Establishing Fair Recruitment Processes
Photo © ILO
Establishing Fair Recruitment Processes
22 September–24 October 2025
The course is available in English
Key features
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
An action-oriented, highly participative approach will be used, with particular attention devoted to sharing international experiences with a view to their adaptation and practical application. Particular attention will be paid to the presentation of “good practices” through case studies reflecting experiences already gained locally and internationally.
INTEGRATED E-LEARNING
An innovative learning experience combining online – asynchronous and synchronous components, webinars and discussions, case studies, forum debates, and face-to-face lectures and discussions, case studies, open space debates, role-play exercises and group work using up-to-date learning methods and technologies.
THREE PHASES
(i) Online phase (ITCILO eCampus): Participants will have access to a dedicated electronic platform, the eCampus, the ITCILO e-learning portal, accessible through a computer or any portable device. Learning will be interactive and facilitated by a person who will provide guidance and clarification on topics and activities. (ii) Face-to-face phase which combines lectures and discussions, interactive sessions, as well as case studies, role-play exercises and group work. (iii) Follow up and wrap up (ITCILO eCampus): a final webinar followed by a final assignment.
PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING
Practitioners from different parts of the world and different background will join the learning journey to share with participants their concrete experience and actions on how establishing fair recruitment practices.
Introduction to the course
In today's globalized economy, workers are increasingly looking for job opportunities beyond their home country in search of decent work and better livelihoods. In addition, millions of workers migrate internally in search of employment. Public and private employment agencies, when appropriately regulated, play an important role in the efficient and equitable functioning of labour markets by matching available jobs with suitably qualified workers. Despite the existence of international labour standards relating to recruitment, national laws and their enforcement often fall short of protecting the rights of workers. While some cross-border recruitment is facilitated by public employment services (within the framework of bilateral agreements that incorporate arrangements for temporary worker programmes), and social and informal networks, private employment agencies and other labour recruiters play an increasing role in matching labour demand and supply across borders. Nevertheless, concerns remain about the persistence of unscrupulous employment agencies, informal labour intermediaries and other operators acting outside the legal and regulatory framework that prey especially on low-skilled workers and those desperately searching for work. Reported abuses include deception about the nature and conditions of work; retention of passports; illegal wage deductions; debt bondage linked to the repayment of recruitment fees; and threats if workers want to leave their employers, coupled with fears of subsequent expulsion from a country. A combination of these abuses can eventually result in human trafficking and forced labour often linked to other serious infringements of fundamental rights in the workplace.
Who attends this course?
The course is designed for: - Officials, policy-makers and practitioners of public institutions and ministries dealing with migration, trafficking and/or forced labour - representatives of workers' and employers' organizations - representatives of public and private employment agencies - staff of NGOs and civil society organizations - experts and civil servants from international agencies - representatives of the recruitment industry as well as businesses - other key actors engaged in these issues
What is the “ FAIR RECRUITMENT INITIATIVE” ?
The ILO’s Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) was launched in 2014 as part of the ILO Director General’s call for a Fair Migration Agenda. Since its launch, the FRI has been critical to ILO’s work in the area of national and international recruitment of workers and has added renewed impetus and visibility to this important topic. The second phase of the Initiative (2021-2025) is seeking to ensure that recruitment practices nationally and across borders are grounded in labour standards, are developed through social dialogue, and ensure gender equality. Specifically, they:
- Are transparent and effectively regulated, monitored, and enforced;
- Protect all workers’ rights, including fundamental principles and rights at work (FPRW), and prevent human trafficking and forced labour;
- Efficiently inform and respond to employment policies and labour market needs, including for recovery and resilience.
In this rapidly changing context the ILO’s General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment and Definition of Recruitment Fees and Related Costs (GP&OG) provides invaluable guidance on how to ensure that the recruitment process of workers, especially migrant workers, is organized in a way that respects the rights of those involved, the needs of communities of origin and destination, and takes into account the legitimate needs of employers and recruiters.
This course, based on the ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative Strategy, is a direct answer to the acknowledged need to reinforce the capacities of the ILO constituents and other key actors.
What will I learn?
- International binding and non-binding instruments promoting Fair recruitment (including the General principles and operational guidelines)
- Policies and enforcement to promote fair recruitment
- Legislation to regulate recruitment, including licensing and monitoring mechanisms, complaints mechanism and effective access to remedies
- Recruitment regulation in practice
- Monitoring and Enforcement of Recruitment Regulations and access to justice
- Trade Union and NGO actions in support of Fair Recruitment
- The different recruitment processes including recruitment through private and public agencies and bilateral labour agreements
- Fair Recruitment at the sector level
- Experiences on ensuring compliance, including certification and social auditing
- The impact of fair recruitment on the global supply chain
- Recruitment fees and other related costs
- Fair Business practices and the actions taken by employers
- The role of the media in promoting fair recruitment processes
- Promoting fair and ethical recruitment in a digital world.
What will I be able to do?
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Appreciate the relevant international labour standards as well as the General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment and definition of recruitment fees and related costs;
- Understand the economic determinants of informal/formal recruitment and measurement of recruitment costs;
- Analyse alternative options to private employment agencies, including via public employment agencies, workers’ cooperatives and directly through accredited employers, with tripartite and bipartite supervision;
- Share good practices of laws and regulations, policies and enforcement mechanisms, including a compilation of regulatory and enforcement models that have demonstrated a measurable impact in reducing human trafficking and irregular migration;
- Understand the needs to protect the rights of workers, including migrant workers, from abusive and fraudulent practices during the recruitment and placement process.
Languages
Course learning materials will be offered in English & Arabic.
The following requirements are therefore essential to participate in this course:
- The ability to use and access a computer with internet
- Working knowledge of written English or Arabic
- The availability to dedicate per week between 5-10 hours to the course during the online phases and full-time during the residential phase.
How is the course structured?
The course is composed of an online phase and a residential phase.
The online phase consists of modules offered through the eCampus online platform to be completed over a period of 3 weeks. This will build the foundation for the residential component and will accompany formal training with activities fostering knowledge exchange and cross-fertilization of ideas. This will be followed by an online wrap-up phase.
The course is broken down into three phases, for an estimated total of 60 learning hours:
- Pre-course learning: Flexible self-guided and tutor-led online learning on eCampus and an end of phase assessment.
- Residential learning: Face-to-face sessions and engaging presentations by highly experienced trainers, blended with individual and collaborative group exercises, peer-to-peer assessment and an end-of-phase assessment.
- End of course assignment: Individual assignment applying the key learnings to a concrete context.
Participants who successfully complete all assessments and the final assignment will receive a Certificate of Achievement.
Why should I join?
This course qualifies for the ITCILO Diploma for Labour Migration Experts and Practitioners. Take the Academy on Labour Migration, three courses out of all eligible courses within a five year period, and complete a capstone project to become part of a global cadre of practitioners and experts with a recognised set of skills in labour migration policy.
How to apply?
Interested candidates should register on-line clicking on the “APPLY NOW” button at the top-right of the page.
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
- Proven work experience in relevant field;
- Submission of a letter of sponsorship to cover the total course fees:
Payment
Participation in the course is available on demand:
- it excludes international air travel, visa costs and airport transfers
- It covers: tuition fees; the use of training rooms; accommodation and full board; insurance during the residential phase of the course to cover emergency medical.
The cost of participation is payable in advance by the participant or his or her sponsoring organization.