What is IRIS?

IRIS: Ethical Recruitment is IOM's flagship initiative to promote ethical recruitment of migrant workers. It has been created by IOM and a coalition of partners from government, civil society and the private sector. IRIS is a global multi-stakeholder initiative that supports governments, civil society, the private sector and recruiters to establish ethical recruitment as a norm in cross-border labour migration.  

The goal of IRIS is to make international recruitment fair for everyone involved: migrant workers, employers, recruiters and countries of origin and destination. It does this by:  

• Promoting respect for the rights of migrant workers; 
• Enhancing transparency and accountability in recruitment; 
• Advancing the Employer Pays Principle; and 
• Strengthening public policies, regulations and enforcement mechanisms. 

IRIS is referred to under Objective 6 of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and  other inter-governmental frameworks. 

IRIS priorities include: 1) awareness raising and capacity building, 2) migrant worker voice and empowerment, 3) the regulation of international recruitment, 4) voluntary certification of private recruitment agencies, and 5) stakeholder partnership and dialogue.