The Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has launched a policy brief to promote fair recruitment practices, workers’ protection and a more structured migration framework.

The policy brief, unveiled during a dialogue on employer participation in labour migration governance, positions NECA at the forefront of efforts to deepen private-sector involvement in shaping policies addressing labour mobility, skills development, and decent work standards.

Speaking at the event, stakeholders commended NECA for simplifying complex labour migration policies into a concise, accessible document that can guide employers, employees and migrant workers.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Focal Person on Migration, Eustace James, described the initiative as a major contribution to evidence-based governance of labour migration.

According to him, policy briefs help stakeholders who may not have time to study lengthy policy documents to understand key issues and recommendations in a simplified format.

Eustace noted that NECA’s membership of the Social Partner Advisory Committee for the implementation of the National Policy on Labour Migration Governance and of the Technical Working Committee demonstrates its strategic relevance in shaping labour migration policies in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Employment and Migration Officer at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) country office in Nigeria, Austin Irame, said NECA’s intervention was timely given the increasing movement of workers within and outside Nigeria.

He explained that the absence of effective regulations governing labour migration could expose workers to exploitation, poor recruitment practices and unfair working conditions. According to him, the policy brief seeks to provide employers and workers with clear guidelines on recruitment standards, remuneration and labour rights.

A consultant on the project from Elizade University, Ondo State, Dr Omolola Olarinde-Olomola, said the study examined the role of employers’ organisations in labour migration governance and identified NECA as a key institution with strong convening power and cross-sector influence.

She explained that, unlike many sector-specific associations, NECA operates across several industries, giving it a strategic advantage in coordinating stakeholders, advancing policy advocacy, and fostering collaboration among government, employers, and international organisations.

According to her, the assessment found that NECA has made significant progress in policy advocacy, tripartite dialogue and capacity building, particularly through its participation in the formulation and implementation of the national labour migration policy.

However, she identified challenges, including weak cross-border cooperation, poor compliance monitoring at migration exit points, the activities of unregistered recruitment agencies, and limited engagement at regional and international levels.

The report recommended stronger institutional partnerships, improved labour-market data systems, stricter regulation of recruitment agencies, and increased employer participation in migration governance frameworks.

It also urged NECA and other employers’ organisations to diversify funding sources, strengthen gender-responsive migration policies, and improve collaboration with workers’ organisations and government agencies to better protect migrant workers.

Stakeholders at the event maintained that employers’ organisations have a critical role in developing safe, orderly and rights-based labour migration systems that balance enterprise productivity with workers’ welfare and uphold fair recruitment standards.