What is Responsible Recruitment?

Responsible Recruitment, sometimes referred to as ethical or fair recruitment, means recruiting all workers’ lawfully and in a fair and transparent manner that respects and protects their rights throughout recruitment, work and post-termination.

What is the issue?

Unethical recruitment practices have been highlighted as a key driver of forced labour. Globally, of cases of adult forced labour exploitation, 43% of workers are working involuntarily because they must perform different job tasks from those specified during recruitment, and around 1 in 5 because of debt owed to their employer, recruiter or related party.

Unethical and unprofessional recruitment

... practices drive worker exploitation, present significant risks in global supply chains and undermine a fair marketplace for legitimate businesses. ILO, Walk Free and IOM have highlighted promoting fair and ethical recruitment as a key policy priority for addressing forced labour.

INTRODUCTION TO Responsible Recruitment

The Responsible Recruitment Toolkit (RRT) is an unparalleled online capacity building tool to help businesses understand, achieve and demonstrate responsible recruitment. RRT is an initiative of not-for-profit Stronger Together.
RRT is aligned to Stronger Together’s organisational Standards, which cover all areas of responsible recruitment:
1. NO FORCED LABOUR
2. NO CHILD LABOUR
3. NO RECRUITMENT FEES
4. ACCURATE INFORMATION AND STATUS
5. PROPER RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING
6. WAGES AND BENEFITS
7. WORKING TIME
8. SAFE WORK CONDITIONS
9. ACCOMODATION AND TRANSPORT
10. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
11. FAIR TREATMENT
12. TERMINATION RIGHTS
13. REMEDY AND WORKER-CENTRED CULTURE
14. ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
A. MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND DUE DILIGENCE

These standards have been comprehensively mapped to relevant international human and labour rights standards to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest global best-practice.

Responsible recruitment is good for business

There is a growing focus globally on responsible recruitment with many global brands, retailers, trade associations and intergovernmental organisations making public commitments to responsible recruitmentt. Implementing responsible recruitment practices can support business to meet industry requirements and improve worker retention, productivity, and satisfaction. Responsible recruiters can be better positioned to attract workers and build stronger relationships with customers.

How does the Responsible Recruitment Toolkit (RRT) help?

The RRT is an unparalleled online capacity building tool to help businesses understand, achieve and demonstrate responsible recruitment. Step by step guidance takes you through all 14 of the Stronger Together Standards with a clear explanation of what the standard requires and why it matters, as well as guidance on a management systems approach to responsible recruitment, aligned to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. With a list of practical actions there are signposts to further tools, resources and guidance.