BWI CONNECT BWI’S GLOBAL CAMPAIGN ON MIGRANT

WORKERS RIGHTS

Definition

1. Internal migrants (China and India)

2. Cross-border migrants (Nepal and

India)

3. Immigrants (permanent migrant

workers)

4. Refugees and asylum seekers (Syria,

Myanmar, Sub-Saharan Africa)

5. Temporary employment migrants (467

visa, H-1B visa, EPS, employers

sponsorship like kafala system)

Global Migration Flow

Projected Change in Labour Force

Top Migration Corridors

Labour Migration in Construction Industry

1. Within BWI Sectors, particularly in the

construction sector, there has been a

history of migration.

2. Due to globalization taking different

forms.

3. Shift from Permanent to Temporary

Migration.

4. 40% of migrant workers hired through

recruiting agencies in developed

countries are in manufacturing and

construction.

BWI CONNECT

1. At the 3rd BWI World Congress in

Bangkok in 2013, BWI once again

reaffirmed support for the BWI Global

Campaign for Migrant Workers Rights

in the frame of BWI Connect which was

launched in 2010.

2. One of BWI’s Impact Priorities: Migrant

Rights.

3. Organize migrant workers on the basis

of “equal pay and working conditions

for equal work in the same work place.”

Three Clusters

Organizing

• Strategic campaigns

• Internal trade union development

Policy Advocacy

• Global governance of migration

• Bilateral and Regional Free trade agreements

• Recruitment Policy

• Temporary Employment schemes

• Pro-migrant worker policies and programs

Communication and Essential

services

• Public Campaigns

• Migrants Networks

• SMS Help line

• Migrants in Distress

• Fighting xenophobia and racism

BWI CONNECT

BWI 2014-2017 Strategic Plan

Unions

• Organizing workers in MNC

• Organizing workers in Infrastructure projects

• Promoting Forest Certification

• Global Sports Campaign

Jobs

• Occupational Safety and Health

• Campaigning against Precarious Work

• Combating illegal logging

Rights

• Campaign to defend Trade Union Rights

• Global Campaign for migrant workers rights

• Promoting gender equality and youth employment.

2015 Key Expected Results and

Outcomes

1. BWI Unions and Structures have recruited

20,000 migrant workers.

2. At least 15 affiliates have developed

migration policies and have started to

recruit migrant workers

3. 6 Memorandum of understanding between

unions are operationalize

4. Kafalas system and employment

sponsorship program are reformed in for

countries

5. Establishment of a Global Migration

Network

Major 2015 Actions and Activities

1. Asia-Pacific Seminar on “Migration and Trade

Unions: Potentials and Challenges” in Manila (8-9

April)

2. Latin America and the Caribbean Seminar on

“Migration and Trade Unions: Potentials and

Challenges” in Managua (4-5 September)

3. Africa-MENA Seminar on “Migration and Trade

Unions: Potentials and Challenges” in Amman (16-

18 September)

4. Global Migration Conference in The Hague (5-7

October)

5. World Day on Decent Work Action: Focus on

Migration (7 October)

Regional Priorities

1. Mediterranean

2. Gulf Region

3. Southeast Europe

4. Central Asia

5. Southeast Asia

6. East Africa

7. Central America

8. Mercosur

Examples of Organizing Successes

Central Asia

3,625 members recruited mainly

from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and

Kyrgyzstan in Russia.

200 migrant workers recruited by

Kazakhstan

Tajikistan union has institutionalized

a program that address recruitment,

provide information, and facilitate

referral and service in Russia.

Asia and Pacific

10,000 members recruited in

Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong,

South Korea, Nepal, and India.

Mutual cooperation and regular

exchanges amongst unions .

Europe Organising campaigns

implemented throughout Europe

(Germany, UK, Italy, Norway,

Sweden, Netherlands)

UNIA has a membership of

51% of immigrant workers and

37 of migrant workers.

Latin America and Caribbean Haitian migrant workers

organized in Brazil.

Organizing of Nicaraguan

migrant workers in Qatar.

Caribbean has a sub-regional

cooperation promoting organizing

of workers in the region.

