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Caritas Europa Migration Forum promotes engagement for protecting the rights of migrant workers in Europe


Bialobrzegi/Brussels, 18 September 2009 - The Caritas Europa network is currently gathered in Poland for its 6th Migration Forum (17-19 September) with the main objective to review and update its advocacy strategy for protecting the rights of migrant workers in Europe. During the opening session held on Thursday keynote speakers introduced the main aspects and challenges related to labour migration.  

Erny Gillen, President of Caritas Europa, stressed that “all human beings are members of one human family, therefore economic and political borders should not divide people”.

Indeed Caritas Europa is challenged to act on labour migration due to an issue of injustice given that migrants are often only seen as “labour force” and not as members of our societies. Participants agreed that Caritas Europa should increase its efforts to promote social cohesion, which encompasses the question of the integration of migrants as new and full members of society. The President of Caritas Europa specifically called for the introduction of a minimum wage in all countries “in order to establish a bottom-line for labour and social protection justice”.

William Somerville representing the Migration Policy Institute in Washington DC underlined that migrant workers are generally hit first and hardest by the current global economic crisis or, as described by the New York Times, the “Great Recession”. Xenophobic reactions are on the rise as a result of diminished resources and competition for jobs, and overall in European societies we are experiencing an increase in hate crimes. Migrants are victims of discrimination and social exclusion, and often have smaller social networks with limited resources. Considering these difficult conditions, according to the speaker, many migrant workers with the right of return appear to be leaving and return to their home countries, while migrants without residence permit try to survive in the informal economy.

      All human beings are members of one human family, economic and political borders should not divide people 

"All human beings are members of one human family, therefore economic and political borders should not divide people", Caritas Europa President E. Gillen 

Photo: Montage

Patrick Taran representing the International Labour Organisation strongly encouraged Caritas Europa to continue its rights-based advocacy work, emphasising that the organisation has a leadership role to play. “The defence of migrants’ rights is only viable and effective when based on a firm foundation of legal norms, and operates under the rule of law”, he said. This requires strategic cooperation with and support of trade unions as well as migrant diaspora associations in order to defend the rights of all workers, including migrant workers, independently of their residence status. Moreover, policies aiming at reducing labour immigration are not an option, as projections indicate that due to demographic evolution the EU will need an annual influx of approx. 700.000 migrants by 2050.

The keynote speeches set a stimulating tone for the debate. As a “reality check” it was referred to main migration challenges and policies in Moldova, Sweden, Morocco and Ukraine.

Today, Friday, the meeting includes working groups to discuss strategic directions for Caritas advocacy work in view of promoting migrant workers’ rights. They are focusing on the situation and needs to protect domestic workers; on labour migration in agricultural, construction and services sectors; on the social cost of migration; and on the impact of national and EU policies on the rights of migrants.


For more information, please contact:
Peter Verhaeghe
Migration Officer
Tel.: + 32 (0)2 235 03 96
Mob.: + 32 (0)478 58 54 33
E-Mail: pverhaeghe@caritas-europa.org

 

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Note to editors

 The INCLUSION programme is supported by the European Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (2007-2013). The programme was established to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment and social affairs area, as set out in the Social Agenda, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy goals in these fields.

The seven-year Programme targets all stakeholders who can help shape the development of appropriate and effective employment and social legislation and policies, across the EU-27, EFTA and EU candidate and pre-candidate countries.

To that effect, PROGRESS purports at: providing analysis and policy advice on employment, social solidarity and gender equality policy areas; monitoring and reporting on the implementation of EU legislation and policies in employment, social solidarity and gender equality policy areas; promoting policy transfer, learning and support among Member States on EU objectives and priorities; and relaying the views of the stakeholders and society at large. 

For more information see:  http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=327&langId=en

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