Inclusive
Mobility
Initiative
The problem we want to address: Inequitable access to ethical overseas employment opportunities.
Our mission at IMI: To make ethical overseas employment accessible to marginalized communities—whether economically disadvantaged, socially excluded, or living in remote areas.
About us
IMI is a joint initiative by International Manpower Recruitment (IMR) and Migration Lab (MLab) aimed at making ethical
recruitment accessible to all.
International Manpower Recruitment (IMR) is a Nepal-based ethical recruiter. Since transitioning to a fully ethical, employer-pays recruitment model in 2018, IMR has successfully deployed over 18,000 workers without charging them any recruitment fees across diverse countries including Malaysia, Qatar and the UAE in the manufacturing, construction and hospitality sectors. IMR is certified by IOM’s International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS), On the Level (OTL), Gangmasters and Labor Abuse Authority (GLAA), Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX) and Specialty Validated Assessment Program (SVAP), among others.
Migration Lab (MLab) is a Nepal-based social enterprise dedicated to improving migration outcomes for migrant workers and their families through practical innovations, research, and storytelling. MLab develops, tests, evaluates, and iterates interventions addressing responsible recruitment issues, and shares its findings through research products, media, and social media. MLab runs two regular series in the Nepali Times focused on migration issues (Diaspora Diaries and Labor Mobility) and has 100,000 followers on TikTok.
Areas of work
IMI has pioneered a targeted recruitment model to make good employment opportunities accessible to the most marginalized communities in Nepal. Many aspiring migrant workers face various abuses such as lack of proper information, networks and access to finance that can make migrating overseas either impossible, making them immobile, or an incredibly risky endeavor for those who choose to migrate by taking up hefty loans and relying on fraudulent agents. These challenges and risks are further amplified for those from marginalized communities—whether economically disadvantaged, socially marginalized, or residing in geographically disadvantaged areas, among others. These are also the very communities that could benefit the most from good migration opportunities.
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Jajarkot Earthquake Victims
Our belief for selecting this group: good migration can complement recovery efforts post-disaster and provide a long-term reliable source of income
Musahar Community
Our belief for selecting this group: one good migration opportunity has the power to push families out of intergenerational poverty.
We offer two key training programs.
1. Interview Preparation: In ethical recruitment models, where job placement isn't based on willingness to pay, candidates must stand out during interviews. Our training helps them build confidence through sessions on common interview questions, body language, grooming, calming techniques like breathing exercises, and mock interviews.
2. Pre-Departure Training: This program ensures that outgoing candidates understand their job contracts, roles, and workplace expectations. It also includes motivational sessions to help them set clear personal and professional goals—encouraging them to maximize both financial and social remittances by investing in skills, building networks, and contributing to their communities.
Recognizing the power of storytelling, we produce both short- and long-form videos and write narratives that capture the experiences of migrant workers, their families, and other stakeholders, aiming to foster a broader understanding of responsible recruitment practices. We have also conducted social media and village campaigns to raise awareness about safe migration among prospective migrants and their families.
We conduct research and analysis on various topics related to ethical recruitment, including candidates’ understanding of ethical recruitment practices, social perceptions of ethical recruitment, and challenges in accessing responsible recruitment opportunities. A significant portion of our research involves primary data collection. The combined strengths of IMR in implementing ethical recruitment drives and MLab’s expertise in research and policy analysis give IMI a unique advantage in producing compelling research products.
