BACKGROUND GUIDE
Committee: ‘INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION’.
Agenda: ‘PROTECTING WORKERS’ RIGHTS IN CLIMATE-
INDUCED MIGRATION AND DISPLACEMENT’.
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD-
Esteemed Delegates/ Counsels,
It is with great pleasure that we extend a warm welcome to you for this simulation
of the INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION at the 3rdedition of
WISDOM MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2025. We anticipate an enlightening
and valuable experience for all participants. The focal point of our session is
“PROTECTING WORKERS’ RIGHTS IN CLIMATE-INDUCED
MIGRATION AND DISPLACEMENT” a subject of paramount importance in
our interconnected world.
As your Executive Board, we are dedicated to fostering a productive and insightful
environment, where learning is complemented by an engaging process. Your
diligence and commitment are vital to the success of this simulation. We encourage
you to approach this significant topic with the seriousness and attention it merits.
Considering the nature of the conference, we look forward to making this more of
a learning engagement while still keeping up the spirit of competition and the
essence of debate. To meet such ends, we shall be formulating UNA-USA Rules of
Procedure and Conduct of Business which shall be explained to you in brief prior
to the first session as well as throughout the working of the committee, as and
when required. We expect the debate to comprise of substantive points, logical
analysis of facts and suggestions and advancement of country opinion.
We trust that you have commenced your preliminary research on the agenda and
related issues. It is crucial to understand the Committee's scope, recognizing that
while discussions may be broad, council decisions must remain within the
Committee's defined purview. The study guide provided is intended to offer clarity
on the Committee's composition and operations. However, we advise against
relying solely on this guide for your research, as it is designed to be a helpful tool
rather than a comprehensive resource.
While the Executive Board foresees a specific trajectory for the committee debate,
we highly value delegates who present alternative perspectives and approaches to
the topics at hand. Our role is to facilitate discussion, and substantive dialogue will
flourish through your updates and inquiries. Except for matters of procedural order,
we will refrain from expressing our personal opinions on the topics discussed.
To clear any contentions, the participants need not let thoughts about our
expectations be a hurdle in their research or give way to any fear regarding
fulfilment of their objectives. The only thing the Executive Board will put strong
emphasis on, would be helping you understand the international analysis, and
argumentative debating. Participants shall be tested on their knowledge and
arguments, along their specific country lines and the respective ideology, over the
various topics discussed in the debate and also the deliberations before choosing a
particular topic.
We strongly recommend using the provided background information as a
foundation for your research, rather than your sole source of support. Meaningful
discourse is best achieved through comprehensive research beyond these
guidelines. The Executive Board looks forward to your analysis of the data you
gather, rather than a mere recitation of facts.
In closing, we kindly urge all delegates to prepare thoroughly for the simulation
and to work collaboratively to ensure a positive learning experience for everyone
involved. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Wishing you all the best!
