Organization of American States - National Model United Nations

I. Migrant Workers: Protection of Labor Rights
“Migration is today, as it has always been, a function of the search for greater opportunity. Throughout human
history, migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a
better life.” 43
Introduction
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines a migrant as “any
individual who lives temporarily or permanently in a country where he or she was not born, and has acquired some
significant social ties to this country. 44 The Organization of American States (OAS) describes migrant workers as
individuals who are in a working environment other from their own country. 45 However, the reality of migrant
workers and their situation transcends far beyond these definitions. 46
In the OAS region alone, there were approximately 28-29 million migrant workers in 2010. 47 Each year millions of
migrant workers leave their home countries to seek work in other countries. It is estimated that “economically active
migrants and their families comprise of 90% of the total migrant population,” with the number of migrant workers
currently totaling 214 million globally. 48
Terminology
There is specific terminology associated with migration and migrant workers. The country that migrant workers
migrate from is described as the “country of origin” or the “home country.” 49 Often times before migrant workers
reach their destination, they temporarily reside in a “transit country,” and the final destination of migration is known
as the “receiving country” or a “host country.” 50
A host country can most often be a neighboring country; sometimes migration can take place from rural to urban
areas within a country or vice versa, and in some instances migrant workers move inter-regionally. 51 Migrant
workers are in transition till migration from home country to host country is complete. Often migrant workers work
in different host countries, until they find a permanent job or housing arrangement, which makes counting how many
migrant workers exist difficult. 52 As a majority of the migration does not occur legally, this only adds to the burden
that is placed on host countries that have migrant workers both enter the workforce both legally and illegally. 53
The issue of migrant workers is twofold: the undocumented number of migrant workers that arrive to the host
country and those that arrive legally. 54 Properly counting migrant workers who enter a host country’s workforce
legally does not present as much of the same problems as those counting those who arrive illegally. The international
community has voiced its criticism on the issue of illegal migration as stated in the Copenhagen Programme of
Action, “Governments are urged to cooperate in reducing the causes of undocumented migration, safeguarding the
basic human rights of undocumented migrants and preventing their exploitation.” 55
The ebb and flow of migration is ever increasing with greater influx of migrant workers leaving their home countries
yearly. 56 Migrant workers leave home for different reasons, but one of the main reasons cited for their departure is
43
International Labour Organization, Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers: A Shared Responsibility, 2009.
44
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Social and Human Sciences International Migration.
45
Organization of American States, Rights of Migrant Workers, 2008.
46
Organization of American States, Rights of Migrant Workers, 2008.
5 Organization of American States, Rights of Migrant Workers, 2008.
48
Migration for Development, E-Discussion: Protecting migrant workers human and labour rights: Ensuring effective redress,
2010.
49
Salvador, Migrant Workers: Protection of Labor Rights and Labor Market Programs, 2006.
50
Salvador, Migrant Workers: Protection of Labor Rights and Labor Market Programs, 2006.
51
International Labour Organization, Migrant Workers, 2011.
52
International Labour Organization, Migrant Workers, 2011.
53
Smith, Protecting the Labor Rights of all Migrant Workers in the Americas, 2006.
54
The People’s Movement for Human Rights Education, Human Rights and Migrant Workers.
55
The People’s Movement for Human Rights Education, Human Rights and Migrant Workers.
56
Salvador, Migrant Workers: Protection of Labor Rights and Labor Market Programs, 2006.