Abstract

Training date

22/02/2021 - 24/02/2021
(9:30 - 13:00 - CET, Brussels time)

Documents

Background

Undocumented migrant workers constitute one of the most marginalized workers communities in Europe, as they face significant barriers to claiming employment rights, including risks of immigration enforcement. At the same time, undocumented migrant workers often work in labour market sectors with very low union presence. This enables employers to exploit undocumented workers and force them to accept poor wages, following the general trend of worsening working conditions and rights. Therefore, unions must increase their organising powers with undocumented migrant workers and ensure they are empowered in trade unions, to influence union bargaining with employers and authorities, to prevent and respond to the exploitation they face.

This training course follows a campaign launched in 2018 by the ETUC, PICUM (a Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants), and UnionMigrant Net (the European network of contact points for migrant workers promoted by trade unions). 

Objectives: 

This training aims to build union representatives and officers’ ability to organise and empower undocumented migrant workers in unions through case studies and examples of good practices and strategies. 

-    Promote policies for organizing undocumented workers into their unions.
-    Promote policies to empower undocumented workers in union decision-making.
-    Adopt strategies to enforce undocumented workers’ rights through formal complaints mechanisms.
-    Promote the importance of undocumented workers’ rights to ensure that all workers’ rights are protected and make links to necessary immigration law reforms.
-    Build alliances with other civil society groups on undocumented workers’ rights and organize advocacy campaigns and other collective actions.

Target group:  

-    TU officers or TU representatives working on the rights of migrants
-    TU officers or TU representatives organising migrant workers
-    TU officers or TU representatives in sectors where migrant workers are likely to be employed e.g. care, hospitality, cleaning, agriculture, construction, delivery
-    TU officers or TU representatives working as a lobbyist or on policies issues related to migration

The training took place on:

22 February from 9.30 to 13.00 (CET)
23 February  from 13.30 to 17.00 (CET)
24 February from 10.00 to 13.00 (CET)

For more information, please contact Carine Boon

Full programme available here