International Migrants Day: Protecting Workers in Global Supply Chains
Based on ILO’s Migration report 2024, there are 281 million international migrants globally in 2020, or 3.6 per cent of the world’s population.[1] The report highlights that international migration remains a key driver of human development and economic growth. Over the last 20 years, global remittances—money sent home by migrants—have grown by an astonishing 650%, jumping from $128 billion in 2000 to $831 billion in 2022.[2]
Yet, despite their contribution toward economic growth, migrant workers can face a range of challenges to their rights, including discrimination in law and exploitation by employers.[3] They may be subject to unfair working conditions and harmful recruitment practices. Even when business seek to uphold the rights of migrant workers, governments may not fulfil their duty to protect them and ensure their obligations under international human rights standards.
The rights of migrant workers are protected under several international legal frameworks, including the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICMW).[4] This treaty, adopted by the United Nations in 1990, establishes that migrant workers should enjoy the same basic rights and freedoms as local workers, including fair pay, safe working conditions, and protection from exploitation.
In fact, on average, migrant workers earn 25% less than their local colleagues, and many work long hours in harsh environments without access to basic rights such as fair wages, social protections, or even a day off.[5] Worse, some employers exploit their vulnerability, trapping them in abusive situations through unfair contracts, passport confiscation, or other coercive measures.
Millions of Indonesian migrant workers who emigrated to other countries in search of more favourable opportunities have returned home with psychological and physical injuries and are said to be victims of trafficking.[6] Between 2019 and 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided assistance to 544 Indonesian migrant labourers in collaboration with the Indonesian Migrant labourers' Union (SBMI). Many of them were subjected to physical, psychological, and sexual assault while traveling abroad. They frequently worked from 6 a.m. until after midnight, without a single day of leave.
Exploitation also exists on a much larger scale. A recent legal case involving migrant workers from Nepal and Bangladesh highlights the abuse is prevalent within global supply chains. The workers, employed by a Malaysian subcontractor making components for Dyson products, allege that they were subjected to forced labour, physical abuse, and unlawful wage deductions.[7] Dyson has denied responsibility, arguing that the allegations should be addressed in Malaysia, where the factory is based. However, the British Court of Appeal recently ruled that the workers could pursue their claims in the UK. This decision underscores the accountability of multinational corporations in upholding labour standards throughout their supply chains.
This case also illustrates a growing trend of courts and legal systems addressing human rights violations that transcend national borders. Increasingly, legal mechanisms are being used to hold multinational corporations accountable for ensuring fair labour practices within their global supply chains. This reflects a broader recognition that the responsibility for protecting workers’ rights does not stop at a country’s borders but extends to all entities benefiting from their labour.
Corporate accountability has become a crucial element in addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers. While governments have the primary obligation to protect human rights, businesses also play a significant role in preventing exploitation and abuse. Under frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, corporations are expected to conduct human rights due diligence, identify and mitigate risks to workers, and provide access to remedies for those whose rights have been violated. The main risk to business is the risk to people and planet.
[1] https://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/news/world-migration-report-2024-reveals-latest-global-trends-and-challenges-human-mobility
[2] https://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/news/world-migration-report-2024-reveals-latest-global-trends-and-challenges-human-mobility
[3] https://www.ihrb.org/issues/migrant-workers
[4] https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-protection-rights-all-migrant-workers
[5] https://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/news/world-migration-report-2024-reveals-latest-global-trends-and-challenges-human-mobility
[6] https://indonesia.iom.int/stories/scars-trafficking-heart-wrenching-stories-indonesian-migrant-workers
[7] https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/uk-court-of-appeal-says-migrant-workers-lawsuit-against-dyson-over-allegations-of-forced-labour-in-malaysia-can-be-heard-in-the-uk/