A Training Module on “Fair and Ethical Recruitment to Private Recruitment Agencies”
Within the framework of “Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa (THAMM)” project funded by the European Union, the International Labour Organization (ILO) contributed to the training held by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in cooperation with the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) on fair and ethical recruitment to private recruitment agencies which was held on 28th – 29th September 2022, in Cairo, Egypt. Nine private recruitment agencies in Egypt participated in this event.
The meeting started with opening remarks by MoM, the ILO and the IOM. Over the two days, the IOM presented the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS) Standard. The ILO's fair recruitment approach and how private recruiters should apply that approach in their various operations, was also introduced. The training was then concluded with a presentation by ILO's consultant, Mr. Slim AbdelJelil, of a recent study conducted on the ecosystem of private recruitment agencies in Tunisia, and how to improve compliance, and then with an IOM's presentation on how to issue an IRIS certification.
During her presentation, Ms. Farah Elbatrawy, ILO, stated that "migrant workers are the most vulnerable to exploitation and deceit, and when a fair recruitment approach is followed, private recruitment agencies play a crucial role in protecting these workers." It is worth noting that the ILO Director-General launched the Fair Recruitment Agenda in 2014, which has evolved into a global fair recruitment initiative, now in its second phase of implementation.
Ms. Marwa Mostafa, IOM, emphasized that "the application of the international system of fair recruitment benefits the migrant worker, the recruitment agency and the employer alike."
It is worth noting that the training of private recruitment agencies on fair and ethical recruitment comes within the framework of Goal Six of the Global Compact for Safe, and Regular Migration, which provides for facilitating fair and ethical recruitment and protecting conditions that ensure decent work, as well as SDG 8, which calls to provide decent work and economic growth.
The meeting started with opening remarks by MoM, the ILO and the IOM. Over the two days, the IOM presented the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS) Standard. The ILO's fair recruitment approach and how private recruiters should apply that approach in their various operations, was also introduced. The training was then concluded with a presentation by ILO's consultant, Mr. Slim AbdelJelil, of a recent study conducted on the ecosystem of private recruitment agencies in Tunisia, and how to improve compliance, and then with an IOM's presentation on how to issue an IRIS certification.
During her presentation, Ms. Farah Elbatrawy, ILO, stated that "migrant workers are the most vulnerable to exploitation and deceit, and when a fair recruitment approach is followed, private recruitment agencies play a crucial role in protecting these workers." It is worth noting that the ILO Director-General launched the Fair Recruitment Agenda in 2014, which has evolved into a global fair recruitment initiative, now in its second phase of implementation.
Ms. Marwa Mostafa, IOM, emphasized that "the application of the international system of fair recruitment benefits the migrant worker, the recruitment agency and the employer alike."
It is worth noting that the training of private recruitment agencies on fair and ethical recruitment comes within the framework of Goal Six of the Global Compact for Safe, and Regular Migration, which provides for facilitating fair and ethical recruitment and protecting conditions that ensure decent work, as well as SDG 8, which calls to provide decent work and economic growth.