Executive Board |
SUBHRAKANT BISWAL (CHAIRPERSON)
Contact- 9556875714, Mail-
[email protected]PARTH NANDAN TIWARI (VICE-CHAIRPERSON)
Contact- 9124111485, Mail-
[email protected]AYUSH K TRIPATHI (CO-VICE CHAIRPERSON)
Contact- 8932899372, Mail-
[email protected] KEY LINKS-
1. Decent work and fair recruitment key to climate-resilient labour migration (ILO)
https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/new-ilo-brief-climate-resilient-labour-
migration?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. ILO agenda and action on fair migration (Governing Body conference paper)
https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2025-02/GB353-POL-1-%5BWORKQ-241220-001%5D-
Web-EN.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. Policy brief: Climate change, environmental degradation and labour mobility in the ASEAN
region https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2025-
08/Climate%20change%20environmental%20degradation%20and%20labour%20mobility%20in
%20the%20ASEAN%20region_0.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. Pacific Climate Change Migration and Human Security (Phase II) — project page (ILO)
https://www.ilo.org/projects-and-partnerships/projects/pacific-climate-change-migration-and-
human-security-%E2%80%93-phase-ii?utm_source=chatgpt.com
5. Enhancing protection and empowerment of migrants and communities affected by climate
change and disasters (Pacific region) https://www.ilo.org/projects-and-
partnerships/projects/enhancing-protection-and-empowerment-migrants-and-communities-
affected?utm_source=chatgpt.com
6. Migration and climate change in the Arab region — ILO Policy Brief
https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2024-
07/migration_and_climate_change_in_the_arab_region-policy_brief-
eng_0.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
7. International Labour Standards on Migrant Workers’ Rights (Guide)
https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/%40asia/%40ro-
bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_146244.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
8. Policy brief: the interaction between climate change, labour markets and migration in the
IGAD region https://agulhas.co.uk/app/uploads/2023/09/Policy-brief-the-interaction-between-
climatechange-labour-markets-and-migration-in-the-IGAD-region-.pdf agulhas.co.uk
Om’/¿https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/%40ed_emp/%40emp_ent/do
cuments/publication/wcms_867426.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
10. Migration as adaptation: labour migration and climate change (IOM / partner brief)
https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/2024-01/harnessing-lm-to-respond-to-the-
climate-crisis.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
COMMITTEE OVERVIEW:
THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION - MANDATE,
STRUCTURE AND RELEVANCE TO THE AGENDA-
Mandate & constitutional basis-
The International Labour Organisation was established in 1919 as part of the
Treaty of Versailles, making it the oldest specialized agency of what would
become the United Nations system. Founded on the principle that "universal and
lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice," the ILO has
championed workers' rights for over a century.
The International Labour Organization was set up with the view that social justice
is the primary condition for peace. The ILO was granted the right through its
Constitution and founding documents (Declaration of Philadelphia, Declaration on
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work) to ensure that decent work, labour
standards, and social justice become global values. ILO works as a triad of
organization (government, employer, and workers) which keeps its standard-
setting and technical aid alive.
How the ILO works on thematic policy (climate, migration, labour)-
The ILO utilizes four main instruments: (1) international labour standards
(Conventions and Recommendations), (2) research and data (ILOSTAT, thematic
reports), (3) policy advice and technical cooperation (to governments and social
partners), and (4) social dialogue and capacity building. ILO provides labour-
market analysis, guidance on decent work in transitions (just transition), fair
recruitment, and the occupational safety and health (OSH) dimension of climate
hazards for climate-migration questions.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs)-
The International Labour Organization (ILO) plays a custodial role for labour-
market SDG indicators and contributes directly to achieving SDG 8 (decent work),
SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), and
SDG 13 (climate action) through policies and programs. The work that the ILO
does on the SDGs emphasizes that decent work is an objective and a means for
sustainable development - therefore, protecting the labour rights of climate-
displaced people is part of achieving the Agenda 2030.
AGENDA OVERVIEW :
UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE-INDUCED MIGRATION AND
DISPLACEMENT-
Defining the Phenomenon
Climate-induced migration and displacement denote the movement of humans
caused by factors having to do with the climate such as the climate changes
comprising overall higher temperature and increased irregularity as well as global
warming. The latter includes both immediate onset catastrophes (such as floods,
storms, and fires) and slow onset phenomena (for instance, conquered areas by the
sea, migration towards dry places, drought, and melting of frozen soil).
It is necessary to make a distinction between different categories:
Climate Refugees: This term, though widely used, does not have legal validity
under international law as the 1951 Refugee Convention does not include
environmental factors among the reasons for acquiring refugee status.
Environmental Migrants: Migration of people due to environmental decline or
catastrophes, whether the movement is permanent or temporary, within or outside
the country.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): Persons who are compelled to evacuate
their residences but still remain in the country of their citizenship.
Climate-Induced Labor Migration: This refers to workers who move, typically
on a seasonal or temporary basis, in reaction to changes in climate that have
negative impacts on livelihoods, especially in agriculture and sectors dependent on
natural resources.
