By Michael Oche
In a landmark move to address the persistent exploitation of migrant workers, African trade unions, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and private recruitment agencies have come together in Abuja to chart a new course for ethical and fair recruitment practices.
The meeting organised by by the African Trade Unions Migration Network (ATUMNET) with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO)
marks a significant shift from rhetoric to action, with key actors now sitting at the same table to develop inclusive, rights-based solutions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Comrade Akhator Joel Odigie, General Secretary of ITUC-Africa said “For this year, we have changed the approach in the sense that we really want to deepen social dialogue, we want to deep collaboration, we want to deepen partnerships, cooperation with state actors across the continent.”
ATUMNET is under the supervision of the ITUC-Africa. The 2025 Annual Meeting in Abuja which runs from May 21 to 23, brings together a diverse range of stakeholders. For the first time, the dialogue is being expanded to include those often absent from policy discussions, the very workers affected and the agencies that shape their migration journeys.
“How do we change the way of doing things when we have always spoken to ourselves,” Odigie said adding that, “You will notice that for the first time, we have recruitment agencies with us in this meeting, you will notice that we have government officials. More importantly, you will notice that we have migrant workers more in their numbers and we also have a large representation of migrant workers themselves from the middle east.
We want to see a more inclusive strategy where we work more wirj stakeholders to improve pro right workers migration
In her opening remarks, Aida Awel, ILO Chief Technical Advisor, BRMM Project, said despite their contributions, migrant workers often face numerous challenges. They are frequently subjected to exploitative working conditions, including low wages, long hours, and inadequate access to social protection.
She emphasized the key role played by trade unions in advocating for the rights of migrant workers, noting that by organizing and representing migrant workers, trade unions can amplify their voices and ensure that their concerns are addressed.
“However, we don’t see many migrant workers organized in our region and beyond, we would like to see more of this as we believe it is critical.
“We are happy to see that there are efforts in this regard, but we need to do more to promote rights-based labour migration governance in our region as the demand is huge.”
She called for more partnerships and collaborations to drive the process
“Addressing the challenges of labour migration is not only the trade union’s role, it requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders. Governments, employers, trade unions, PEAs, academia, development partners, and civil society must work together to create an environment where migrant workers are treated with dignity and respect,” she said.
Aida said one of ILO’s key priorities is to eliminate exploitative recruitment practices.
“Migrant workers often incur significant debts to secure employment, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and forced labour. Ensuring fair recruitment is a key aspect of enhancing rights, protection and access to justice for migrant workers,” she said
