2019 April 29

New Guidance for Remediation of Migrant Worker Recruitment Fees to Help Public Buyers Address Forced Labour

After the recent Call to Industry to Prevent Forced Labour Risks, following a compliance investigation at Cal-Comp Electronics (Thailand), Electronics Watch has published Guidance for Remediation of Migrant Worker Recruitment Fees and Related Costs. The rules refer to the recently adopted ILO Definition of Recruitment Fees and Related Costs, and are intended as a framework for public buyers to detect when the recruitment of migrant workers at any point in their supply chains creates risk of forced labour through debt bondage and guide suppliers in detecting, remedying and preventing recruitment fees and related costs charged to migrant workers.

The five rules, listed below, will help public buyers address the issues both reactively and proactively:

  1. Immediate Repayment of Recruitment Fees and Related Costs
  2. Employer Burden of Proof
  3. Independent Monitoring and Verification
  4. Zero Cost Recruitment
  5. Equitable Burden