Drivers of Climate-Induced Mobility
Factors Stimulating Climate-Induced Mobility
Climate-related mobility can occur through various mechanisms:
Sudden-Onset Climate Events: Floods, tropical cyclones, wildfires, and storms
result in immediate displacement. An average of 22.4 million people are displaced
internally each year by these sudden-onset climate events, contributing to a total of
359 million displacements globally due to weather.
Slow-Onset Environmental Changes: Increased temperatures and shifts in
precipitation increase desertification and sea-level rise, progressively eroding
livelihoods, and prompting people to seek new opportunities. These environmental
changes often catalyze long-duration or permanent migrations.
Disruption to Agriculture: Climate variability has an adverse impact on
agricultural productivity - its effects are tougher on smallholder or subsistence
farmers and rural communities. With repeated agricultural failures, agricultural
workers may migrate to urban areas or other localities to find alternative work.
Water Scarcity: An estimated 2.3 billion people end up living in water-stressed
environments. With climate change threatening water scarcity, they flee areas with
limited drinking water or irrigation for agriculture.
Vulnerability of coastlines: Rising sea levels and increasing storm surges into
low-lying coastal areas and small island developing states render entire
communities permanently displaced.
The Migration-Displacement Continuum
Human mobility motivated by climate change is better viewed upon a continuum
of voluntary migration to forced displacement. In practice, people's movement
inevitably involves both push and pull factors, which makes it difficult to delineate
factors precisely. For example, a farmer who has failed to harvest crops due to
drought for three years in a row may be "choosing" to migrate. However, this
person's choice has been diminished by environmental change.
When designing appropriate political responses, it is important to consider this
complexity. While it is clear that voluntary labor-migration would require a
completely different set of protections compared to forced displacement, climate
migrants generally exist in a grey area between these categories.
THE NEXUS BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND LABOUR
MIGRATION-
The Crisis of Work Associated with Climate Change
Climate change poses a fundamental threat to decent work opportunities on many
fronts:
Loss of Livelihood: Climate-induced disruptions directly eliminate jobs in sectors
sensitive to climate, such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism, which
together employ billions of people around the world, mostly in developing nations.
Occupational Safety and Health: Increased temperatures, extreme weather
events, and greater exposure to vector-borne diseases contribute to new health and
safety hazards, putting outdoor workers, including agricultural and construction
workers, in increasing heat stress, thereby compromising both safety and
productivity.
Economic Disruption: Climate-related disasters destroy infrastructure, disrupt
supply chains, and dismantle local economies, leaving workers not only without
jobs but also without the economic ecosystems necessary to sustain work.
Inequality Exposure: Climate impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable
populations in the workforce, including informal workers, women, Indigenous
peoples, and the economically disadvantaged. These people not only have the least
capacity to adapt but have the most to lose from disruptive climate impacts on their
livelihoods.
Migrating as a Form of Climate Adaptation
Labor migration can be an adaptation method for climate change, as it provides an
opportunity for workers and communities to diversify their income sources,
contributing to their resilience to climate impacts. If rural areas become unviable
for agricultural production due to changing climate conditions, then migration to
urban areas or alternative areas of the country creates alternative livelihoods.
Remittance transfers from migrant workers are vital lifelines for communities
affected by climate, as these ongoing financial flows support families remaining in
the origin communities, fund climate-related adaptation methods, and support local
economic resilience. However, for migration to function as an adaptation, the
following conditions must be satisfied:
• Safe and regular pathways for migration
• Decent work opportunities at destinations
• Migrant workers have basic rights and protections
• Social protection systems are available to migrants, including undocumented
migrants
• Capacity-building and recognition of skills develop quality employment
If these conditions are not present, then migration cannot be used as anything more
than a survival strategy in response to climate, and workers are left vulnerable to
exploitation and abuse.
