COMMITTEE ON MIGRANT WORKERS MARKS INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY

Friday 1 May, Palais Wilson, ground floor conference room, 10-13 hours

Representatives of intergovernmental organisations and labour unions will address the importance of the right to freedom of association for migrant workers, including those in an undocumented situation, at a round table organised by the Committee on Migrant Workers.

In its consideration of States’ reports, the Committee has noted that many migrant workers face obstacles in exercising their right to freedom of association, and in particular, their right to join and form trade unions. Still, this right is essential to promote and protect their economic and social interests.

The roundtable organised on the occasion of International Labour Day seeks to throw light on the existing international standards and will highlight experiences with organising migrant workers through trade unions. Representatives from OHCHR, ILO, national and international trade unions will give their point of view on these questions and engage with the public in a debate on how to overcome the obstacles to the freedom of association of migrant workers.

Participants in the round table are:

Mr. Abdelhamid El-Jamri,
Chairman of the Committee

Mr. Ngonlardje Mbaidjol,
Director, Special Advisor to the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Mrs. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry
Director, NORMES, ILO

Ms. Wol-san Liem
International Solidarity Coordinator for the Migrants Trade Union (South Korea)

Mr. Marion Hellmann,
Assistant Secretary General, Building and Wood Workers’ International

The roundtable is open to the public. For accreditation, please contact the secretariat of the Committee on Migrant Workers: jfucio@ohchr.org , telephone 022 917 9409.