Archive for category: Migration

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Marienstüberl: The Beating Heart of Poverty Relief in Graz

Poverty Relief in GrazWhen it comes to urgent, everyday aid for individuals living on the poverty line in Graz, a city in Austria, Marienstüberl is reliably there every day, every week, every year. It is a safe and warm place for marginalized individuals to eat together, socialize and receive practical assistance from the dozens of volunteers who keep the operational cogs in motion every day of the year. As director Adam Lamprecht puts it, it is where vulnerable individuals “find peace and quiet and experience community.”

Migration to Austria

Since 2010, migration to Austria has been increasing due to conflicts in the Middle East, with the majority of migrants coming from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, the Russian Federation, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia and Georgia. Today, there are also many refugees from Ukraine, all seeking a stable life situation in one of Europe’s wealthiest countries. Wherever these communities originate geographically, there is a common theme that migrants face overwhelming bureaucratic and language barriers that hinder their integration into Austrian life.

With many still struggling to get a foot on the employment ladder, many end up in financial precarity.

Marienstüberl

This is where organizations like Marienstüberl come in. Located in the center of Graz, a few minutes’ walk from the main train station, Marienstüberl shares a large building with Caritas Steiermark. This umbrella organization oversees numerous social initiatives throughout the county. Large food deliveries, mass cooking and food distribution operations take place under one welcoming roof.

It is a place where vulnerable people can go every day for a warm meal and take free food boxes for themselves and their families. For many, it is their second home.

Food Collection

Marienstüberl addresses immediate needs, including food, warmth and shelter, directly. At 7:30 a.m. sharp, the van leaves with two volunteers ready to start their day with some heavy lifting. Years of networking and building a strong reputation as the center of poverty relief in Graz have led to fruitful partnerships with commercial supermarkets, including Spar, Billa and Pennymarkt, many of whose branches set aside unsold food for donation to Marienstüberl.

Often, a small bruise is enough for fruit and vegetables to be set aside, while yoghurts, pastries and bread form the bulk of the donations. With approximately eight supermarkets to visit before 10 a.m., this is physically taxing work. And it does not stop there. A throng of volunteers meets the van upon arrival and the donations are quickly sorted into nutritionally balanced food boxes ready for distribution.

For many, this is a lifeline. With migrants facing continual pushbacks and barriers to receiving state support, these donation boxes are both welcome and necessary.

320 Meals a Day

Meanwhile, the kitchen hums with activity, preparing more than 300 meals for the day. If there are leftovers, they serve perfectly as a snack to serve later in the day for any latecomers. In fact, Marienstüberl’s kitchen is so renowned that it has just released a cookbook.

The book features some of Styria’s most beloved dishes, some designed by esteemed local chefs and, of course, some of Marienstüberl’s own favorites and marks a major milestone. All proceeds will go directly to supporting the marginalized, migrant and refugee communities that frequent Marienstüberl.

30 Years of Poverty Relief in Graz — And Many More To Go

The cookbook marks the 30-year milestone for the organization. According to Caritas director Nora Tödtling-Musenbichler, the cookbook “builds a bridge between different worlds,” allowing those who cannot afford to put food on the table to go somewhere safe and enjoy a warm meal with others.

Indeed, as demonstrated by its thriving relationships with local supermarkets, Marienstüberl occupies a very special place in the Graz community. Attracting generosity from far and wide, major institutions such as Graz University Hospital and the cleaning company Saubermacher are establishing fundraising initiatives to support Marienstüberl.

Conclusion

Every day, every week, every year, Marienstüberl proves to be a close ally for those living in poverty in Graz. It would not be what it is without its extensive volunteer network. With hundreds supporting the cause, Marienstüberl’s contribution to poverty relief in Graz is vital and it shows no signs of slowing down.

– Saroj Spickett

Saroj is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Migration to Lebanon: How Poverty Reshapes a Country in Crisis

Migration to LebanonLebanon has a long history as a migrant-sending country, with large Lebanese diaspora communities established worldwide. However, the country’s ability to host newcomers has been weakened by a deep and prolonged economic and social collapse. Today, migration to and movement within and from Lebanon cannot be understood without accounting for poverty. Poverty has skyrocketed among Lebanese households, with an estimated 44% of the population being affected in 2024, tripling in the last decade.

