Geneva – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (Alliance) signed a Co-operation Agreement on the protection of migrants to enhance safe, orderly, and regular labour migration.

The Agreement was signed by IOM’s Director of the Department of Programme Support and Migration Management, Monica Goracci, and the Alliance’s Chief Executive Officer, Glenn Mandziuk.

Together, the two organizations will expand cooperation between the private and public sectors on a spectrum of areas including labour migration, ethical recruitment, migrant worker protection, counter-trafficking, integration, promotion of economic growth, and support for human development.

“IOM is delighted to expand and enhance our relationship with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance,” said Monica Goracci, Director of the Department of Programme Support and Migration Management.

“This Agreement presents us with a strong opportunity to lead the industry in tackling complex challenges facing workers and businesses around the world. Together, we will reinforce our mutual goals through complementary action, leveraging our strengths to enhance impacts through collaboration.”

The hotel and tourism industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy. There is strong consensus that migrant workers are vital contributors bringing diverse and multidimensional skillsets to the industry. Through this Agreement, IOM and the Alliance aim to address key risks migrant workers face in the industry and enhance capacity to close protection gaps and reduce unethical labour practices.

“We are very proud to be continuing our partnership with IOM,” said Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

“The protection of workers remains a key issue for the hospitality industry, with the services sector accounting for the largest share of forced labour exploitation. We have been working with IOM to promote ethical recruitment and this Agreement will enable us to engage with the wider industry and continue this vital area of work.”

This partnership leverages the multi-stakeholder model of IOM’s IRIS: Ethical Recruitment initiative and builds upon IOM and the Alliance’s partnership under the US Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) funded project, Promoting Ethical Recruitment in the Hotel and Tourism Industry, to promote regular pathways for migrant workers, as well as to protect them throughout the labour migration process. Through this partnership, IOM and the Alliance have collaborated on the creation of trainings and resources, including a Guidance Note on Establishing Ethical Recruitment Practices in the Hospitality Industry, designed for hotel brand and companies.

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Notes for Editors

About IOM

IOM’s Labour Mobility and Social Integration Division (LMI) focuses on the protection of migrant workers and seeks to enhance the benefits of labour migration for all parties involved. LMI interventions seek to improve safe, orderly and regular migration through improved labour migration data, diaspora engagement, labour mobility, and skills development through programmatic interventions, capacity development initiatives, and evidence-based policymaking. The division houses IOM’s ethical recruitment initiative IRIS: Ethical Recruitment – a global initiative designed to promote ethical recruitment with the support of governments, civil society, the labour movement, private sector and ethical recruiters.

Through its Migrant Protection and Assistance Division (PXD), IOM works to address migrant needs, as well as promote and uphold migrant rights. PXD also offers support to governments in carrying out their duties to respect, protect and fulfil these rights. Working in partnership with other stakeholders, PXD responds through key pillars of training and capacity development, data, research and learning, convening and dialogue, advocacy and communications, as well as the provision of thematic guidance.

IOM also implements the Corporate Responsibility in Eliminating Slavery and Trafficking (CREST) programme, which works collaboratively with companies to tackle the vulnerabilities of migrant workers in supply chains.

About Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together engaged hospitality companies and uses the collective power of the industry to deliver impact locally and on a global scale. They work with leading hospitality companies and strategic partners to address key challenges affecting our planet and its people and develop practical resources and programmes to enable the wider industry to operate responsibly and grow sustainably.

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), they commit to drive continued action on human rights, youth employment, climate action and water stewardship. Their members make up over 35 per cent of the global hotel industry by rooms and include 21 world-leading hotel companies including Marriott International, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt and Radisson Hotels Group as well as regional brands. For further information, visit www.sustainablehospitalityalliance.org.

Contact

For more information, please contact:

IOM: Sarah McGregor, Project Officer, IRIS: Ethical Recruitment, email: smcgregor@iom.int 

Sustainable Hospital Alliance: Emily McLeish, Head of Communications, email: press@sustainablehospitalityalliance.org.