Migration: International Recruiters Call For Lifting Of Recruitment Ban

A one day stakeholders meeting on international recruitment was held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital to address identified challenges in the industry and proffer solutions on way forward.

In December 2017, the government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment suspended issuance and renewal of International Recruiters License and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar for intending migrant workers.

This move effectively led to suspension of international recruitment in Nigeria as a result of a National Assembly investigation report which revealed that quacks in the industry engaged in forced labour, human trafficking and abuse of migrant workers.

Addressing the workshop, the President, Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria HuCaPAN Dr Olufemi Ogunlowo, said that none of the licensed private employment agencies and HuCaPAN members was among the indicted companies.

Meeting Objectives

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Association, Olajide Afolabi, the President said that the objective of the meeting was to among other things, highlight, discuss, and proffer solutions to issues affecting effective operations of international recruitment in Nigeria.

He said it was also to ensure commencement of operations by international recruiters after the meeting, develop strategies for partnership between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies,MDAs involved in labor migration governance framework in Nigeria.

Other objectives of the meeting according to him, is to develop an action plan on implementation of relevant guidelines “especially, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for International Recruitment of Migrant Workers and cross-fertilize ideas on strengthening international recruiters engagement in labour migration and recruitment practices in Nigeria.

“As a responsible association, we are worried that despite the operational guidelines and frameworks, there has not been expected improvement in international recruitment, and this unfortunate development is allowing quacks in the industry to operate almost unchecked.

“Since immigration is a right and cannot be stopped, if official routes are closed, people will take to illegal routes which are detrimental to national growth and our industry,” he said.

Smooth Operation

He said that the need to ensure smooth operation for international recruitment of Nigerian migrant workers, HuCaPAN  partnered with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to bring all stakeholders for engagement on effective labour migration governance discourse; improved institutional capacities and mechanisms for promoting effective labour migration as well as promote HuCaPAN contribution towards standardizing recruitment practices in Nigeria.

HuCaPAN has in recent years advocated for standardization of recruitment practices in Nigeria through effective implementation of the Code of Conduct for Private Employment Agencies PEAs.

The Association also called for a guideline for international recruitment in Nigeria which it said the meeting was providing the platform to cross-fertilize ideas on strengthening engagement in labour migration and recruitment practices.

Challenges

The challenges identified include delay in the process of application for Recruiters License and Renewal application; centralization of background checks by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Headquarters, Abuja; lack of synergy between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) involved in labor migration governance framework in Nigeria and the inability of the Federal Government to send a memo to the embassies on the lifting of suspension on international recruitment among others.

In a message, International Labour Organisation, ILO Country Director in Nigeria, Ms Vannessa Phala,  said that ensuring that the recruitment of workers, including for international labour markets leads to decent work and the efficient functioning of labour markets remains a key feature in promoting social justice in the world of work.

Speaking through the National Project Coordinator, ILO Mr Austin Erameh, “in recognition of the need for adequate frameworks to support stakeholders, the ILO developed General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment and Definition of Recruitment Fees and Related Costs.

“These tools presents a comprehensive approach to realizing fair recruitment through development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of recruitment laws, policies and practices which lead to fair and efficient recruitment and protect all workers’ rights”, Phala said.

Addressing the participants on behalf the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Sunday Onazi, Assistant Director, International Migration Division in the Ministry, called for synergy among the actors in international labour recruitment to achieve the set goal of safe and regular migration saying that no one agency can do it alone.

He said that the “the promotion of safe and regular migration will address the issue of forced labour and human trafficking”.

He said that the government was doing everything possible to ensure that HuCaPAN gets a fair deal for its members to have a fair deal in their businesses.

In a good will message, the Chief of Mission, International Organisation on Migration IOM, Mr Laurent De Boeck says, “cross-border recruitment is a vital part of facilitating international labour mobility, when implemented in a fair and transparent manner, it contributes to safe and orderly labour migration, which benefits, employers, migrants, countries of origin and destination.

According to him, when international standards are not adhered to, the risks to migrant workers can be severe as fraudulent and unethical behaviour by unscrupulous labour recruiters can lead to conditions of human trafficking and forced labour.

“IOM is committed to supporting Governments to develop and strengthen effective mechanisms and tools that prevent and address exploitation by unscrupulous labour recruiters.

“This commitment is outlined in Objective six of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration which calls on member states to facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work”.    

At the end of the one day meeting, stakeholders were unanimous in their call for the immediate lifting of the ban on international recruitment in Nigeria which has been in force for over five years.

Other stakeholders at the meeting include the Nigerian Police, Immigration, National Agency for  Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters NAPTIP and the State Security Service DSS.

 

Confidence Okwuchi