Who Is Migrating to and Within Lebanon?

  • Refugees: Migration to Lebanon, since 2011, has been dominated by people fleeing the Syrian civil war. The proximity of Lebanon to Syria makes it a primary destination for migration. At their peak, the number of Syrians in Lebanon reached more than one million, which is equivalent to a very large share of Lebanon’s total population. This means Lebanon has the highest per capita concentration of refugees globally 
  • Migrant workers: Lebanon is also a destination for migrant laborers, particularly domestic workers, live-in helpers and other low-wage laborers from countries like Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Sudan and many others. These individuals typically move for economic reasons, as jobs abroad may offer higher wages than at home, even though conditions in Lebanon are precarious and the country’s own economic collapse has made many migrant workers extremely vulnerable. A 2024 report estimates that more than 11,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Lebanon are of non-Lebanese nationalities, including Iraqi, Sudanese and Ethiopian.
  • Lebanese returnees: Many Lebanese returnees are members of the diaspora, people who emigrated during and after the civil war (1975-1990) and later in subsequent waves of economic and political crisis. A 2019 study tracing the return of 200 Lebanese returnees found that most people had previously lived in Saudi Arabia, France, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, Canada, Togo, the USA, Dubai, Kuwait, Australia and Venezuela. The study found that significant reasons for returning include family life, family reunification, to invest in Lebanon, better job opportunities, improved lifestyle and due to children.

Life in Lebanon for Migrants

Refugees typically rely on informal work, casual labor and even child labor due to the scarcity of formal work. Because of poverty, survival work dominates rather than stable jobs. Sectors of work can include agriculture (especially in Bekaa and Akkar), day labor, construction, small trade and domestic work. This is often under precarious terms, as there are weak legal protections.

Due to domestic workers being excluded from Lebanese Labor Laws, in many cases, migrant workers suffer abuses such as withheld pay, excessive working hours, confiscated passports, restriction of movements and lack of rest days. The deep economic crisis in Lebanon means public services like health, education and utilities are under severe strain, with refugees bearing a disproportionate burden. Up to nine in 10 Syrian refugees require humanitarian assistance to meet basic needs.

Refugees are often in competition with the host community for scarce public resources, which raises risks of social tension and divisions in communities.

The Good News

Despite the severe poverty facing both citizens and migrants in Lebanon, many projects are working to support communities and improve access to essential services. Numerous charities are raising funds for these efforts; for example, an initiative to build an orphanage and medical center in northern Lebanon has raised more than $100,000. This would provide a lifeline for children, offering a chance to heal, grow and prosper within the safety of a facility that cares.

The U.N. Refugee Agency also works tirelessly in Lebanon to provide shelter, legal aid, protection and cash assistance to people in need. This organization provides both temporary, life-saving support and sustainable, long-term solutions. It also facilitates activities that promote peacebuilding and social stability. In addition, it teaches basic literacy and numeracy skills to refugee children and helps older students access higher education opportunities.

– Abigail Gadsden

Abigail is based in Kent, UK and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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New Paths: Migration to Georgia Is Changing the Story

Migration to GeorgiaMigration to Georgia is rewriting the country’s story; a story marked by people leaving for opportunity, others arriving in search of stability and a nation learning to grow through both movement and return.

Migration Statistics

In recent years, migration to Georgia has surged. In 2023, more than 245,000 people left the country, nearly twice the number from the year before, while about 205,857 people arrived. Most were of working age, according to Civil Georgia, meaning the movement reflects shifts in both labor and opportunity.

By 2024, Georgia recorded a small but positive migration balance: 135,811 people immigrated, while 121,425 emigrated. For the first time in years, Georgia gained more people than it lost, a subtle but hopeful sign for a nation long shaped by departures.

Economic hardship remains the main reason people leave. Many Georgians move abroad for higher wages, while others seek education or reunite with family members overseas. Yet the same openness that encourages travel also makes Georgia attractive to newcomers. Students, entrepreneurs and remote workers are drawn in by low living costs and simplified visa rules.

