Emergency Helplines

ILSI operates helplines for members in each of our active corridors. Helpline staff can speak with you in your own language, open a legal case, and connect you with legal, medical or consular support as needed.

When to call

• You have not been paid your wages.
• Your employer or agent has taken your passport.
• You have been injured at work.
• You have been detained, arrested, or threatened with arrest.
• You need to return home urgently.
• You believe a recruiter has defrauded you.

Helpline numbers for each country are listed below. If you cannot find your country listed, call the nearest ILSI office listed in our global network directory.

What happens when you call

A helpline staff member will ask for your name or membership number, where you are, and a brief description of what has happened. You do not need to have all the details ready — tell us what you know, and we will guide you through the rest. Calls are treated confidentially, consistent with our privacy policy.

If you cannot speak freely

If you are in a situation where you cannot speak openly on the phone — for example, your employer is present — let the helpline staff member know in any way you safely can, such as by saying you are calling about a different, non-sensitive matter, or by using text or messaging if that is available to you. Staff are trained to recognise this and will adjust how they proceed.

Who can call

You do not have to be the person in difficulty to call. Family members, friends, and co-workers can call on behalf of someone who cannot call themselves, using the same numbers listed below.

Saving the number before you need it

The best time to save your country's ILSI helpline number is now, before anything goes wrong — not after, when you may not have internet access or your phone may be unavailable. Write it down somewhere separate from your phone as well, such as in a notebook or with a trusted family member.