Fair Recruitment Initiative: The way forward, from policy to practice

The ILO, in consultation with its tripartite constituents, is convening a global strategic discussion to shape the future of the Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI). During two days, the event will build on a decade of achievements and launch the new Fair Recruitment Initiative Global Strategy (2026–2030), alongside collaborative dialogue to strengthen partnerships. This conference will serve as a platform to exchange on progress, explore practical solutions for fair recruitment, and improve collaboration with stakeholders, to scale up fair recruitment practices for all workers. 

High level panel: Call to action to accelerate progress and commitments to fair recruitment for decent work

On 19 May, a tripartite high-level panel discussion with Ministers of Labour of Ghana and Qatar, Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo and Ali Bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri, ILO Director General Gilbert F. Houngbo, Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Roberto Suárez Santos and Secretary-General International Organisation of Employers (IOE) will explore the link between fair recruitment and social justice, offering insights on advancing fair recruitment in an increasingly complex global context. 

The panel will be livestreamed with interpretation in Arabic, English, French and Spanish

Fair recruitement: A decade of progress and future outlook

Fair recruitment is where decent work begins. Yet around the world, millions of workers, particularly migrant workers, continue to face recruitment practices that are exploitative and, at times, deceptive. From contract substitution and discrimination to excessive fees and forced labour, the challenges remain widespread to protect workers labour rights. Migrant workers, in particular, are three times more likely to fall into forced labour, often as a direct result of unfair recruitment practices and illegal recruitment fees and costs. The estimated illegal profits extracted through such fees amount to USD 5.6 billion annually.

In response to these challenges, in 2014, the ILO Director General ILO launched the Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI). Grounded in international labour standards, social dialogue and equality, the FRI adopts a holistic approach to recruitment. It addresses labour and human rights protection especially for workers at highest risk of exploitation, and also serves as a critical enabler of decent work and well-functioning labour markets. 

Progress has been undeniably significant over the last decade on advancing knowledge and awareness on recruitment related challenges, developing guidance and tools for appropriate policy and regulatory responses, adapting legal frameworks, piloting innovative approaches, and building workers’ and employers’ capacity to recognize and implement fair recruitment in practice. Yet, effective enforcement, implementation and scalability of results remain major challenges, limiting impact on the ground.

This is more timely and relevant than ever, to reflect on this decade of progress, share good practices, and define a forward-looking strategy to ensure recruitment is fair, transparent, and rights-based for all workers, everywhere.

Together with representatives from governments, employers, and workers’ organizations, members of the FRI’s Advisory Committee, and other stakeholders, it will be an opportunity to strengthen collaboration among partners and scale up impact to ensure fair recruitment becomes a reality for all workers, national or migrant, within countries and across borders.

Together, let us make fair recruitment the global standard, not the exception.