The dual flow tells two stories: one of aspiration and one of adaptation. Emigration can stretch families thin, but remittances often sustain those who remain. At the same time, immigration insinuates new energy, filling labor gaps and bringing cultural exchange that enriches the social fabric.

Migration and Poverty

For many families, migration to Georgia, whether incoming or outgoing, is directly tied to poverty. Workers abroad send home billions of dollars each year, providing relief from daily expenses and financing children’s education. According to the World Bank, remittances reached $4.06 billion in 2024, equal to more than 12% of Georgia’s GDP.

However, there’s a hidden cost. When working-age adults leave, communities lose labor, expertise and stability. Rural areas suffer most, as young people head abroad while older generations stay behind. The imbalance widens inequality and slows local development.

Yet migration can also become a lifeline. When returning, Georgians bring new skills or investments; they help create jobs, strengthen local economies and build resilience against poverty.

Building Solutions That Work

The government and its partners are working to make migration a tool for growth rather than loss.

  • Reintegration Programs: The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons and Migration launched initiatives to help returnees start small businesses and access training opportunities.
  • Legal Migration Pathways: Developing secure work routes for foreign nationals helps formalize employment and prevent exploitation.
  • Diaspora Engagement: Encouraging Georgians abroad to invest in local enterprises channels global connections into domestic opportunity.
  • Youth Employment Programs: Expanding vocational education can reduce the push factors driving emigration.

These efforts are gradual but promising. With strategic investment and stronger protections, migration could serve as a bridge between local development and global integration.

A Shared Future

Migration to Georgia is not just about movement; it’s about connection. The same forces that push people to leave also bring others in, reminding the country that growth often comes from openness, exchange and return. If nurtured with care, migration can become one of Georgia’s greatest assets: a driver of innovation, inclusion and economic stability.

In a world constantly on the move, Georgia’s strength may lie not in resisting migration, but in learning how to make it work for everyone involved.

– Salome Jincharadze

Salome is based in Tbilisi, Georgia and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Freepik

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Migration to Taiwan: Improving Rights for Migrant Workers

Migration to TaiwanTaiwan has become a key destination for migrant workers across Asia, with many supporting its industries and aging population. Migration to Taiwan has increased over recent decades, prompting the government and local organizations to introduce reforms and advocacy efforts to improve labor rights, strengthen protections and promote social inclusion. These policies show how the authorities and NGOs can manage migration to Taiwan in a fairer and more sustainable way.

In 1992, the Taiwanese government enacted the Employment Service Act (ESA) to regulate the recruitment and employment of migrant workers, known in Chinese as wàijí láogōng. As of September 2025, Taiwan hosted 858,939 migrant workers, most of whom came from Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.

Types of Migrant Workers in Taiwan

Taiwan generally classifies migrant workers into two main categories: social welfare workers and industrial workers. Social welfare workers include domestic helpers and caregivers. Domestic helpers are primarily responsible for household chores, while Taiwan further divided caregivers into institutional and domestic caregivers. The Labor Standards Act (LSA), which sets a national minimum wage, protects institutional caregivers, but it does not protect domestic caregivers.

Industrial migrant workers, on the other hand, make up the majority of Taiwan’s migrant labor force. They mainly work in manufacturing, construction and fishing. The LSA protects both construction and manufacturing workers. Domestic or offshore fishermen also fall under this protection. However, the LSA excludes those working in distant-water fishing, leaving them vulnerable.

There are three major challenges migrant workers face in Taiwan: limited freedom to transfer between employers, lack of protections for minimum wage and the risk of deportation.

Freedom To Transfer

Taiwan tightly restricts migrant workers’ ability to change employers. Under current regulations, employers still control most decisions about transferring, though policymakers have introduced gradual reforms over time.

The Taiwanese government first introduced a transfer system in 2002, but workers could only change employers under exceptional circumstances such as factory closures, harassment or violence in the workplace. By 2008, factory workers gained the right to switch employers during their contracts under limited conditions or with employer consent. Similarly, starting in 2013, authorities granted domestic caregivers the ability to transfer with employer approval.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic reversed some of this progress. In 2021, Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor temporarily banned cross-industry transfers for migrant workers. The decision came after the Association of the Employers of Caretakers accused caregivers of fabricating complaints to move into factory jobs, which typically offer higher pay and better conditions.

