Twelve private employment agencies in Guatemala present their Action Plan and new recruitment agencies commit to their Code of Conduct
The ILO provided technical assistance in developing both strategies with the aim of promoting fair recruitment principles in labour migration.
3 November 2023
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Guatemala City, 30 October 2023.- “Private employment agencies or recruitment agencies play a fundamental role in the labour market: they represent an alternative means of providing labour services, matching labour supply and demand, providing training and capacity building for workers, and meeting the needs of employers. By promoting coordination between public employment services and private agencies we achieve a more coherent implementation of labour market policies,” said Ana María Méndez Chicas, ILO National Labour Migration Officer, at the presentation of the employment agencies’ Action Plan in Guatemala.
The ILO provided technical assistance in the development of the Action Plan, which consists of five thematic areas (with 17 associated actions).
1. Recruitment agencies association
2. Business due diligence
3. National and international positioning of the sector
4. Organisational strengthening
5. Legislative agenda
“A number of recruitment agencies have, in dialogue with the ILO, made a commitment to the dignity of migrants and to shoulder take responsibility of ensuring fair recruitment and decent work for migrants”, said Estafanía Pineda from ComuGuate.
Corina Sáenz from Operadora Laboral emphasised: "In Guatemala, as recruitment agencies, we all share the same principles, values, and vision and we are united in how we organise, plan and implement, looking at ways to be more competitive, and to stop scams affecting workers. We work together towards legal and orderly migration while seeking to promote dialogue with government authorities”.
"It has not been easy, but it shows our commitment to providing real, lawful and honest options for Guatemalan people. Together, we seek recognition for our work, and support to further expand it," said Pineda of ComuGuate.
Regarding the new association, Luis Sazo of SZ Asmi stated: "We want to join forces and be considered the best allies a close ally. Our recruitment agencies have gained a wealth of experience over many years and annually we place around 20,000 workers abroad, legally. We are a collective force that aims to create something bigger for the benefit of the Guatemalan people with the help of governmental institutions and international organisations. We want workers to have decent work opportunities and employers from different countries to be able to get the skilled labour they need”.
Regarding this self-regulatory Code, Cupertino Gabriel of Asesorías San Gabriel said: "Our adherence to the Code of Conduct is voluntary and it represents a milestone for private recruitment agencies. It serves as a validation of our presence and of our contribution to improving the lives of thousands of families in Guatemala, as well as to the development of destination countries of migrant workers, through good fair recruitment practices. It is how we ensure the highest level of responsibility, integrity, and professionalism. Migration is a human right, recognised by the State of Guatemala in our legislation. Making it legal, orderly, safe, and circular is a duty shared by all of us and it requires a recognition of our role as private entities in the recruitment process".
The ILO provided technical assistance in the development of the Action Plan, which consists of five thematic areas (with 17 associated actions).
1. Recruitment agencies association
2. Business due diligence
3. National and international positioning of the sector
4. Organisational strengthening
5. Legislative agenda
“A number of recruitment agencies have, in dialogue with the ILO, made a commitment to the dignity of migrants and to shoulder take responsibility of ensuring fair recruitment and decent work for migrants”, said Estafanía Pineda from ComuGuate.
Corina Sáenz from Operadora Laboral emphasised: "In Guatemala, as recruitment agencies, we all share the same principles, values, and vision and we are united in how we organise, plan and implement, looking at ways to be more competitive, and to stop scams affecting workers. We work together towards legal and orderly migration while seeking to promote dialogue with government authorities”.
Recruitment agencies association
The agencies involved in the development of the Action Plan have already completed the objective set out in the plan’s first thematic area: to create an Association for Recruitment and Employment Agencies Abroad (GAREX)."It has not been easy, but it shows our commitment to providing real, lawful and honest options for Guatemalan people. Together, we seek recognition for our work, and support to further expand it," said Pineda of ComuGuate.
Regarding the new association, Luis Sazo of SZ Asmi stated: "We want to join forces and be considered the best allies a close ally. Our recruitment agencies have gained a wealth of experience over many years and annually we place around 20,000 workers abroad, legally. We are a collective force that aims to create something bigger for the benefit of the Guatemalan people with the help of governmental institutions and international organisations. We want workers to have decent work opportunities and employers from different countries to be able to get the skilled labour they need”.
More commitments to the Code of Conduct
During the presentation, nine agencies committed to the Code of Conduct, adding to the four that already did so in 2021.Regarding this self-regulatory Code, Cupertino Gabriel of Asesorías San Gabriel said: "Our adherence to the Code of Conduct is voluntary and it represents a milestone for private recruitment agencies. It serves as a validation of our presence and of our contribution to improving the lives of thousands of families in Guatemala, as well as to the development of destination countries of migrant workers, through good fair recruitment practices. It is how we ensure the highest level of responsibility, integrity, and professionalism. Migration is a human right, recognised by the State of Guatemala in our legislation. Making it legal, orderly, safe, and circular is a duty shared by all of us and it requires a recognition of our role as private entities in the recruitment process".