The undocumented migrant workers are confronting bigger challenges in the absence of legal status and access to the rights and facilities. 

Both refugees (who account for about 12 per cent of the international migrants) and inter-State migrants in various part of the world are seriously affected by the Covid-19 situation, said former Rajya Sabha member and INTUC State president Dr Rama Chandra Khuntia in his preliminary remarks as the chairman of BWI Migrant Workers’ Group’ virtual meeting held recently.

Khuntia said that BWI and affiliates across the regions have extended relief measures besides raising issue of migrant labourers amid the pandemic and are lobbying at global and regional levels to ensure that the migrant workers rights are upheld.

“Migrants are contributing significantly both in destination and origin countries and places, but their contributions are not properly recognised,” he said.

The BWI also actively participated in GFMD and civil society discussions on nonbinding global compact on migration.

The meeting also discussed about a global forum on migration and development, global compact on migration, regional review, Europe as a new multi-regional corridor and an EFBWW joint statement and action, Global Sports Migrant News, Qatar-2022 World Cup, Paris-2024 Olympics Migrant Workers elements in Olympic construction were the man issues which were discussed in the meeting. Among others Rita Schiavi from Switzerland, Gelson Santana from Brazil, Armando Lopez Uolra from Argentina and Naranath Luitel from Nepal participated on the discussions. Appolinar Tollentino, secretary, gave a vote of thanks and the Chair asked him to prepare a detail note to be submitted to the Council of BWI scheduled to be held on June  7 and 8.