Minimum Wage and Long-Term Care

Migrant workers in domestic caregiving and distant-water fishing are among the most vulnerable groups in Taiwan’s labor market. Because the LSA does not cover them, they do not receive a guaranteed minimum wage or access to social protections. This gap has left many workers underpaid and without the same legal rights afforded to other sectors.

To address these disparities, the Taiwanese government introduced the “Long-Term Retention of Skilled Foreign Workers Program” in 2022. The initiative aims to reclassify experienced migrant workers as “intermediate-skilled foreign workers,” granting them eligibility for higher wages and potential permanent residency. However, the proportion of reclassified migrant workers remains low, with only 4.15% in manufacturing and construction and 14.88% among caregivers.

Risk of Deportation

As of September 2025, around 94,000 undocumented migrant workers, mainly Vietnamese and Indonesians, face risk of deportation and lack access to social services. While some reforms have aimed to improve the situation, progress remains uneven. In 2016, the government abolished the “one-day exit rule,” which previously required migrant workers to leave Taiwan immediately after their contracts ended. However, many workers continued to face illegal referral fees charged by brokers when renewing their contracts. Since 2024, authorities have also increased fines for migrants who overstay their visas. Director of the public migrant shelter Serve the People Association, Lennon Ying-Da Wang, argues that this may further discourage undocumented workers from seeking help or reporting abuse.

Local Initiatives Supporting Migrant Workers

Since Taiwan began welcoming migrant workers, numerous civil society initiatives have emerged to promote their rights and improve their working and living conditions. In 1999, the country’s first local NGO dedicated to advocating for migrant labor rights, the Taiwan International Workers’ Association (TIWA), was established. Since 2003, TIWA has campaigned for greater freedom for workers to transfer between employers. The organization also produced two documentary films, “Lesbian Factory” (2010) and “Rainbow Popcorn” (2012), highlighting the experiences of migrant workers at the Taiwanese electronics company Fast Fame after its closure. In the same year, TIWA, along with several church groups, launched the Promoting Alliance for Household Service Act (PAHSA). PAHSA called for legislation ensuring minimum wages and regulated working hours for domestic caregivers. In 2007, PAHSA renamed itself the Migrants Empowerment Network in Taiwan (MENT) and continued its advocacy efforts.

Beyond TIWA and MENT, Harmony Home, another Taiwan-based NGO, has played a vital role in supporting undocumented migrant workers, particularly young mothers and their children. The organization has already sheltered more than 1,600 children, providing safety and care to those most at risk.

Looking Ahead

Through reforms and advocacy, Taiwan actively strengthens protections for migrant workers. Groups such as TIWA, MENT and Harmony Home have shaped positive change in migration to Taiwan. By working together, the government, employers and civil society can make migration to Taiwan more just and create better opportunities for all migrant workers.

– Sammi Li

Sammi is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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3 Organizations Defending Migrants’ Rights in Austria

migrants' rights in austriaAustria is a prosperous country with an enviable location at the epicenter of Central Europe. It calls seven countries its neighbor, so it is little wonder that the country experiences a significant migrant footfall. It also boasts one of the strongest social systems in Europe, meaning that support for unemployed, sick or injured people is generous in comparison to Austria’s European counterparts.

The country offers a bright outlook for many fleeing conflict or poverty. However, many migrants slip through bureaucratic cracks. Whether it is due to a lack of education, inability to speak the native language or legal setbacks when applying for work permits and residency documentation, many migrants find themselves in a legal gray zone that strips them of any meaningful way to make money and integrate into the country.

That is where organizations like Ikemba, Südwind and Megaphon come in. Armed with expertise in social integration, knowledge transfer and legal counsel, and access to invaluable resources, each works tirelessly to defend migrants’ rights in Austria, help them get a footing in the job market and secure a fulfilling future.

Ikemba

“We need humanity.” That is Ikemba’s resounding call on its homepage, and it is this philosophy that informs all the work it does in Graz’s underprivileged migrant communities. Its focus is on equipping migrants, low-threshold families and “hard-to-reach people” with skills that will increase their chances of a sustainable future.

