The International Labour Organization has published a policy brief to assist governments and policy stakeholders in designing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic that ensure the protection of migrant workers. The brief can also help inform responses for the protection of refugees and displaced people working outside their home country.

Key recommendations include:

• Include migrant workers in national income and related policy responses.
• Extend access to health services and social protection coverage to migrant workers.
• Ensure migrant workers have regular status or do not fall into irregular status.
• Address the special hazards of migrant workers living in communal or worksite housing.
• Provide all migrant workers with access to legal remedies for unfair treatment.
• Policies based upon social dialogue and full involvement of employers’ and workers’ organizations can foster inclusion of migrant workers in national responses.

Read the ILO policy brief