Refugees and other migrants are part of the global workforce of essential workers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: every day they save lives and contribute to our economies and societies. Yet their contributions can be hidden, their skills undervalued and their rights denied. These examples of reforms, new initiatives and campaigns to recognise and better support migrant essential workers in the COVID-19 response demonstrate that change is possible. It is now on all of us to ensure it will be lasting.

We are collecting examples of reforms, new initiatives and campaigns from across the world on migrants’ contributions to the COVID-19 response, in healthcare and beyond. The tracker dataset is publicly available and regularly updated. Check the links above and explore regional and country cases. For example:

The Tunisian General Labor Union (UGGT), along with MPs and other public figures, has urged the government to allow migrants and refugees access to healthcare. The group has also been supporting migrant workers by collecting and distributing donations.
Mozambique has contacted and delivered key information to returning migrants in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. The government has proactively provided testing and phone-screening for migrants and the families of migrants.

Germany has explored relaxing employment bans for asylum seekers as a means to fill agricultural shortages. MPs supporting the measure cite government data showing almost 160,000 refugees ready and willing to work.

150 fruit and vegetable pickers from Romania arrived at Stansted Airport in April to work on UK farms. Large farms have warned that fruit and vegetables would ‘run out’ if the UK government failed to provide seasonal migrants in the agricultural sector as the country had entered ‘an unprecedented time’. Explore the database and all stories