1. Global Compact for Migration

  2. © Eric Sales/ADB

    Climate Change and migration

    “The world has come a long way in realizing that acting on climate change and promoting job creation and social inclusion are intertwined challenges of the 21st century, and ones that we must confront together if we are to realize the aspirations of social justice.”

    ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, (At the twenty-first session of the World Conference on Climate change COP21, held from 30 November to 11 December 2015 in Paris, France) Read more

  3. ILO Latin American and Caribbean Labour Migration Platform

    In Spanish only

Labour migration

According to the ILO global estimates on migrant workers, in 2017, migrant workers accounted for 164 million of the world’s approximately 258 million international migrants. 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. Domestic workers

    “Thank you Soma”: ILO documentary explores relationship between migrant domestic workers and Arab youth

    18 December 2018

  2. © S. Houttuln/S. Haaij/IRIN 2019

    International Migrants Day

    ILO announces winners of the 2018 Global Media Competition on Labour Migration

    18 December 2018

  3. Our impact, their voices

    Working together in Lebanon

    12 December 2018

List all

Highlights

  1.

    Brochure

    Decent work for Migrants and Refugees

  2.

    ITC-ILO course

    Extending social protection to migrant workers, refugees and their families

    19 - 23 March 2018

Focus on

  1.

    Promoting green jobs among young people in Asia

  2.

    Fair Recruitment Initiative

Policies and programmes

  1. Good practices database

    Our database provides a non-exhaustive list of current good practices implemented at the country level.

Selected publications

  1. Report

    ILO Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers – Results and Methodology

    05 December 2018

  2. Policy coherence paper

    General practical guidance on promoting coherence among employment, education/training and labour migration policies

    20 December 2017

  3. International Labour Conference

    Addressing governance challenges in a changing labour migration landscape

    Conference paper | 10 April 2017

  4. General Survey

    Promoting fair migration - General Survey concerning the migrant workers instruments (2016)

    22 February 2016

  • 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