1. The rights of Migrant Workers
The rights-based approach
WHY?; WHAT?; HOW?
Luc Demaret
ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities

2. Key Messages Migrant workers are titular of rights
ILO standards make a difference
ALL ILO Conventions apply to Migrants
Specific Conventions (97 and 143) go beyond mere protection: sound migration policies.
Migration is a labour issue

3. Migration is a labour issue
UN projection
Decent work deficit
Aging Europe
A stable phenomenon
Lagging behind globalisation
The truth about remittances

4. Why should trade unions adopt a rights-based approach?
Decent work deficit
Abuses of workers’ rights
Protecting national workers = protecting all workers
Migrant workers as TU members strengthen organisation
If unions do not pay attention to MW others will
Unions must be seen to be relevant

5. ILO Multilateral framework
Three principles
Migration flows should be managed through tripartite consensus,
To avoid undue pressure on existing wages and conditions, migrant workers' rights to equal treatment should be respected.
To avoid the persistence of irregular migration and trafficking, legal avenues should gradually be offered to potential migrant workers.

6. ILO Multilateral framework
15 principles
Principle 5: Expanding legal avenues
Temporary programmes=temporary jobs
Contradictions:
Restrictive policies
High-skilled
Circular migration

7. What should be the union priorities?
Advocacy
Protection
Organising
Improvement
Others??

8. How to deliver the rights- based approach?
Advocacy= influence, shape policies
Protection= know you right, legal aid, undocumented
Improvement= Collective bargaining
Others??