This study reveals the problem of protecting the rights of migrant workers in the CIS countries. The authors conduct a comparative analysis of international law in the context of the protection of the rights of migrants. The study demonstrates the priority use of bilateral international cooperation agreements that provide the necessary level of protection of the rights of migrant workers. In comparison with bilateral agreements between countries, international cooperation within the framework of bilateral regulation allows for a higher level of protection of migrant workers and their social security. The article demonstrates that the international legal field basically contains generalizing norms and provisions on the status, rights and obligations of migrant workers. On the other hand, the bilateral agreement is being concretized and relevant regulatory legal acts are being implemented more successfully.