Case studies in the international recruitment of nurses: Promising practices in recruitment among agencies in the United Kingdom, India, and the Philippines

This report is a product of the ILO’s Decent Work Across Borders project: A Pilot project for Migrant Health Professionals and Skilled Workers, funded by the European Union. Although the number of ethical recruitment agencies is increasing, many migrants continue to be exposed to the risk of being lured into exploitative employment by unscrupulous brokers, agencies and employers. Noting that a segment of the recruitment industry has been active in promoting fair and ethical recruitment standards, this publication raises the visibility of promising or good practices, emanating from this particular group of agencies.

This study is situated within International Labour Organization’s (ILO) project, Promoting Decent Work Across Borders (DWAB): A Project for Migrant Health Professionals and Skilled
Workers in the Philippines, India and Viet Nam, with funding support from the European Union (EU). The report aims to document and produce new knowledge on fair and ethical
recruitment from the perspective of private and/or public recruitment agencies (RAs), and to highlight promising/good practices to build a business case for ethical recruitment.

Although the number of ethical recruitment agencies is increasing, many migrants continue to be exposed to the risk of being lured into exploitative employment by unscrupulous brokers, agencies and employers. However a segment of the recruitment industry has been active in promoting fair and ethical recruitment standards and this publication documents these with a view to raise the visibility of the promising/good practices emanating from this particular group of agencies.

Skilled health professionals and nurses in particular are the focus of this study. The analysis of the seven RAs documented in three selected countries (United Kingdom, India, and the Philippines) is combined with a review of the institutional frameworks and an overview of the recruitment industry.