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Thematic page

The Protection of Wages

15 April 2024


Background

Adequate wages and timely payment are essential for securing decent work and social justice and have a very direct and tangible effect on the everyday lives of workers. For migrant workers, in particular low-wage migrant workers, wages frequently form a vital form of income for families and communities in the form of remittances.

Yet, wage protection is a major challenge for many of the world’s workers. The ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) has identified non-payment of wages, delayed payment of as key modern-day wage protection issues that can also lead to debt bondage and forced labour, with migrant workers being especially vulnerable.

This webpage displays links to key ILO standards and publications that concern wage protection, including the new ILO guidance note on the protection of wages for migrant workers, launched on the 27th of April 2023. The issue of non-payment of wages is one the most common forms of complaints by low-wage migrant workers and especially workers in irregular status.


Key documents

Related content

Protection of workers' wage claims in enterprise insolvency
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Factsheet

Protection of workers' wage claims in enterprise insolvency

Wage Protection Legislation in Africa
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Conditions of Work and Employment Series No. 38

Wage Protection Legislation in Africa

Assessment of the Wage Protection System in Qatar
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Assessment of the Wage Protection System in Qatar

Guidance note: Wage protection for migrant workers
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Guidance Note

Guidance note: Wage protection for migrant workers

General Survey on Protection of Wages (2003)
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General Survey on Protection of Wages (2003)

Protecting wages of migrant workers in the Arab States: Discussion Note for Policymakers
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Protecting wages of migrant workers in the Arab States: Discussion Note for Policymakers

Minimum wages and wage protection in the Arab States: Ensuring a just system for national and migrant workers
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Minimum wages and wage protection in the Arab States: Ensuring a just system for national and migrant workers

Wage Protection System in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Wage Protection System in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ILO issues wage protection guidance for migrant workers
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ILO issues wage protection guidance for migrant workers

What role can international labour standards and the ILO play in the protection of migrant workers’ wages?
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On line discussion

What role can international labour standards and the ILO play in the protection of migrant workers’ wages?