The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and migrant workers

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Declaration views economic growth and decent work as mutually reinforcing, and has resolved to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained prosperity. It is of utmost importance to the significant number of low-skilled migrant workers in often exploitative working conditions and low-waged jobs, particularly in the case of migrant workers in an irregular situation working in the informal economy. Labour exploitation limits migrant workers’ earnings and ability to contribute to the development of countries of origin and destination.

This is mainly reiterated in two Sustainable Development Goals of particular significance to ILO’s Decent work and Fair Migration Agendas:
  • Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
    The Agenda provides for a strong link between decent work and migration in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 on promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, which contains target 8:8:
    “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.”
  • Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
    Also of particular significance to ILO’s Decent work and Fair Migration Agendas is SDG 10 on reducing inequality within and among countries, which contains target 10.7:
    “Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.”
Other goals are also relevant such as:
  • Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

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Migration and development