Migrant Protection and Assistance

REFRAME will contribute to taking forward the ILO’s Fair Recruitment Initiative, which was launched in 2014 and is a global multi-stakeholder’s Fair Recruitment Initiative to prevent human trafficking and forced labour; protect the rights of workers, including migrant workers, from abusive and fraudulent recruitment and placement processes; and to reduce the cost of labour migration and enhance development outcomes for migrant workers and their families, as well as for countries of origin and destination.

In the area of combating illegal migration, the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking, the Egyptian Government ihas implemented laws to combat trafficking and Smuggling, including Law no 64 of 2010 on Combating Trafficking in Persons and law no 82 of 2016 on Combating Illegal Migration. Egypt has also implemented programs to raise awareness regarding these crimes while focusing on the vulnerable situations confronting women and children, and the protection of victims.

In 2016, Egypt launched a ten-year national strategy on combating illegal migration under the auspices of the National Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration.

The West Africa Network for the protection of children focuses on ensuring a continuum of services are delivered across the region within and eight-step procedure, ranging from the identification of a vulnerable child and provision of emergency care to their successful social re-integreation.

The Philippines has national and local policies and programmes for children and families left behind. These include inclusion of family members in pre-departure orientation seminars; monitoring of children and families' well-being and government support to those who stay behind, including legal, social and financial assistance to households with absent parents. 

Italy’s volunteer guardianship model relies on private citizens who are willing to support integration of unaccompanied migrant children. Following expressions of interest from citizens, the Ombudsman’s office selects, screens and trains the guardians.

In spring 2016, the “National Initiative for the protection of refugees and migrants living in refugee centres in Germany” was launched as a joint initiative of the Federal Government and UNICEF to improve protection, care and supportive measures of children and women living in refugee accommodation centres and to contribute to their well-being and integration.

In August 2003, the German Trade Union for Building, Forestry, Agriculture and the Environment (IG BAU) and a Polish trade union representing employees in agriculture (ZZPR) collaborated on a bilingual information booklet for Polish seasonal workers in Germany.

While trade unions attempt to organise migrant workers, it can be difficult for migrants - especially those involved in temporary and circular migration programmes - to join unions. Cooperation between unions in countries of origin and destination can be useful in addressing these protection gaps.