ICMC advocates working in partnership to protect Labour Migrants

GENEVA, 25 April 2014 (ICMC) - Today, the UN counts 232 million people as international migrants. Labour mobility has become a key feature of globalization and the global economy – with migrant workers sending over US$ 600 billion to their home countries in 2013. Nevertheless, many migrant workers remain vulnerable and take on significant risks during the migration process.

On 7 April, ICMC policy associate, Cathy Nguyen pressed for strong partnerships with global civil society, states and other international actors at the United Nations Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.Such cooperation – ICMC believes – is essential to creating ethical and well-managed labour recruitment. Nguyen stated that “much exploitation in the workplace stems from fraudulent labour recruitment practices.”

To tackle the issue, ICMC advocates for partnerships with civil society practitioners, state governments and international actors, which meaningfully engage migration workers in decision-making processes. Global civil society – including migrant and diaspora organizations as well as trade unions – is willing and active in finding solutions that improve the working conditions of migrant workers. ICMC helped create a global blueprint document that outlines civil society perspectives on migrants and the international migration agenda. The blueprint contains three targets related to migration and workplace protection:

1. Make migration and re-migration an option instead of a necessity
2. Ensure portability of skills and benefits
3. Ensure that migrants enjoy decent working conditions and social protection that conform to international human rights and labour standards.

ICMC strives to protect migrant workers and optimize the benefits of labour migration for development. Yet to do this requires partnership and cooperation from all levels of society. This blueprint consolidates Global Civil Society thinking in both prioritizing and protecting labour migrants while working in unison.

For the full speech, click the PDF below. 

Photo: Cathy Nguyen, ICMC Policy Associate 

UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.pdf (145.19 KB)