A combination of social integration, help with language skills, cultural education and health support has seen Ikemba empower underrepresented communities. Courses include “Low-threshold A1 German courses for women” and “Empowerment communication course on the topic of ‘Health,’” among others. By offering this kind of education free of charge, Ikemba is one step closer to its vision: a society in which diversity is lived and valued. It is essential when it comes to fighting for migrants’ rights in Austria.

Südwind

While Südwind’s core focus is climate justice, the charity recognizes that this goes hand in hand with poverty and social inequality. Climate justice is innately connected to human rights and global sustainable development, which is why it fights for fair working conditions across every stage of international supply chains and campaigns for international solidarity and access to food and education for all.

It is no mean feat. Tackling all these major societal issues simultaneously takes a strong vision and an airtight strategy. The charity invests a significant portion of time in educational workshops that are carried out across the whole country ,the Südwind magazine and international PR campaigns that inform readers about climate justice and its impacts on migration and disadvantaged communities.

Megaphon

Taking a different approach to Südwind and Ikemba, Megaphon recognizes the bureaucratic challenges that many migrants face when in Austria. Its mission is to keep as many migrants as possible out of financial precarity by offering them the opportunity to sell its street magazine, Megaphon, without any work permits.

Offering an empowering alternative to begging on the street, Megaphon recognizes the legal battles that many migrants face in Austria and offers them legal counseling regarding visas, permits and residency. And while profits for the magazine are always welcome, the organization’s main objective is to get its vendors into meaningful and long-lasting jobs that secure a sustainable future for themselves and their families.

Looking Ahead

All three organizations are cornerstones of the social sector in Graz. Whether defending migrants’ rights in Austria by loudly taking to the streets to protest or quietly managing tedious paperwork that makes migrants’ lives easier, each proves how important such organizations are in lifting people out of poverty for the long term.

– Saroj Spickett

Saroj is based in Graz, Austria and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Dependency on Foreign Health Care Workers in Ireland

Health Care Workers in IrelandIreland has long been a source of high net emigration, with an estimated 10 million emigrants leaving the western European island since 1800. However, the past two decades have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of foreign health care workers in Ireland. The Irish health care system has experienced notable growing pains in its attempts to retain domestically-trained doctors, who often follow a decades-long trend of looking abroad to Australia, Canada and the U.K. for hire.

As Irish doctors continue to move abroad, internationally trained medics bridge the gap. Here is a look at the path ahead as Ireland copes with shortages in professional health care and works toward a more accommodating workplace for Irish doctors.

Brain Drain: Doctors Leave Ireland Behind

A telltale shift in the Irish health care industry came in the late ’90s, when rapid economic growth and demand for nursing services outpaced Ireland’s supply of workers. Since 2000, Irish doctors, most of whom depart from Ireland during or after their training, have remained similarly scarce. This period of economic expansion marked an inflection point in Irish health care, where Ireland’s historical role as a major exporter of Irish nurses reversed.

Ireland’s trend in poor doctor retention seems to mirror a similar trend affecting northern and western Europe as a whole.

Unstable Working Conditions Disillusion Doctors

Most doctors born and trained in Ireland intend to work domestically. Yet, various factors keep these workers looking for work abroad. Notably, a 2018 survey of Irish training doctors found that only 45% intended to find work domestically, hinting at an underlying push factor in the Irish medical field. A 2021 study accredits Ireland’s exodus of domestically-trained doctors to short staffing and poor training, which catalyze stressful conditions in the workplace.

The fulfillment that Irish doctors don’t find in their work environment at home, they pursue abroad. About 72% of emigrant Irish doctors prefer employment in the U.K., Canada and Australia. Naturally, international recruitment programs call on foreign-trained health care workers to compensate for Irish staffing shortages.

Foreign health care workers in Ireland must bridge the gap that Irish emigrant doctors leave behind. Nevertheless, recent assessments of Ireland’s health care system indicate that this international recruitment practice is neither sustainable for foreign-trained workers nor the communities they serve.