Just Transition and Climate Mobility
The ILO's Guidelines for a Just Transition towards Environmentally Sustainable
Economies and Societies point out that managing the shift to climate-resilient, low-
carbon economies must be done in a way that is "as fair and inclusive as possible
to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one
behind."
Migration caused by climate change is linked to just transition in several ways:
Green Jobs and Skills: Sustainability transitions lead to creating new job
opportunities in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, ecosystem
restoration, and climate adaptation infrastructure. Access to training and
employment in these green sectors should be provided to migrant workers,
including those affected by climate change impacts.
Declining Sectors: As a consequence of the economic transition, workers in
carbon-intensive industries will lose their jobs. If these sectors are located in
certain areas, local unemployment might push people to migrate. Just transition
policies have to deal with both the workers relocating and the communities losing
them.
Inclusive Planning: A successful just transition needs social dialogue and
inclusive decision-making. Climate-displaced workers and migrant communities
must have a voice in transition planning, ensuring that policies address their
specific vulnerabilities and needs.
CURRENT GLOBAL STATISTICS AND TRENDS-
Magnitude of Climate-Induced Displacement
The magnitude of displacement due to climate change has reached crisis levels:
Internal Displacement: According to reports at the end of 2023, the number of
people living in domestic refugee status worldwide was 75.9 million. Weather-
related hazards alone were responsible for 26.4 million displacements that took
place in 2023, albeit in the main violence and conflict accounted for a significant
number of displacements.
Historical Trends: The year 2008 marked the beginning of systematic tracking
and since then, a total of 359 million displacements due to weather events have
been recorded globally, resulting in an average of 22.4 million displacements per
year.
Regional Distribution: Asia is the region that annually registers the highest
number of disaster displacements, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa and the
Americas. In the year 2023, the countries in the Horn of Africa and Asia facedvery
high levels of displacement due to floods, droughts, and storms.
Drought Impact: Although floods and storms are responsible for displacing more
people at once, droughts are gradually increasing the number of people forced to
migrate. Globally, drought accounted for 491,000 internal displacements in 2023,
but the extent of drought-induced migration remains underreported as movements
are often gradual and hard to document.
International Statistics on Migrant Workers
Recognizing the larger context of labor migration is important for addressing
dimensions that are climate specific:
The Global Population of Migrant Workers: International migrant workers
represent a significant segment of the global labor force. Current estimates place
the total number of international migrant workers at about 169 million worldwide,
representing approximately 4.9% of the global labor force.
Regional Concentration: The Arab States have the greatest concentration of
migrant workers per local population in the world. The majority of these migrant
workers hold low-paying, low-skilled occupations in sectors such as construction,
hospitality, and domestic work—occupations that are particularly sensitive to
climate impacts.
Asia-Pacific Numbers: The Asia-Pacific region composes nearly 60% of the
global labor force; this region is more than 2 billion people. In this region, 10% of
workers (182 million) earn less than $1.90 per day, considered extreme poverty;
and another 18% (318 million) live just above that threshold. Just greater than half
of workers in the region are categorized as vulnerable employment (own-account
workers, and contributing family workers) without formal contracts and without
access to social protection.
The Gender Space: Women constitute almost half of all international migrants.
However, they face different vulnerabilities. Female migrant workers are more
frequently engaged in domestic work, and in the care economy, and in informal
employment, where labor rights enforcement is weakest and where abuse is the
highest.
Projected Future Trends
Climate change will exacerbate displacement and migration patterns:
Displacement Projections: Up to 1.3 billion people in Southern Asia could be at
risk of displacement or migration due to climate impacts by mid-century under
high warming scenarios.
Slow-Onset Displacement: Sea-level rise alone could displace about 280 million
people worldwide if warming exceeds 2°C. Small island developing states and
low-lying coastal areas are at risk of existential threats.
Rural-Urban Migration: Climate impacts on agriculture will spur rural-to-urban
migration, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Cities will be required to
cope with millions of climate migrants and their own vulnerabilities.
