WAPES Conference Report: ILO Global Conference on Fair Recruitment
Date: 19–20 May 2025
Location: ILO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland
Theme: “Fair Recruitment Initiative: The Way Forward – From Policy to Practice”
Overview
The International Labour Organization convened its Global Conference on Fair Recruitment on 19–20 May 2025 in Geneva. Marking the tenth anniversary of the Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI), the event gathered high-level representatives from governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, public and private employment services, civil society, and international organizations. WAPES was represented throughout the conference sessions, engaging in critical discussions on transitioning from policy frameworks to actionable, transparent, and rights-based recruitment practices.
Day 1 Highlights: From Reflection to Action
Opening Session
The conference commenced with a retrospective video celebrating a decade of the FRI. Ms Zeina Mezher (ITC-ILO) moderated the session, joined by Ms Gladys Cisneros (Chief, MIGRANT, ILO) and Mr Philippe Vanhuynegem (Chief, FUNDAMENTALS, ILO), who introduced the strategic vision for 2026–2030. Key challenges addressed included exploitative recruitment fees, inadequate regulation, and the need for stronger state enforcement.
High-Level Tripartite Panel
Moderated by Ms Manuela Tomei (ILO), the session featured:
· Mr Gilbert Houngbo (ILO Director-General), emphasizing that despite progress, migrant workers remain three times more vulnerable to exploitation.
· H.E. Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri (Minister of Labour, Qatar), presenting digital tools and legal reforms to ban recruitment fees and enhance transparency.
· H.E. Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Minister of Labour, Ghana), focusing on bilateral agreements and legal reforms to protect Ghanaian workers abroad.
· Mr Luc Triangle (General Secretary, ITUC), highlighting the need for enforceable labour rights and stronger monitoring mechanisms.
· Mr Roberto Suárez Santos (Secretary-General, IOE), stressing public-private partnerships and decent work through fair recruitment.
The Role of Public and Private Employment Services
Chaired by Mr Sangheon Lee (ILO), this session discussed cooperation between PES and PrEAs:
· ANAPEC (Morocco) demonstrated digitized tools for skill matching and international cooperation.
· Colombia’s PES emphasized inclusion of youth, rural communities, and LGBTQ+ workers.
· World Employment Confederation and ETUC underlined Convention 181 and the necessity for tripartite collaboration.
Thematic Breakouts: Digitalization and Data Use
Digital Tools for Fair Recruitment led by Ms Uma Rani (ILO) revealed both promise and risks of tech platforms:
· Concerns were raised about data ownership and digital illiteracy among migrant workers.
· Emphasis was placed on using familiar platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook for outreach.
· Data Collection and Policy Making, moderated by Ms Elisa Benes (ILO), highlighted the importance of harmonized statistical and qualitative data to guide policy reforms.
Tackling Root Causes and Enforcing Due Diligence
Two late afternoon sessions focused on:
· Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD), with contributions from France’s ILO representative and Apple Inc., which showcased their zero-fee recruitment standards.
· Root Causes of Unfair Recruitment, moderated by Ms Elizabeth Franz (ILO), calling for structural reforms and community resilience.
Day 2 Highlights: Empowerment, Sectoral Action and Global Partnerships
Sectoral Approaches
Led by Ms Yukiko Arai (ILO), this panel stressed:
· Sector-specific interventions in agriculture, construction, and fishing.
· The role of ILO collaboration with national labour inspectors and unions.
Worker Voice and Representation
This session, moderated by Ms Anna Olsen (ILO), highlighted:
· Migrant support centers in Kenya.
· Union efforts in Canada to protect vulnerable workers, including refugees.
· Advocacy by the SENTRO network (Philippines) to ban high-risk practices and push for recognition of migrant worker contributions.
Strategic Partnerships: “Partnerships 2.0”
Moderated by Mr Peter Van Rooij (ILO), this panel brought together:
· UNODC, IOM, UNHCR, WHO, and the Institute for Human Rights and Business.
· The emphasis was on data-sharing, recognition of skills, legal registration barriers for refugees, and recruitment practices in the healthcare sector.
Closing Remarks
Ms Cisneros and Mr Vanhuynegem reaffirmed that fair recruitment cannot be isolated from broader social, economic, and legal reforms. They stressed the role of public procurement, cross-sectoral cooperation, and the urgent need for formalizing informal employment structures.
Key Takeaways for WAPES and Member PES
· Strengthen digital tools while ensuring accessibility for digitally vulnerable groups.
· Advocate for enforceable multilateral agreements to regulate cross-border recruitment.
· Enhance data systems to inform targeted policy reforms.
· Expand collaboration with private actors while maintaining oversight and compliance.
· Position PES as both service providers and regulatory actors in the recruitment chain.
A major outcome of the conference was the clear recognition that Public and Private Employment Services must collaborate with one another, as well as with unions, employers, and governments, to build inclusive and transparent recruitment systems.
To build on this momentum, WAPES will host a webinar after the summer break focused on social dialogue for fair recruitment, featuring:
· Ms Edith Okoki, Director General, National Employment Authority (Kenya) – an appreciated member of WAPES
• Prof. G. Hari Harindranath, University of London
· Ms Ira Rachmawati, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
· A speaker from the International Labour Organization (TBA)
Together, the speakers will explore practical cooperation models and how to strengthen voice, oversight, and migrant worker protection across recruitment chains.
WAPES will continue to collaborate closely with the ILO and other international partners to transform these conference insights into tangible tools, targeted training, and effective bilateral cooperation aligned with the 2026–2030 Fair Recruitment Strategy.
Nicole CLOBES, WAPES consultant