Concept note on

Migrant’s Rights: Formal and Informal Sector

Keywords: Internal Migration, Formal Workers, Informal Workers, Climate Vulnerability, GBV

Background:

Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another with intention of settling, permanently or temporarily, at a new location. All migrants, regardless of their status, are entitled to the same international human rights as everyone else. As per the World Bank report, it is forecasted that including Bangladesh South Asia alone will face 19.9 million^[1] displacement by 2050.

Having a decade-long rigor of day-to-day interaction with women migrant workers in its project areas and slums of Dhaka and its research[2], BNSK has perceived the problems of women migrants as a community and as individuals. Based on research evidence and individual interviews, BNSK has found very nominal policies are there to support the internal (rural to urban) migrants.

People Courage International’s study shows that there are 300 internal migrants’ workers in Asia (official estimates). The real number is likely much more. A large proportion of internal migrants are forced to migrate for subsistence employment due to socio-economic distress. Migrants both internal and international are vulnerable in source and destination. Their rights are violated because there is no legal recognition of internal migrant workers in South Asian Countries except India. We need to focus on the issue regionally to reduce vulnerability and support each other to reduce the risk of trafficking also.  

BNSK along with NEEDS-Nepal, Nepali Mohila Ekota Shomaj, and Samari Uthan Sewa, being grass-root women migrants’ organizations observe that the people voluntarily move internal political boundaries of a country. People migrate within their countries for many reasons. All four women's organizations are organizing this workshop.

Key Questions of this workshop/plenary are to find causes and solutions of women migration-related questions:

1. What are the categorical causes of internal and cross-border migration?
2. What should be the temporary and permanent remedies for these migrations?
3. How can these catastrophes happen naturally and by humans?
4. What initiative we can take regionally to cooperate and coordinate with each other to RESPECT RECOGNIZE and REMUNERATE informal workers?

World Social Forum- 2024

Migrant’s Rights: Formal and Informal Sector

Kathmandu Declaration

BNSK along with NEEDS-Nepal, Nepali Mohila Ekota Shomaj, and Samari Uthan Sewa, organized the event in Kathmandu Nepal with the active participation of Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and other countries participants to discuss the issue of migrants' rights formal and informal sector. Migrants both internal and overseas are vulnerable to source and destination. Migration is a choice but human rights are universal if we consider the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Migrants' rights, particularly in both formal and informal sectors, are critical aspects of ensuring fair treatment, dignity, and opportunities for individuals who migrate for various reasons such as economic, social, or political factors. On the other hand cross border migration is a common phenomenon in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and other South Asian Countries. Migrants are working mostly in the informal sector and they are highly vulnerable in their workplace as well as in the place where they are living, due to their precarious employment situations, lack of legal protections, and limited access to social services. So, they are at risk of trafficking and smuggling and fall into the trap of modern slavery. There is a dire need and call for action by Governments, NGOs, and Civil Society Organizations to reduce those vulnerabilities and to establish migrants' rights. It was an interactive session by engaging discussants and participants of the workshop. The Seminar proceeded with the following process-

Keynote presenter: Sumaiya Islam, Executive Director, BNSK

Discussions were from the following organizations-

- NEEDS-Nepal

- Nepal Mohila Ekota Samaj

- Samari Uthan Sewa

Solidarity voice or Statement from the discussants and participants:

In-country or cross-border migrants are vulnerable and mostly work in the informal sector. Their rights are violated and also are at risk of trafficking. To reduce the vulnerability of trafficking in person participants organizations came to the decision that 

- The participating organizations will be advocating with their government authorities to take proper action and channel the migration safe and orderly

- Participated Organizations will take hands with each other to discuss the issues in the regional meetings of migration 

- Create awareness in their working communities about safe and orderly migration both internal and overseas

- The participating organizations will take the lead in engaging duty bearers and policymakers in the respective countries to ensure the RESPECT, RECOGNITION, and REMUNERATION of the informal workers as human and a worker.  

Signatories are-

- Bagladesh Nari Sramik Kendra

- NEEDS-Nepal

- Nepal Mohila Ekota Samaj

- Samari Uthan Sewa, Nepal

- Ovibashi Kormi Unnayan Programme, Bangladesh

- Association of Community Development, Bangladesh

Other Associated Organizations and Trade Unions from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and other countries