Cross-Border Dimensions: Although most climate displacement occurs within
borders, there will be an increase in cross-border climate migration. This will be
especially true where countries share a climate-vulnerable area or have established
bilateral pathways for labor migration.
Sectoral Vulnerability
Some economic sectors have no other than direct consequences for the workers
since they are among the most affected by climate change impacts:
Agriculture: With more than 1 billion people working in it, agriculture is one of
the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. Changing precipitation, extremely
hot weather, and increased pest threats are all coming up quickly, and these threats
are hitting especially hard on smallholder farmers.
Fisheries: Fisheries and aquaculture employ more than 60 million people around
the world. Traditional fishing communities are disrupted by ocean warming,
acidification, and changes in the distribution of fish stocks, which eventually lead
to migration or adaptation to other employment for fishers and fishing
communities.
Construction: Damage to infrastructure caused by extreme weather events results
in temporary spikes in demand for construction and thus the inflow of migrant
workers to the disaster-stricken areas. Unfortunately, the conditions under which
these workers are employed are often unsafe, with wage theft and precarious
employment being usual during the recovery period.
Domestic Work: Natural disasters caused by climate change bring about the need
for more domestic workers since families require more care and support. The
situation is even worse for migrant domestic workers, most of whom are women,
as they are usually unprotected by the law and are therefore most affected by the
crisis.
LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK-
ILO Conventions and Recommendations
The ILO has created global labor standards for migrant workers; however, while it
has developed standards specific to climate migration, they are scant:
Migration for Employment Convention , 1949 (No. 97): This ILO instrument is
one of the first to focus specifically on migrant workers, establishing principles of
equality of treatment, and calling for government efforts to facilitate international
migration and protect migrant workers. Ratification is, however, quite limited, only
49 member states are party to this convention.
Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention , 1975 (No. 143):
This convention, which speaks to irregular migration (or at least responds to it),
addresses the issue of suppressing clandestine movement and protecting (and
promoting the welfare of) irregular migrant workers. This convention establishes
equality of opportunity and treatment, and calls for an appropriate response to
illegal employment. Only 23 states have ratified the convention.
Private Employment Agencies Convention , 1997 (No. 181): This ILO
convention governs recruitment agencies, which are an active link in the
international labour migration system, as they facilitate labour mobility across
borders, and may be particularly exploitative/abusive for climate migrants needing
access to denied employment opportunities they may be entitled to.
Domestic Workers Convention , 2011 (No. 189): Domestic workers, who are
often migrants, are in a unique position in that they are very vulnerable workers
due to the nature of their work being in private residences. This convention sets
minimum standards for working conditions, hours of work, rest periods,
occupational health and safety, and social security.
Forced Labour Protocol, 2014: This Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention
notes the special vulnerability of migrants to trafficking and forced labour, and
calls on states to provide specific safeguards to protect migrants from abusive and
fraudulent recruitment practices, while recognizing that individuals who are
displaced as a result of climate change and are seeking employment opportunities,
are particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
Key Principles: Across these instruments, a number of key principles are
established that apply to climate-induced labour migration:
• International labour standards apply to all workers irrespective of migration
status.
• Equal treatment of like national workers and migrant workers.
• Protection from discrimination.
• Fair and safe recruitment processes.
• Access to justice and effective remedy.
• Social protection coverage.
• Freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.
ILO Guidelines and Frameworks
In addition to its binding conventions, the ILO has come up with several guidelines
regarding climate-induced migration, which have a big influence:
ILO Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration (2006): The main ideas and
directions for rights-based approaches to labor migration are contained in this
voluntary framework. Governance, protection during the migration cycle, and
developmental migration benefits are all pointed out in its discussions—all of
which are very applicable to climate contexts.
Guidelines for a Just Transition (2015): The recommendations set out in these
guidelines are that the environmental and climate policy-making process be such
that decent work, social inclusion, and poverty eradication are achieved. The
approach should be via social dialogue, skills development, and social protection
during economic transitions, according to the guidelines.
