Migrant workers are essential in global supply chains, yet they face heightened vulnerabilities and are more likely to experience exploitative conditions including paying excessive recruitment fees and related costs, deception and non-transparent terms and conditions of employment, and a lack of freedom of movement.

Multi-stakeholder efforts between governments, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector are necessary to bring about positive change. To this end, IOM and Fast Retailing partnered from 2019 to 2023. The collaboration analyzed Fast Retailing’s supply chain and diagnosed high risk practices, enhanced the capacity of sustainability staff to respond to human and labour rights challenges, and helped adopt and implement production partner guidelines for fair and ethical recruitment.

This partnership is an example of how stakeholders can come together meaningfully to create positive change for individuals and communities, as envisioned in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

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