Gulf Region and Middle East Qatar Organizing Project has

outreached to at least 1,000

migrant workers.

Mutual cooperation between

unions in Jordan and Egypt

Migrant workers network

established in Lebanon.

• Total work force: 11 million.

• Migrant workers 1.8 million to 3

million.

• Of this 1 million undocumented.

• Migrant workers from 20 countries.

• 300,000 domestic workers.

• 270,000 construction workers (60-80%)

• 150,000 furniture and wood processing

(90% )

Organizing Case Study: Malaysia

Case Study of Malaysia: Organizing Strategies

1. Placement of project organizer from Nepal

working with BWI affiliates in Malaysia

recruiting migrant workers.

2. Advocating for legislative changes so that

migrant workers who join trade unions will

not be deported.

3. Minimum Wage Campaign

4. Legal aid service for migrants in distress.

5. Regional Cooperation between BWI, PSI,

UNI and national centers in Malaysia,

Nepal and Indonesia.

1. Connecting migrant workers with unions

2. Linking unions in countries of origin and

destination

3. One-stop-shop referral, advice and

assistance for migrant workers

4. Links with NGOs and support services

5. Initial pilot in Malaysia

6. Requests for advice or assistance will be

general and specific

SMS HELP LINE SYSTEM

SMS HELP-LINE OPERATIONS

• Worker sends SMS for assistance or

advice

• Union organiser can receive and respond

to SMS from anywhere

• Organiser can provide direct assistance

or link workers with relevant union and

organisations for assistance

SMS Help Line

Tools for Organizing: Migrant Workers Rights Guide

Case Study: Switzerland

1.Construction sector history of migrant

work force:

• 1890s: Italians for large infrastructure

projects

• 1910: 40% of the work force were foreign

and of this 44% were Italians

• 1960s and 1970s: Italy

• 1970s: Spain and Turkey

• 1980s and 1990s: Former Yugoslavia and

Portugal

• 1990s and 2000: Germany, Portugal, and

former Yugoslavia

Switzerland: Migrant Population

Migrant population composition in 2010

439'031

36'581

42'535

59'858

64'167

70'836

91'815136'249

288'962

254'192

208'342

Italy

Germany

Portugal

Serbia

France

Turkey

Spain

Macedonia

Kosovo

Austria

Other

17%

15%

12%

8% 5%

4%

4%

4%

3%

2%

26%

Proportion of foreign

residents is 22.5%

In the EU comparison,

formally higher

proportion of migrants to

the resident population.

However: the

naturalisation ratio at

2.8% is rather low in the

EU comparison.

About 600,000 migrants

could request

naturalisation according

to current rules

(however: procedure,

costs)

Migrants Workers by Industries

UNIA Activities and Initiatives

1. Organizers from Migrant Communities

(Serbia, Kosovo, Germany, Italy, Portugal,

Spain, and Poland)

2. Migrant Worker structures by language,

regional culminating as a national

conference.

3. Migrant Worker training and leadership

skills development.

4. Production of information and publications.

5. Policy advocacy on pro-migrant worker

issues.

Nexus of Migrant Workers Rights and

Sports Campaign for Decent Work

1. The upcoming major global sports

events work force will consist of migrant

workers

• 2018 World Cup in Russia (Central Asia,

Ukraine, and Southeast Europe)

• 2022 World Cup in Qatar (South Asia and

Southeast Asia)

• 2018 Winter Olympics (Central Asia and

Southeast Asia)

• 2020 Summer Olympics (East Asia and

Southeast Asia)

Global Strategy

1. Engagement with International Sports

Agencies (FIFA and IOC)

2. Engagement with National

Governments

3. Engagement with Multinational

Construction Companies

4. Multi-media campaigns

National Organizing Strategy

1. Russia, South Korea, and Japan

• Developing and implementing organizing

strategies with BWI affiliates where there is

inclusion of outreach to migrant workers.

2. Qatar

• Country of origin organizing

• Engagement with MNCs to establish

workers committees

• Community organizing in Qatar

• Exploring direct organizing

Tools for Organizing: Public Awareness Campaign

Tools for Organizing: BWI Connect Migration Blog

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