On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Committee held a half-day panel discussion on workplace exploitation and workplace protection during its 20th session on 7 April 2014.

The purpose of the half-day general discussion was to:

• Shed light on those areas where protection of migrant workers in the workplace is of urgency and where the implementation of the Convention and its framework for the protection of the fundamental rights of all migrant workers can make a difference with regard to prevention of workplace abuse and exploitation;
• Reinforce the awareness of States of, inter alia, the obstacles to exercising the right to work and the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, in particular those in an irregular situation; its responsibility to ensure workplace protection to prevent workplace abuse and exploitation; and the different needs, including to better inform civil servants, employers and migrant workers of their rights and responsibilities; and
• Assist the Committee in developing concrete recommendations in relation to the protection of the rights of migrant workers, when examining reports of States parties to the Convention.

General documentation

• Background note
• Programme

Statements

• Welcoming Statement by the Chair of the CMW Committee
• Statement by Ms. Flavia Pansieri, Deputy High Commissioner, OHCHR

Keynote address

• Ms. Michelle Leighton, Chief of the Labour Migration Branch, Conditions of Work and Equality Department, International Labour Organisation

Presentations by panellists

• Mr. Francois Crépeau, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants;
• Ms. Michele Levoy, Director, Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM);
• Ms. Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International;
• Ms. Francesca Pizzutelli, Migrants’ Rights Advisor, Amnesty International;
• Mr. Patrick Taran, President, Global Migration Policy Associates; and
• Mr. Jolovan Wham, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Organization for Migrantion Economics (HOME), Singapore

Closing remarks

• Mr. Ibrahim Salama, Director, Human Rights Treaties Division, OHCHR, Moderator

Written contributions

• Amnesty International
• International Organization for Migration
• International Trade Union Confederation
• Migrant Rights Centre Ireland
• PICUM

The views expressed in the submissions online are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Committee.