that Employers' Business Membership Organizations (EBMOs) advocate for legislative amendments to clarify roles and responsibilities, establish effective grievance mechanisms, and enhance inter-ministerial coordination to streamline licensing processes. It also suggests that EBMOs engage with private recruitment agencies and facilitate dialogue among them.

Thematic Note: Ensuring fair recruitment for migrant care workers

This Note explores some of the key fair recruitment challenges for migrant care workers and outlines key policy priorities.

Measuring Sustainable Development Goal indicator 10.7.1 on the recruitment costs of migrant workers: Results of the 2019 Philippine survey on overseas Filipinos

The report presents an assessment of the pilot process on measuring SDG indicator 10.7.1, undertaken by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in collaboration with the ILO.

The survey findings provide an indication on the burden of recruitment costs to overseas Filipino migrant workers. Results shed light on possible impacts of existing policies to protect Overseas Filipino Workrs (OFWs) as well as indicating future areas and target groups of policy focus when tackling issues related to high recruitment fees and related costs of Filipino migrant workers going to work abroad.