Trade Unions around the World are calling for fundamental changes in national and international migration policies as the world marks International Migrants Day today (18 December). See full ITUC Statement here
To mark the day in Europe, the ETUC is calling for continued humanitarian action to save migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Italian Government has announced it will end its "Mare Nostrum" search and rescue operation in the absence of support from the EU and other member states. It is being "replaced" by the EU Frontex Agency's 'triton" programme which is primarily concerned with border control. "Mare Nostrum" found and saved more than 100.000 migrants at sea.
"Frontex says that saving lives is a priority, but it does not have a mandate for search and rescue" said ETUC Confederal Secretary Luca Visentini "So the situation is less than clear." Video below
See also page on "Migrant Myths" by ILO
Read the latest developments in international migration and its economic impact by OECD
On International Migrants Day, Barnardos and MRCI call on the Government to give undocumented migrants the chance to regularise their status - more here
51% rise in reports of racism during 2014 according to Immigrant Council of Ireland
Congress is also a member of the ETUC's UnionMigrantNet
More on our work with Migrants here