General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment (2019):
These guidelines intend to help climate-displaced workers and other vulnerable
migrants who are subject to exploitative recruitment practices to some extent.
Their main points are the promotion of transparency, the prevention of fees
charged to workers, and the protection of fundamental rights.
Climate and Displacement Framework
There are a number of frameworks related to climate displacement:
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - The
Paris Agreement (2015) recognizes that climate change may create displacement
and provides a framework for addressing loss and damage, though implementation
mechanisms are still developing.
Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage - A mechanism under
the UNFCCC, has a Task Force on Displacement working to develop
recommendations for an integrated approach to avert, minimize and address
displacement in the context of climate change.
Cancun Adaptation Framework - The Framework calls for measures to enhance
understanding, coordination and cooperation in relation to climate displacement,
migration and planned relocation.
Nansen Initiative and Platform on Disaster Displacement - The Nansen
Initiative (2012-2015) adopted the Protection Agenda, endorsed by 109 states,
providing recommendations to protect people displaced across borders in the
context of disasters and climate change, followed by the Platform on Disaster
Displacement (2016-present)
Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (2018) - The non-
binding framework recognizes climate change as a driver of migration and calls for
states to facilitate access to regular pathways for climate migrants, but
implementation varies by state.
Legal Gaps and Challenges-
• No Binding Climate Migration Instrument
• Limited Refugee Convention Application
• Weak Enforcement Mechanisms
• Informal Employment Challenges
• Cross-Border Coordination
VULNERABILITIES FACED BY CLIMATE MIGRANT
WORKERS-
Precarious Employment Conditions- like Informal Sector Concentration, Wage
Theft and Exploitation, Temporary and Seasonal Employment, Vulnerable Sectors.
Recruitment Abuses- The recruitment process presents particular dangers like
Debt Bondage, Fraudulent Recruitment, Confiscation of Documents, Lack of
Information.
Discrimination and Xenophobia- Climate migrants encounter discrimination in
distant communities like Social Exclusion, Labor Market Discrimination,
Scapegoating, Gender and Intersectional Discrimination.
Barriers to Social Protection- Social protection systems often exclude migrant
workers like Eligibility Restrictions, Portability Challenges, Inadequate Coverage,
Emergency Assistance.
Occupational Safety and Health Risks- Climate migrants face heightened
occupational hazards like Dangerous Work Assignments, Climate-Induced
Hazards, Inadequate Protections, Limited Healthcare Access.
Gender-Specific Vulnerabilities- Women climate migrants face distinct
challenges like Sectoral Segregation, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Care
Responsibilities, Limited Agency.
Children and Youth Vulnerabilities- When families migrate due to climate
impacts, children face serious risks like Disrupted Education, Child Labor,
Trafficking Risks, Psychosocial Impacts.
Legal Insecurity- Perhaps the most fundamental vulnerability is legal precarity
like Irregular Status, Temporary Status Uncertainty, Criminalization of Migration,
Lack of Remedy Mechanisms.
REGIONAL ANALYSIS AND CASE STUDIES-
Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific region has the highest incidence of climate-related displacements
worldwide. Pacific Island States, including Kiribati, Tuvalu, and the Marshall
Islands, face existential threats as sea levels rise, with many populations needing to
relocate permanently. Bangladesh experiences recurrent flooding and cyclones that
displace millions, often leading to migration into urban informal settlements or
external migration to Gulf states, with significant violations of rights.
Environmental degradation in Myanmar exacerbates conflict displacement and
pushes the labor force into fishing and construction industry jobs in Thailand, with
concerns about exploitation and trafficking. Despite substantial regional migration
flows, protection frameworks remain weak.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Prolonged droughts in the Sahel and Horn of Africa destroy livelihoods and, in
2022-2023, there were drastic reductions in economic stability across the region,
leading to tens of thousands of displaced people. The Lake Chad case illustrates
how profoundly climate will impact lives. The lake's reduction in size affected 30
million people, ended local fishing and agricultural economies, and resulted in
migration to other areas, exacerbating regional instability. The Kampala
Convention recognizes the impacts of climate displacement but has had limited
implementation. Women attempting to migrate for agricultural work are at risk of
severe exploitation in international domestic work in urban areas.
