Episode #11 with Ludovic Voet, migrant workers and COVID19, trade unions in action

etui.podcast

In this episode we talk with Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (www.etuc.org) about the overlooked theme in this current health crisis, which is the migration and refugee crisis and the role trade unions in Europe are playing. All migrant workers, and particularly the undocumented, are among the least protected. This was true before the crisis, but the health and economic crisis, has acerbated inequalities. We’ve seen some positive reactions to protect and include migrants in Portugal, where the government has said that it will Grant Migrants and Asylum Seekers Full Citizenship Rights During COVID-19 Outbreak and also the case of Italy, where there is a proposal to regularise migrant workers working in the food and agricultural sector. (https://www.etuc.org/en/document/overlooked-migrant-workers-covid-19-crisis) The www.unionmigrantnet.eu portal offers services and information in different languages, and real-time advice from experts. The network also provides a forum for cross-border exchange of best practice. For more information on the European Commission proposal on a new pact for Asylum and Migration, due to release later this year (2020) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-promoting-our-european-way-of-life/file-a-new-pact-on-migration-and-asylum