Media representation of women migrant workers: A critical look

The study reviews how overseas women migrant workers are characterized in print and electronic media in accordance with gender, class and geographic stereotypes. It critically assesses how women's multiple roles as workers, earners, investors, mothers and daughters, etc. are overshadowed by simplistic narratives focusing on exploitation and victimhood.

This study is based on migration-related news published in four widely circulated national English and Bangla dailies and reports aired on three television channels. The study is an in-depth analysis of the news articles and videos published and diffused between 2015 and 2021. Findings depict a majoritarian bias focusing on individual cases illustrating highly abusive women’s labour migration experiences to attract readership and viewership. Yet, reporting on how women’s labour migration also emancipates them in the context of work, family and social lives was found to be rare, thus leaving and cultivating a common perception conflating all women’s migration with abuse. Considering that such narratives reinforce a false perception that the solution to such abuses is to ban women’s migration, the analysis concludes that while human rights violations faced by migrant workers must be addressed, coverage exclusively focusing on abuses is socially dis-empowering to women and more nuanced reporting on women’s labour migration is needed.

Preventing Discrimination, Exploitation and Abuse of Women Migrant Workers - An Information Guide

This information guide of 6 booklets aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of the vulnerability of migrant workers, especially women, to discrimination, exploitation and abuse throughout the international labour migration process and to promote and improve legislation, policies and action to prevent these problems and to better protect vulnerable workers.

Contains

1. Booklet 1. Introduction: Why the focus on women international migrant workers
2. Booklet 2. Decision-making and preparing for employment abroad
3. Booklet 3. Recruitment and the journey for employment abroad
4. Booklet 4. Working and living conditions
5. Booklet 5. Back home: Return and reintegration
6. Booklet 6. Trafficking of women and girls

Women migrant domestic workers in Lebanon: A gender perspective

This paper illuminates the gender dimensions of women migrant domestic workers’ lived experiences in Lebanon under the kafala system. It examines the circumstances of women migrant domestic workers who live with their employer (live-in workers) and those who do not (live-out workers).

Rebels, victims, agents of change: The singular histories of women migrant workers

The purpose of this ethnographic study is to shed light on how women view their migration and work abroad. The findings challenge conventional narratives on labour migration of women and bring out important perspectives that invaluably inform policymaking.

The research provides in-depth qualitative data on women labour migration, free of a priori judgment in a context where such activity remains contested in many parts of society. The aim is to present on women’s migratory journeys and in the process re-visit these gender constructions, as well as the social class ranking that associates honour and rank with a specific gender order. It is an important reference for academics, activists and Government practitioners.

Lessons learned: Building migrant women’s groups and networks

The Lessons Learned outlined in this paper draw attention to reflections and good practices from the experiences of building of migrant women’s groups and networks in both countries of origin and destination.

The ILO’s TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, supported by Global Affairs Canada and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, recognizes that gender inequalities and discrimination limit the opportunities for women to benefit from migration, restrict women from reaching their full potential and increases the risk of exploitation. Aiming to increase women’s empowerment, TRIANGLE in ASEAN has supported six civil society organizations in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand to build migrant women’s groups and networks.

The ten lessons learned outlined in this paper cover practical issues including training of facilitators, the formation and maintenance of groups, and the building of wider networks nationally and cross-border. Other lessons learned address more complex issues that the migrant women’s groups have encountered. The lessons learned, like the groups themselves, are a work in progress. Building networks, tackling sensitive issues, advocating more broadly for the rights of migrant women and deepening the analysis of the complex social, economic and political factors through greater connectivity with social movements are all on the agenda for future interventions.

Women members of groups have gained more confidence, can more openly share and are expressing their opinions. Better informed, with more self-esteem, they are taking their own needs and knowledge into more consideration in decisions about migration. Migrant women’s group leaders are working together to advocate for policy changes and are prepared to tackle societal attitudes which discriminate against women and stigmatize migrant women.

The vibrant, enthusiastic migrant women’s groups built during this project are pleased to share their experiences with the hope that more migrant women will be able to build resilience through starting their own groups and be able to collectively address the inequalities, stigma and exploitation that migrant women currently face.

Organizing women migrant workers: Handout compendium

This handout compendium is meant to be used with the training manual "Organizing women migrant workers: Manual for trade unionists in ASEAN".

This handout compendium is a part of the training manual "Organizing women migrant workers: Manual for trade unionists in ASEAN". The handout compendium is meant to be used with the training manual. The training manual was produced jointly by the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and the programme Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities in the ASEAN region. ACTRAV and Safe and Fair aim for this training manual and handout compendium to enable trade unions to address the specific needs of women migrant workers, bringing these two elements to

Organizing women migrant workers: Manual for trade unionists in ASEAN

This training manual was produced in collaboration between ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities in the ASEAN region, a joint programme of the International Labour Organization and UN Women under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Trade unions regionally and globally often work on either migrants’ issues, or on gender equality and women’s empowerment. ACTRAV and Safe and Fair aim for this training manual to enable trade unions to address the specific needs of women migrant workers, bringing these two elements together.

This training manual was produced jointly by the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and the programme Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities in the ASEAN region. Safe and Fair is jointly implemented by the ILO and UN Women, under the multi year European Union–United Nations Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls.

World of Work magazine: Migration should be a choice

The 2017 edition of the World of Work magazine highlights themes discussed by the ILO’s 106th International Labour Conference (ILC), including labour migration and fair recruitment.

Illustrated guidelines for gender-responsive employment intensive investment programmes

This guide is the outcome of a study carried out on gender and public works, and has been developed using evidence from 43 EIIPs implemented in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean between 1995 and 2013.

Good practices include experiences in fair recruitment in Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Indonesia, Haiti, Guatemala and Nicaragua.