Latin America and the Caribbean
The Central American Dry Corridor illustrates climate’s role in northward
migration: (in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, consecutive droughts
resulted in the losses of coffee and maize production; men have no choice but to
migrate from their countries of origin, along dangerous irregular pathways to the
US, where they confront wage theft and fears of deportation). Hurricanes in the
Caribbean destroy economies on islands, leading to migration despite lack of labor
protections. Climate has not been recognized as a ground for protection by either
the US or Canada.
Middle East and North Africa
Syria experienced the most extreme recorded drought from 2006 to 2010,
displacing 1.5 million rural residents and exacerbating social tensions leading to
the 2011 Syrian conflict; climate acts as a threat multiplier. The kafala system
implemented in the Gulf States causes serious exploitation of migrants fleeing
agricultural collapses due to climate change. Extreme heat threatens workers’
rights and safety outdoors, as highlighted during the preparations for the 2022
FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Small Island Developing States
Kiribati is a prime example of an existential threat, as the country will be inundated
in 10 to 20 years. It negotiated labor migration agreements with New Zealand and
Australia as "migration with dignity," but they only cover a small percentage of the
population and raise concerns about potential exploitation. The key question is
what protections exist when entire nations are no longer habitable?
Europe
Europe receives climate-affected migrants from various regions, but lacks
systematic protection instruments. Climate migrants often farm and construct with
weak protections, while climate and migration policies in Europe are indistinct
despite being the lowest emissions patch in the world and the foremost
commitment to reduce climate change.
KEY ISSUES FOR DEBATE-
Legal Status and Recognition
Central Question: Should climate migrants receive distinct legal status under
international law, and if so, what protections should this status confer?
Burden-Sharing and Responsibility
Central Question: How should responsibility for protecting climate migrant
workers be distributed among origin countries, destination countries, and the
international community?
Decent Work in Climate Adaptation
Central Question: How can the ILO's Decent Work Agenda be realized for
climate migrant workers, particularly those in informal sectors?
Social Protection Portability
Central Question: How can social protection systems adapt to serve mobile
populations moving due to climate change?
Climate Mitigation and Just Transition
Central Question: How can climate mitigation and just transition frameworks
address the labor rights dimensions of climate-induced migration?
Recruitment and Private Sector Accountability
Central Question: How can exploitative recruitment practices targeting climate
migrants be eliminated, and what accountability should private actors bear?
Gender-Responsive Approaches
Central Question: How can climate migration and labor protection frameworks
address the specific vulnerabilities and needs of women and gender minorities?
Children's Rights in Climate Migration
Central Question: How can the rights and wellbeing of children affected by
climate-induced migration be protected?
Internal Displacement vs. Cross-Border Migration
Central Question: Should frameworks for climate-induced internal displacement
differ from those addressing cross-border migration, and how should they be
coordinated?
Private Sector Responsibility
Central Question: What responsibilities do businesses have to protect climate
migrant workers in their operations and supply chains?
CONCLUSION-
Worker protection is a complex issue related to climate-induced migration that
touches on climate policy, migration governance, humanitarian response in the
employing sector, and labour market regulation. The ILO can offer its normative
standard-setting (conventions), technical expertise on labour markets and social
protection, and tripartite governance in bringing governments, employers, and
workers to the policy table as benefits to the Member States. Member States also
have the opportunity to centre labour rights in climate adaptation and migration
policies — preventing exploitation, promoting decent livelihoods, and creating a
pathway to safe and dignified migration to adapt, rather than a pathway to
precarious survival work.
