2007 Guide to Private Employment Agencies: Regulation, Monitoring and Enforcement

Following the adoption of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), the ILO developed the (first) Guide to Private Employment Agencies (PrEAs) with the aim of supporting member States in the establishment and implementation of conducive and effective regulatory frameworks for PrEAs. This Convention recognizes that PrEAs can contribute to the functioning of the labour market and sets general parameters for the regulation, placement and employment of workers recruited by them.

At the same time, Convention No. 181 promotes cooperation between the public employment services (PES) and PrEAs to ensure the most efficient functioning of the labour market, with the PES still maintaining the authority in formulating labour market policies. The Private Employment Agencies Recommendation No. 188 relates to Convention No. 181 and specifies provisions for this cooperation.

This publication was revised in 2025, with Guide to private employment agencies: Second (revised) edition providing updated guidance for the regulation and monitoring of PrEAs, as well as for the enforcement of such laws and regulations.