World Employment Confederation reveals shortlist for WEC Awards 2026 ahead of Toronto Conference

Eight organisations from five countries across four continents have been shortlisted for the WEC Awards 2026, the World Employment Confederation announced today. The winners will be revealed at the WECelebrate Gala Dinner on 13 May 2026, during the World Employment Conference in Toronto, Canada.

Published on 22nd April 2026

The WEC Awards recognise national federation members and their corporate nominees whose work has made a tangible difference, to their industries, their members, and the people they serve. This year's shortlist reflects the breadth of challenges the global employment services sector is navigating: regulatory reform, workforce formalisation, social inclusion, and the role of technology in reshaping how people access quality work.

The shortlisted organisations are:

• The American Staffing Association (ASA), United States
• FEDIL Employment Services (FES), Luxembourg
• The Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), India
• Quess Corp, India
• RCSA, Australia and New Zealand
• The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), United Kingdom
• ACSESS, Canada
• APSO, South Africa

The nominations span the four award categories: Leadership in Social Innovation, Outstanding Advocacy, Remarkable Initiative, and the Trailblazer Award.

Across the shortlist, themes of bold advocacy, social impact, and innovation emerge strongly. Entrants have described efforts to reshape national legislation, secure government-backed employment incentive schemes, professionalise entry routes into the sector, and build inclusive workforce infrastructure at scale. Several entries document measurable policy outcomes secured through sustained, strategic engagement with government.

The WEC Awards ceremony will take place as part of the World Employment Conference 2026, co-organised by WEC and ACSESS. The conference runs from 12 to 13 May 2026 in Toronto, and brings together senior executives, policymakers, and innovators from across the global HR services sector. This year's programme focuses on people-first approaches, the use of technology to unlock talent potential, and smart policy for resilient labour markets.

Registration for the World Employment Conference 2026 is open at wec2026.acsess.org.

Full programme details for the World Employment Conference 2026 are available at wec2026.acsess.org.

Questions ?

Contact: Ana Diaz, Events Manager Email

WEC Awards 2026

Now a flagship event for the WEC membership, the WEC Awards proudly return for 2026. This internal competition recognises the most innovative projects, influential advocacy efforts, and outstanding social impact ...