Global Workers believes that the concept of portable justice, the right and ability of transnational migrants to access justice in the host country even after they have departed, is key to achieving justice for today’s global migrants. To realize this goal, Global Workers trains and supports the Global Workers Defender Network, comprised of human rights advocates in the migrant sending countries, to facilitate legal cases for migrant workers in partnership with advocates in the countries of employment. Through this network, returned migrants who have suffered exploitation in the host countries must no longer abandon their legal rights simply because they want to go home. Education and advocacy campaigns are also important components of the work. The project is launching in the USA, Mexico and Guatemala and will eventually expand into other transnational migratory streams.
Millions of people, more than ever before, cross national borders seeking employment. Too often these global migrants are often cheated of wages, injured, and have other rights violated on the job in their host country. When the workers return home, however, the obstacles to achieving justice both practical and legal--are nearly insurmountable. The result is that valid claims are routinely abandoned and thousands of workers never receive their wages or treatment for compensable injuries. Without advocates supporting each other to provide a continuum of legal representation, these workers will continue to be used and abused within the globalized economy. Workers should not have to check their legal rights at the border. Global workers require global justice.
Read our 15 Steps the US Government can take to Improve the Guestworker Program NOW on our Publications page.
Global Workers Justice Alliance 113 University Place, 8th Fl. New York, NY 10003
©Kreativa Design 2006 CSS XHTML