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Chapter 3<br />
Supporting and<br />
Organising Migrant<br />
Workers<br />
It is clear from all the information gathered during this research project that<br />
the ability to organise and get information about rights and services available<br />
are important elements in ensuring migrant workers are able to demand better<br />
working and social conditions. Trade unions, migrant support groups, selforganised<br />
migrant worker groups, and NGOs are working on this and some<br />
examples of innovative work being carried out already exists. This chapter<br />
provides a short overview of some of the strategies being employed by migrant<br />
workers and their supporters.<br />
Worker action<br />
Almost all the information and research on the position<br />
of migrant workers rightly emphasises their vulnerability<br />
to exploitation, but it is important to recognise<br />
that migrant workers are not silent “victims”. All over<br />
the world, despite the risk, migrant workers are taking<br />
action, either as individuals or groups, to defend their<br />
rights and improve conditions.<br />
Migrant worker strikes and stoppages are a regular<br />
occurrence. In Mae Sot, Thailand, for example,<br />
Burmese workers strike several times a month. 42<br />
The industry in Jordan has seen waves of strikes by<br />
its Bangladeshi workers and in Mauritius workers from<br />
China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have taken industrial<br />
action in relation to pay and conditions. In many<br />
cases workers have been successful in getting at least<br />
some of their demands met.<br />
At the same time those considered “leaders” in the<br />
action do invariably lose their jobs or visas, face<br />
denunciation and deportation and, in some cases,<br />
violence as a result of taking a stand and it is unclear<br />
if the improvements made as a result of such actions<br />
can be sustained in the long term unless workers have<br />
support from outside the factory.<br />
False Promises Migrant Workers in the Global Garment Industry<br />
Migrant worker<br />
strikes and<br />
stoppages are<br />
a regular<br />
occurrence.<br />
Not all action taken by workers involves directly confronting<br />
their employer. Workers have also tried to get<br />
help and support from outside the factory, including<br />
from their home government representatives. For<br />
example, in Malaysia groups of Vietnamese and Bangladeshi<br />
workers have requested assistance from their<br />
respective embassies. Most embassies have failed to<br />
respond to such requests for support.<br />
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