IOM CREST Ethical Recruitment of Migrant Workers

The contribution was carried out from 2017 to 2023 and came to benefit 230,288 migrant workers. These include migrant workers employed by IOMs private sector partners, those reached through information, education, communication (IEC) activities, training, remediation assistance and direct assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below follows some key take-aways and results in more detail: Access to effective remedy: 2 of IOM partners reimbursed USD $8 million in recruitment fees and related costs to 14,3504 migrant workers from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and Viet Nam. Private sector partnerships: The project formalized 20 private sector partnerships (17 multi-national and large enterprises, two business associations and one private sector foundation), which engaged 55 brands, 1,173 suppliers (employers), 411 recruitment agencies and 11 sub-agents connected to their supply chains. Alltogether, these partnerships mobilized USD 10.7 million in private sector contributions, more than double the original resource mobilization target of USD 5 million. The progress with companies has been made possible due to IOMs policy support, technical advisory, capacity-building for companies as well as the use and uptake of IOMs tools for businesses (see below). Among this network of labour supply chain actors, 614 employers eliminated recruitment fees and related costs and a further 195 employers were working towards elimination. Multiple partners publicly acknowledged their work with IOM, including adidas, CGF, IKEA, Fast Retailing the FLA, Marshalls, Puma, RBA, Samsung, VF Corporation, and Walmart Foundation. Key results from these partnershps further include (1) an Asian electronics multinational enterprise reimbursing USD $3.5 million in recruitment fees and related costs to 4,504 returned migrant workers from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Viet Nam; and (2) Fast Retailing repaying over USD 4.5 million to 9,800 migrant workers from Malaysia. Thailand and Viet Nam. In addition, close collaborations were also fostered with the Fair Labour Association (FLA), the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) for more industry-wide outreach and impact. IOM also worked with governmental and UN partners to train over 200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Thailand, Malaysia and Viet Nam, supporting them to actively engage in the respect pillar of the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Thought leadership: Throughout the project, IOM worked closely with governments, think tanks, UN agencies, the private sector and CSOs to publish reports and guidance materials which covered important topics such as key labour migration drivers, the future of labour migration in Asia, migration and climate change, access to remedy as well as policy papers on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on migrant workers. Tools: IOMs resource package for businesses includes the Migrant Worker Guidelines for Employers (publicly released 2022), the Labour Migration Process Mapping toolkit (publicly released 2023), the Operational Guidelines for Businesses on Remediation of Migrant-worker Grievances (publicly released 2021), and the IOM Fair and Ethical Recruitment Due Diligence (IOM DD) Toolkit (publicly released 2022). Thanks to risks identified through IOMs tools, including the Labour Migration Process Mapping and DD Toolkit, the suppliers of seven private sector partners prepared and implemented 60 corrective action plans. Policy dialogues: Some notable examples of CREST's key policy development contributions include providing recommendations on eliminating recruitment fees for migrant workers in Hong Kong SAR, integrating inputs into Malaysia's National Action Plan (NAP) on Forced Labour, and supporting the adoption of NAPs on Fair and Ethical Recruitment and Sustainable, Gender-responsive Return and Reintegration of overseas Filipino workers in the Philippines. IOM also regularly provided support to the Thai government on migration-related policies. Another example of the project's contribution to policy dialogue is from 2023 when IOM, in partnership with the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers, hosted a regional roundtable, The Future of Remedy for Migrant Workers in Asia in Thailand for 45 participants. The event sought to build momentum for the remedy pillar of the UNGPs by launching the report on Accelerating Access to Remedy and providing a platform to discuss promising practices in implementing state and non-state-based grievance mechanisms across the region. Civil society collaboration: IOM established formal partnerships with 19 implementing organizations to strengthen civil society's involvement in migration, business, and human rights. These partnerships aimed to support the protection and advancement of migrant workers' rights. One prominent partnership within the project was formed with Migrant Forum Asia (MFA), a regional network comprising non-governmental organizations (NGOs), associations, trade unions, and individual advocates dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the rights and well-being of migrant workers in Asia. This collaboration led the successful national-level Justice for Wage Theft campaigns across Asia and held regular workshops on recruitment reform, to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to advocate for migrant workers' perspectives when engaging with businesses, regional and industry-led platforms on ethical recruitment. Also, as part of the Covid-19 response of CREST, IOM and MFA supported joint initiatives with 30 CSOs and community based organizations to deliver cash and in-kind support to 13,609 migrant workers and their families who had been affected by the pandemic in their countries of origin or destination. Strategic Communications: Between 2017 and 2023, 1,765,784 people were reached through CRESTs strategic communication and outreach and 250 public references were made to the project, demonstrating the wide reach of the projects activities as well as recognition across various media platforms. The positive results of CREST have significantly contributed to the interest and decision of the EU delegation in Bangkok to support IOM's continued work to promote corporate responsibility and migrant worker's rights in supply chains in Asia. Jointly with Sweden, the EU delegation is now supporting the Migration, Business and human rights in Asia programme (MBHR Asia), running between 2024-2028. This new programme builds heavily on the results and lessons learned from CREST, see below.

Objectives To help businesses realise their potential to uphold and respect the human and labour rights of migrant workers in their operations and supply chains, CREST directly supports IOM operations at country-level in Bangladesh, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam Overall goal: Businesses respect, promote and remedy the human and labour rights of women and men migrant workers in Asia, in key industries and supply chains. The overall goal of the TOC is that migrant workers of all genders have access to and can enjoy decent work through ethical recruitment channels. Outcome 1: Commitment Private sector stakeholders commit to the elimination of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains in Asia Outcome 2: Implementation Private sector partners are taking measures to implement ethical recruitment for the elimination of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains in Asia. Outcome 3: Collaboration Private sector stakeholders effectively collaborate with multi-stakeholder platforms to create an enabling environment for ethical recruitment and the elimination of modern slavery. In 2021, additional funds and an additional outcome were added to the intervention for the period July 2021 - December 2022. Outcome 4: COVID 19 response Promote the protection of migrant workers across Asia in response to the COVID19 pandemic.