Training for Recruitment Agencies' Staff by IOM
On August 22, 2024, IOM (International Organization for Migration) Nepal conducted a one-day training-cum-workshop titled “Orientation on Ethical Recruitment for Private Recruitment Agencies (PRAs)” for the staff of three ethical recruitment agencies in the Kathmandu Valley: Vision & Value Overseas Pvt. Ltd., Aakarshan International Pvt. Ltd., and Trendway International Pvt. Ltd. The event was jointly organized by these three agencies and facilitated by IOM Nepal. The training primarily focused on building the capacity of staff to implement ethical recruitment principles in their daily work schedules and procedures.
The session also covered other significant aspects of migration, such as human rights, migrant and labor rights, and the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS) principles. During the session, participants were introduced to the E-campus platform at https://www.ecampus.iom.int/, which offers self-learning and self-education resources for those interested in learning more about international migration trends, IRIS standards, IOM and ILO (International Labour Organization) principles, best practices in the recruitment industry, the employer-pays model, and other informative topics related to migrant rights and recruitment.
The agencies demonstrated how they integrate ethical practices into their daily procedures through presentations. They briefly illustrated their unique ‘Outcome Realization Plan,’ which encompasses the entire process from sourcing candidates to post-deployment monitoring, as well as their reintegration into society upon their return home.
A key focus of the event was training participants to identify and avoid indicators of forced labor. Staff were instructed to be cautious at every stage of recruitment, from sourcing to deployment, to ensure that no candidate is exposed to the following vices of FORCED LABOUR:
- Abuse of vulnerability
- Deception
- Restriction of movement
- Isolation
- Physical and sexual violence
- Intimidation and threats
- Retention of identity documents
- Withholding of wages
- Debt bondage
- Abusive working and living conditions
- Excessive overtime
The ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ (PRR) framework, which is the United Nations’ guiding principles on business and human rights, is an all-inclusive approach that must be incorporated and capitalized upon within the broader context of human rights due diligence and risk management systems. In relation to PRR and to mitigate labor-related vulnerabilities, agencies were advised to conduct due diligence on employers and provide candidates with proper employment counseling and pre-departure training. Agencies must develop procedures to address potential issues, ensure the thorough implementation of these procedures, and establish a grievance and remedial mechanism to resolve any unresolved issues or inadvertent harm caused to candidates.