For more information

  1. Contact the ILO Labour migration branch

Labour migration

Migrant workers contribute to growth and development in their countries of destination, while countries of origin greatly benefit from their remittances and the skills acquired during their migration experience. Yet, the migration process implies complex challenges in terms of governance, migrant workers' protection, migration and development linkages, and international cooperation. The ILO works to forge policies to maximize the benefits of labour migration for all those involved.

Latest news

  1. ILO Infostory

    Fair recruitment. Decent work

    15 April 2021

    ‘Many migrant workers – particularly low skilled workers – find themselves paying large recruitment fees to intermediaries in order to secure work overseas. The recruitment processes are often unclear and opens them up to abuse. The ILO has been addressing the issue through its Fair Recruitment Initiative. Find out more in our latest Infostory.

  2. News

    Digital acceleration in the context of learning and skills development

    14 April 2021

    A learning event, organised by UNICEF and the ILO under the PROSPECTS Partnership, examined digital solutions to learning and skills development to support forcibly displaced children and youth as well as host community members in response to COVID-19 and beyond.

  3. Geneva Peace Week 2020

    Improving prospects, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence for forcibly displaced persons and host communities

    12 April 2021

    ILO-led panel discussion highlights challenges and opportunities in promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence under the PROSPECTS partnership, through improving access to education, decent work and protection for displaced populations and the communities that host them.

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Focus on

  1. Fair Recruitment Initiative

    Global ILO led initiative to help prevent human trafficking, protect the rights of migrant workers, reduce the cost of labour migration and enhance development gains.

Key publications

  1.

    The migrant pay gap: Understanding wage differences between migrants and nationals

  2.

    Employment and decent work in refugee and other forced displacement contexts

  3.

    Global Study on Recruitment Fees and Related Costs

  4.

    List all publications

  • Migrants make significant and essential contributions to the economic, social and cultural development of their host countries and their communities back home. But too often these contributions go unrecognized."

    Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General