Protection of migrant workers in the recruitment and third party employment process: International standards and guiding principles given by the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) and Private Employment Agencies Recommendation, 1997 (No. 188)

This publication discusses the issue of protection of migrant workers in the employment process, in particular the international standards and guiding principles given by the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) and Private Employment Agencies Recommendation, 1997 (No. 188).

The Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) and the Private Employment Agencies Recommendation, 1997 (No. 188) are legal instruments developed by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) tripartite constituents (i.e., governments, employers, and workers) that set out the international minimum standards and guiding principles with regard to the regulation of private employment agencies and the protection of workers who use the services of these agencies.

This booklet provides readers with information about the key provisions of Convention No. 181 and Recommendation No. 188. The information may be utilized by member States of the ILO to reinforce their efforts to regulate private employment agencies and protect migrant workers through the ratification of Convention No. 181 and the development of national legislation.