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28 April 2023

Workers Memorial Day

+ World Day for Safety and Health at Work

On International Workers Memorial Day and World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we remember Global South and migrant workers who have lost their lives due to unsafe and inhumane working conditions. We stand in solidarity with all workers demanding dignity, respect and an end to exploitation.

Campaigning for employment rights for all migrants, and for an end to exploitation, trafficking and modern slavery, remains a top priority for us at MRN.

Migrant workers protest the abusive Kafala system in Lebanon.

Domestic migrant workers (DMWs) protest the abusive Kafala system in Lebanon. Lebanon has seen many DMW deaths under this system.

Photo: AFP via Middle East Eye.

A recent investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Vice found widespread exploitation and maltreatment of seasonal agricultural workers on UK farms. Sybil Msezane worked as a fruit picker on a UK farm and was shocked to discover how few labour protections exist in the UK.

Photo: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Kat Pirnak.

Sybil Msezane worked as a fruit picker on a UK farm and was shocked to discover how few labour protections workers had in the UK.
Protester calling out complicity of Western brands like Benetton, Matalan, Mango, Primark, Gucci, Versace, Mon Cler, Zara and Walmart, in the fatal Bangladesh Rana Plaza factory collapse, where 1134 people died.

Protester calling out complicity of Western brands like Benetton, Matalan, Mango, Primark, Gucci, Versace, Mon Cler, Zara and Walmart, in the fatal Bangladesh Rana Plaza factory collapse, where 1134 people died. Protests have also demanded that brands pay compensation to the victims’ families.

Photo: Clean Clothes Campaign.

Family and friends of Gangaram Mandal who died in Qatar. Over 6500 workers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have died in the past 10 years in Qatar.

Photo: Pete Pattisson via The Guardian.

Family and friends of migrant worker Gangaram Mandal who died in Qatar.
The Morecambe Bay Disaster: 23 Chinese migrants died by drowning whilst working in Lancashire, UK.

The Morecambe Bay Disaster: 23 Chinese migrants died by drowning whilst working in Lancashire, UK.

African migrant workers are joined by union members in demonstrations after the death of migrant farm workers in road traffic accidents in and around Foggia, Italy.

Photo: AFP/Getty via BBC News.

African migrant workers are joined by union members in demonstrations after the death of migrant farm workers in road traffic accidents in and around Foggia, Italy.
Faustina Tay from Ghana was physically abused by her employers. She is one of many migrant workers to lose their lives under the Lebanese Kafala system.

Faustina Tay from Ghana was physically abused by her employers. She is one of many DMWs to lose their lives under the Lebanese Kafala system. Read more about her story here.

Photo: ARMLebanon.

Migrant workers in Canada face terrible living and working conditions. Several Jamaican migrants have died recently while working on Ontario farms.

Photo: Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Migrant workers in Canada face terrible living and working conditions. Several Jamaican migrants have died recently while working on Ontario farms.
Protest after the Rana Plaza factory collapse.

Protest after the Rana Plaza factory collapse.

Photo: Solidarity Center.