ILO calls for stronger action on fair recruitment of migrant workers in Europe

BRUSSELS (ILO News) – The Labour Migration Platform meeting gathered the European Commission and Member States’ migration and employment representatives, as well as European Social Partners, to enhance discussions and cooperation on regular migration and employment.

Gladys Cisneros, Chief of the ILO Labour Migration Branch, reminded participants that despite progress, many migrant workers still face deception and illegal fees during their recruitment, and exploitation. “Fifteen percent of adults in forced labour are migrants,” she said. “Migrant workers are nearly three times more likely than non-migrants to be trapped in forced labour or modern slavery.”

The recruitment of migrant workers has become a multi-billion-dollar industry, but weak oversight leaves workers vulnerable. Some are forced to pay up to 15 months of salary just to secure a job, leaving them and their families in perpetual debt and often forced to stay at work despite exploitation and abuse.

“Fair recruitment protects workers, counters the risk of social dumping, provides a level-playing field for employers and labour recruiters, and supports an efficient functioning of labour markets,” Cisneros stressed. “It is a key aspect of decent work and a shared responsibility between countries of origin, destination and transit, requiring social dialogue and transnational collaboration among stakeholders.”

She outlined the ILO’s Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) which promotes transparent, regulated, and rights-based recruitment practices through social dialogue and cooperation between governments, employers, and workers. A new FRI strategy for 2026–2030 was introduced in May 2025. It sets a clear path forward: moving from principles and guidance to practical implementation and enforcement, to make fair recruitment a reality for all workers.

The ILO’s General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment inform countries and businesses on how they can eliminate recruitment abuses. Over 110 countries now regulate or prohibit recruitment fees and costs for workers — a significant shift in just a few years.

The ILO remains committed to helping governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations make fair recruitment the origin of decent work.