ILO-SG-1.Pdf
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“ “ Migrant Workers 1. Letter from the Secretary General 2. Letters from the Directors 3. Introduction of the committee 4. Introduction of the topic 5. History of the topic 6. Current situation 7. Past International Actions 8. QARMAS 9. Position Paper Guidelines 10. References Letter From the Secretary General Dear Delegates and Faculty Advisors, Last year the Casuarinas Debate Team organized our first Model United Nations conference called CASMUN, and once again it is an honor to have you back with us. It has not been too long since the Casuarinas Debate Team started, and since then having our own Model UN competition was a goal: a difficult one, but not impossible to achieve. In 2020, we were planning to organize the conference at our school, following the measures for what appeared to be only a 3 month quarantine. However, because of the Covid-19 pandemic we were forced to organize a virtual conference, which we were able to accomplish through the hard work of our Faculty Advisors and the Casuarinas Debate Team. This year is no different, and with much more experience in hand, we are organizing another virtual conference full of dedication, enthusiasm and transparency in order to offer all delegates a suitable space for self expression and formal discussions. Casuarinas Model UN is the result of the effort of many people, including our Faculty Advisors, your committee chairs, and all the members of our Secretariat who volunteered to participate. Personally, I would like to thank them all in advance for their commitment. Finally, I would like to point out that Model United Nations is about having fun and learning not only about global issues, but also acquiring and improving soft skills that will benefit delegates in the long term. This is why we encourage all of you to actively participate in your committee sessions and make an effort to take advantage of the experience CASMUN has to offer. We will look forward to having you at our Conference! Letters From the Directors Dear Delegates, Welcome to the International Labour Organization of CASMUN 2021!!! My name is Vania Campana and I will be one of your directors for this conference. Before diving into committee-related affairs I would like for you to get to know me better, my MUN career began back in 2018 with my school’s delegation. Furthermore, in 2019 I joined the Peruvian Debate Society seeking new challenges, and have debated alongside them ever since. In my free time, I usually find myself reading, painting, listening to music, cuddling with my dog, or “googling” articles regarding politics and international affairs. Even though most of my debating experience focuses on international security-related topics, debated at DISEC and the Security Council, this year I decided to dive into social and humanitarian affairs. I’ve always been very interested in migrant workers since their adequate integration into the society they have migrated to face several obstacles in most countries worldwide. I take MUN very seriously when needed, and this topic requires said seriousness, but I remain certain that the most important part of debating is enjoying your experience and having fun; those are my expectations of the committee. This weekend I’m looking forward to viable solutions that adapt the existing proposals of the UN. It is also extremely important for delegates to show interest in the topic that is being debated and in the ongoing negotiations inside blocs and between them, remember that having different policies does not mean negotiations between said countries are not encouraged. I am looking forward to creative speeches, with solid argumentation and content and very diplomatic negotiations. With that being said, if you have any doubts regarding the committee do not hesitate on contacting me. I wish you the best during the preparation previous to the conference, don’t forget it is very important to have fun!! Looking forward to zoom-meeting you, Vania Campana Chair of the International Labor Organization [email protected] Letters From the Directors Dear Delegates, Welcome to the International Labor Organization (ILO)! My name is Nennele Rivadeneira, and, in a couple of weeks, I will have the great opportunity of being one of your Directors during these following days on this first virtual edition of Casuarinas MUN (CASMUN). Vania and I are very excited to meet you in the upcoming conference, with high expectations of you and hoping that you come with coherent and creative ideas and are full of your best attitude. I am 19 years old, and I graduated from Villa Maria La Planicie back in 2018, currently studying Law at Universidad de Lima. In 2016 I joined my school’s MUN team, with which I participated in national conferences, as well as in other ones abroad with United Schools of Peru (USP). Since then, MUN has represented an important part of my life, enabling me to make great friends, know myself better, have great experiences, learn new things, gain useful life skills, and prove myself the things that I am capable of. I joined Peruvian Debate Society (PDS) last year to keep participating in this activity during university, and ever since I did that, I have had lots of fun and met some of the most important people in my life. As I look back now, I can tell you that debating has truly aided in my self-development and growth, so I hope that in this committee you have the opportunity to feel that as well. Do your best while preparing for debate, and come to be the most diplomatic delegate in the room! Portray confidence and have fun! We will be very aware of your interactions with other delegates, with an appropriate use of english and a clear understanding of the topic. Finally, we hope we can all have a good time this weekend :) If you have any doubts regarding position papers, the topic or the committee in general, do not hesitate to ask us! You can contact us through the mail to which you will send your position papers or to the ones you will find under our names. We will gladly help you. Good luck to everyone and see you at the conference! Nennele Rivadeneira Chair of the International Labor Organization [email protected] Introduction of the Committee The International Labour Organization was established in 1919, aiming to set labor standards, develop policies and devise programs promoting decent work for all women and men by bringing together governments, employers, and workers of most member States. Its labor standards are broadly aimed at ensuring accessible, productive, and sustainable work worldwide in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and dignity. The Organization works guided by 189 conventions and treaties, protecting freedom of association and ensuring an effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced labor, the abolition ofchild labor, and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. Within the UN system, the organization has a unique tripartite structure: all standards, policies, and programs require discussion and approval from the representatives of governments, employers, and workers. This framework is maintained by its three main bodies: The International Labour Conference, the Governing Body, and the International Labour Office. Back in 1969, the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving fraternity and peace among nations, pursuing decent work and justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations. With its focus on international development, it is a member of the coalition of UN organizations aimed at helping meet the Sustainable Development Goals. With increasing ease of transportation and globalization, the world is seeing more migrant laborers today than ever before. As of now, there are approximately 164 million migrant laborers, with some making up nearly 18.5% of the workforce in high income countries. Migrant workers are imperative to the economies of both their host and home countries, with millions each year sent back home in the form of remittances. Unfortunately, despite their value, they are often extremely vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in their host countries and offered minimal legal or social protections. Many migrant laborers face predatory subcontracting schemes, unsafe work practices, and have their legal documents confiscated upon arrival, leaving them hostage to the goodwill of their employers. Others are physically abused and have their wages withheld, trapping them in cycles of inescapable debt. Delegates must find a common ground between allowing the free movement of labor in and out of a country, individual countries’ labor laws, and global shared standards for workers’ welfare and justice. The situation that migrant workers face is one that is especially precarious and difficult to address, considering that many host governments remain unaware of and do little to counteract the discrimination in job-recruting industry. Moreover, it is essential to discuss and find a common ground to deal with the difficulty of enforcing both the creation and enforcement of standards for migrant workers that are respected by both home and host countries. Introduction of the Topic In order to properly understand the problem, it is important to define the term “migrant workers”, which according to the International Labour Organization is “an international migrant individual of working age and older who are either employed or unemployed in their current country of residence”. As of 2018, the ILO estimates that 164 million people are migrant workers, 96 million of which are men and 68 million of which are women. Meaning, migrant workers make up approximately 63% of migrants worldwide and constitute 4.7% of all workers. Thus, almost one of every ten people in the developed world is a migrant worker.