Guidance launched to help recruitment agencies adhere to human rights standards for women migrant workers
20 May 2025
IHRB has released new guidance offering practical recommendations for recruitment agencies on how they can deliver efficient professional services to their clients and customers in ways that respect the rights of women at all stages of recruitment and employment.
An estimated 70 million women are migrant workers, mostly from culturally and racially marginalised communities, with a large majority in informal employment carrying out domestic work – an industry often overlooked by labour laws.
According to IHRB’s 2024 research, women migrant workers are exposed to disproportionate and unique challenges, and therefore at greater risk of labour exploitation, from discrimination in recruitment to lower wages.
This new guidance: Respecting Women Migrant Workers’ Rights: Guidance For Recruitment Agencies is designed to help recruitment agencies tackle the issues identified in our earlier research. It is based on the IHRB’s Dhaka Principles for Migration with Dignity, and extensive engagement and consultation with civil society organisations and recruitment agencies.
The guidance provides best practice requirements for all stages of recruitment and employment, from pre-departure to repatriation, and is centred around two core principles.
Download the guidance
Women migrant workers may face a range of challenges during recruitment and deployment abroad. This new IHRB guidance offers clear advice on best practice to protect their safety and respect their rights - it’s a practical checklist that can be followed at every turn. We hope to see as many recruitment agencies adopt this guidance into their operations, and for companies using their services to make sure they do.
Neill Wilkins
IHRB’s Head of Migrant Workers Programme
