Government officials roles and responsibility in promoting ethical recruitment

Training on the Roles and Responsibility of Government Officials in Promoting Ethical Recruitment Practices (In Viet Nam)

A two-day training programme on the roles and responsibilities of migration relevant government officials in the promotion of ethical recruitment for migrant workers, and health professionals in particular for Philippines, India and Viet Nam migration government officials was conducted in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

International migration is an increasingly pressing issue in a globalized world. Growing international trade, increasingly accessible information and communication technologies, lowering of the cost of transportation, increasing development gaps between developed and developing countries are among factors that can explain the growth of the migration phenomenon.

In particular, the global shortage and inequitable distribution of health professionals in many developed countries, driven by demographic and epidemiologic changes, as well as newer technologies in service delivery, intensifies the need for health workers. Further, difficult working conditions, lack of professional advancement and heavy workload are equally important causes of emigration for many source countries. Wage differentials between sending and receiving countries account for an important pull factor.

Additionally, health professional migration is a very particular type of migration because there are:
  • Inequalities in distribution of health professionals around the world.
  • Challenges with regard to the attainment of the health related MDGs.
  • Significant fiscal burden on the public systems of sending countries.
  • Evidences of a “brain drain” impacting the development of sending countries.
If in the past, an important portion of the international recruitment was in the hand of governments. Over the years, private recruitment intermediaries have taken a prominent role. Both government and private agents play critical roles in the successful management of migration flows, health professionals and other migrants equally.

Governments play a key role in ensuring that migrant workers have their rights upheld through the various stages of migration.

More specifically, the training for migration relevant government officials will:
  • Support their mandate to, among others, promote and protect the general welfare of workers abroad and assist workers in the preparation of contracts and all documents relating to employment.
  • Raise awareness of ethical recruitment principles, standards and practices for the general international migration and recruitment of health professionals in particular, including ILO relevant standards.
  • Support government officials in the identification, establishment or improvement of the legal and institutional frameworks required for in the context of international migration and the recruitment of health professionals in particular.
  • Provide guidance that may be used where appropriate in the formulation and implementation of bilateral agreements and other international legal instruments, both binding and voluntary.
  • Facilitate and promote international discussion and advance cooperation on matters related to the international migration and recruitment of health personnel.