Migrant labor
With more than 170 million people migrating for work each year, migrant workers are essential to the global economy.
We provide actionable guidance and deep expertise to help build robust ethical recruitment models and due diligence systems that protect migrant workers’ rights.
Migrant workers are highly vulnerable to forced labor and the violation of their labor rights
Migrant labor exploitation—characterized by debt bondage, document retention, and restricted mobility, amongst other issues—threatens workers’ fundamental labor rights. These workers face three times the level of risk of exploitation than other populations across a range of different sectors.
Core migrant labor issues
Debt bondage
Migrant workers often borrow heavily for jobs, leading to debt bondage. They may pledge family assets or become indebted to company stores, especially in isolated farm areas with inflated prices.
Document retention
Employers and recruiters often seize migrant workers’ ID papers, restricting movement. Without documents, migrants risk detention, lose access to services, and are trapped in exploitative jobs.
Vulnerable migrant populations
Undocumented and irregular migrants face high exploitation risks. Language barriers, isolation, and gender-based discrimination make it even harder to assert rights or seek protection.
Deceptive recruitment practices
Multiple intermediaries in recruitment obscure terms. Migrants are often misled about pay and conditions, only learning the truth after taking on debt and relocating far from support systems.
Featured service
CUMULUS Forced Labor Screen™
Digital platform for proactively mapping cross-border labor supply chains and screening for forced labor indicators.
Strategic solutions
Verité partners with companies to identify, prevent, and address migrant labor-related risks through comprehensive systems-level approaches.
Original field research on risks and root causes
We conduct in-depth, on-the-ground research to uncover risks and root causes of migrant labor exploitation in specific sectors, countries, and recruitment corridors.
Learn more about this serviceEthical recruitment programs
We create guidance, resources, training curricula, and tools to promote ethical recruitment practices, including labor procurement risk screening, implementation of the employer pays principle, and forced labor screening among cross-border migrants.
Learn more about this serviceWorkplace and supplier assessments
Our specialized workplace assessments go beyond compliance checklists, capturing hidden risks relevant to migrant workers populations, such as recruitment practices, debt bondage, document retention, and limits to freedom of movement.
Learn more about this serviceTraining and capacity building
We deliver practical training for suppliers, recruiters, company staff, and other stakeholders on identifying, preventing, and remediating migrant labor exploitation, grounded in international standards.
Learn more about this serviceHuman rights due diligence systems
We help companies build robust migrant labor protection policies and embed them into broader human rights due diligence frameworks, including governance, monitoring, remediation, and supplier engagement strategies.
Learn more about this serviceFeatured project
Fostering Fee Accountability and Cost Tracing
Worker-centered digital methods to document recruitment costs and reduce debt-related exploitation.
Featured project
Recruitment Cost Calculator
Verité’s Recruitment Cost Calculator provides up-to-date recruitment fee data, enabling companies to factor ethical hiring costs into contracts and eliminate worker-paid recruitment fees.
Featured project
Help Wanted
Practical tools for governments, brands, and civil society to promote ethical recruitment and fair employment.
