BackgroundThere are approximately 170 million migrant workers in the world, 5% of the global workforce, and, as such, migrant workers play a critical role in the global economy. Their skills and labour add significantly to the economic vitality of destination countries. Their remittances sent home frequently help to sustain families and communities in origin countries, which may lack other viable income opportunities.The IHRB Migrant Workers Programme seeks to advance global efforts aimed at ensuring that migrant workers everywhere are treated with dignity and respect. We work with businesses, civil society representatives, and governments to promote the rights of migrant workers in all sectors and locations.Despite the global economic benefits of labour migration, many migrant workers face particular challenges at all stages of the migration cycle. In 2012, the Institute for Human Rights and Business developed the Dhaka Principles for Migration with Dignity, an overarching framework for businesses to understand and address those challenges. Over the last 14 years, the Dhaka Principles have been regularly used and referenced by a range of stakeholders from businesses and governments to non-governmental and academic experts.The IHRB Migrant Workers Programme has a particular focus on issues of relevance to recruitment and seeks to address flawed recruitment practices to which many workers are routinely subjected. We seek to challenge the common practice of migrant workers being required to pay recruitment fees to secure employment abroad. IHRB promotes a recruitment industry business model based on the Employer Pays Principle, which affirms that no worker should pay for a job, and that the costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer.The Responsible Recruitment RegisterIn 2022, IHRB developed and launched the Responsible Recruitment Register. The Register is a list of companies who have publicly available policies that include a prohibition of recruitment fees, costs, and charges to migrant workers. The Register is intended to increase transparency and accountability.The Register simply records the existence of a policy relating to recruitment fees. IHRB does not undertake any analysis, audit or benchmarking of the implementation or effectiveness of those policies.Through this short-term consultancy, IHRB will strengthen and expand the Responsible Recruitment Register as a tool for improving transparency and accountability in recruitment markets.Role OverviewThe Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) seeks expertise from a credible organisation or individual with proven research experience on business and labour migration. This short-term consultancy will take place over a period of 2 months with 35 working days (ideally August - September 2026) and with the following outputs:Undertake a review of the recruitment policies of 5,000 companies and 250 industry associations;Collate company information into a database for use in an advocacy campaignReview of Existing Register Entries for Policy Updates and ChangesDevelop Removal Criteria for Companies, Associations and Recruitment AgenciesRole location: flexible (home based)Duration of consultancy: 35 Days / 2 months approx.DeliverablesReview and collation of company recruitment policies:Review the recruitment /migrant worker / forced labour / human rights policies/ supplier guidance and standards of 5000 companies collecting data on their publicly available policies relating to the recruitment of migrant workers in their direct operations or extended supply chains. We are particularly interested in whether companies have a prohibition on the payment of recruitment fees, costs, and charges by migrant workers to secure employment – these fees being the responsibility of the employer – The Employer Pays Principle. Companies with appropriate public policies will feature in the IHRB Responsible Recruitment Register.2. Review and collation of Industry Association recruitment policiesReview and collate publicly available policies, standards, codes of conduct and member guidance issued by industry associations relating to the recruitment of migrant workers, forced labour, human rights, responsible business conduct and supply-chain due diligence.3. Review of Existing Register Entries for Policy Updates and ChangesReview the existing 407 companies and 37 industry associations currently listed on the Responsible Recruitment Register to identify any updates, changes or gaps in their publicly available policies.4. Collation of company information for advocacy campaignWhilst reviewing recruitment policies, collate additional information that will be subsequently used in an advocacy campaign based on those policies regarding recruitment. This would include:Company details: Name of company; Company address; Name of Chief Executive; Sustainability contact including email address; Membership of trade or sustainable business associationsPolicies: Dedicated Migrant Worker Policy; Prohibition on recruitment fees to workers; Reference to Employer Pays Principle; Reference to fee repayment if workers are found to have paid.; Reference to Dhaka Principles5. Develop Removal Criteria for Companies, Associations and Recruitment AgenciesThe consultant will review the current Responsible Recruitment Register process and work with IHRB to develop a clear, transparent and consistent approach for removing entries from all three Registers (companies, industry associations, and recruitment agencies).The approach will need to reflect that companies and associations are generally removed on procedural grounds, while recruitment agencies require a different approach.The consultant is not expected, and should not, contact any company or agency directly. All information should be based on what is publicly available.Requirements, Experience and QualificationsEssentialDemonstrable expert level understanding of migrant rights and labour migration.Experience / understanding of the private sector and Business and Human RightsExperience conducting similar reviews and analysis.Excellent communications skills, especially writing and editing skills in English.Ability to complete the review by 31st October 2026.FeeA fee maximum $14,000 USDApplication ProcessDeadline for applications: 5pm BST on 26 July 2026Interviews: 12 & 14 August 2026Expected start date: August 2026Interested parties (individuals or organisations) are invited to submit the following:A brief proposal summarising your approach, work plan, and suitability for this work (strictly no more than 2 pages).A detailed financial proposalLinks to any relevant research previously completed on similar projects or with a similar approachName and contact details for two references.About Institute for Human Rights & BusinessThe Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) was founded in 2009. Our vision is to achieve a more just, regenerative global economy where: Workers and communities are free and able to use their voices effectively to ensure their rights are respected. Businesses demonstrate respect for the rights of workers and communities, and the natural systems they depend on, in their purpose, operations, relationships, and value creation. Financial actors use their leverage to positively impact the scale and performance of their partners’ human rights and environmental responsibilities. Governments actively implement a smart mix of long-term incentives and disincentives that drive rights-respecting and planet-aligned business.IHRB’s mission is to make respect for people and planet part of everyday business. We advance our mission through human rights-based research, targeted convening, and development of collaborative action with businesses, governments and civil society to shape policy, advance practice, and strengthen accountability at all levels.