Challenges for Foreign Health Care Workers in Ireland

A 2025 World Health Organization study assessing nine European countries (including Ireland) found that the number of foreign-trained nurses increased 67% in these regions from 2014 to 2023 alone. Higher wages and more benefits than are available in a foreign health care worker’s home country incentivize such high immigration trends. However, a significant disconnect exists between foreign workers’ expectations and the working conditions they receive upon arrival in Ireland, perpetuating brain waste in the Irish medical field.

This occurs as foreign doctors trained in a specific setting are assigned arbitrarily to any position lacking staff, thus depriving both their origin country and their receiving country of their talent. A study interviewed foreign health care workers in Ireland and found such instances of dissonance between the position to which individuals apply and the actual role to which they are called. Due to the costly financial and emotional investment of choosing to migrate, many cannot withdraw their commitment in pursuit of a better opportunity.

Thus, many foreign doctors bear the brunt of the poor working conditions that prompt Irish-trained doctors to go abroad.

Local Implications of Sending and Receiving Health Care Workers

Local communities, either on the sending or receiving end of foreign doctors, become more vulnerable as professional health care access is redistributed across international borders. Subsequently, Ireland’s understaffed health care force leaves marginalized and low-income communities, domestic and abroad, under strain. In attempts to compensate through international recruitment, the community in Ireland outsources for doctors and the spread is thin.

Foreign health care workers in Ireland become more vulnerable to poverty as they pay the exorbitant costs associated with migration. Consequently, individuals seeking health care may not have the financial means to compete for a spot in their health care provider’s overbooked schedule. Ireland has introduced noteworthy doctor retention programs, seeking to break this cycle, with varying results.

The Path Forward for Strong Doctor Retention in Ireland

To promote universal access to quality health care, Ireland has to sustain an equitable, stress-reduced working environment for its domestically trained doctors. A shift away from brain drain in Irish health care is an uphill battle. This is largely due to systematic flaws such as hostility from or poor connections with mentors and coworkers, which weakens a newly trained doctor’s support system.

Noteworthy doctor retention efforts began in 2015, when Ireland’s Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structures oversaw adjusted working conditions and training opportunities for doctors training domestically. However, a 2021 study revisiting the success of these doctor retention programs found them ineffective and out of proportion to the problem’s scale. Going forward, it will take increased investment in strong mentorship for Irish training doctors and more compatible training programs to see the Irish health care industry draw a greater appeal to its workers.

Fortunately, a successful doctor retention policy, such as Romania’s, provides a hopeful template as Ireland pursues an equitable health care system benefitting workers and patients alike.

– Isla Hansen

Isla is based in Spokane, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Migration to Austria: Social Initiatives Making a Difference

Migration to AustriaSince as early as the 16th century, Austria has drawn in migrants from Europe and around the world. Being situated in the center of Europe and sharing seven international borders, Austria has been both a country that migrants pass through and a country that offers economic stability for those who make it their new home. With a significant 19% of its population being foreign nationals in 2023, migration shapes the country.

Migration to Austria in the Second Half of the 20th Century

In the second half of the 20th century, Austria welcomed refugees from Europe and beyond, including those cast away from conflict in Uganda, Chile and Indochina amongst others. It has also offered a safe haven for persecuted groups.

Increased focus on guest-working programs that distributed manual labor amongst migrants coupled with conflicts in the Balkan region and Kosovo saw a rise in migration across the country in the second half of the century. Such initiatives saw potential for skill development in migrants who were severely limited due to poverty, lack of education and lack of access to basic human necessities. In line with the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Austria has recognized how such migration benefits the development of the country as a whole and unlocked migrants’ potential by offering them employment and relieving them from poverty.

Thanks to its central location in Europe, stable economy and sympathetic attitude to refugees, it is easy to see why Austria is an obvious choice for many leaving their disadvantaged origins to create new lives abroad. 

Attitudes to Migration to Austria Today

It is no secret that attitudes towards migration have soured Europe-wide, and Austria is certainly not immune. According to a 2016 integration barometer study, 60% more of participants judged the migration of Muslim persons and communities as a negative thing. 

That is not to say that people view it negatively everywhere. The great metropolis of Vienna is predictably more welcoming to refugees and migrants. One empirical study conducted in 2023 revealed that Viennese people have a lot of social contact with people from migrant countries, with many also having family members from abroad. The city generally recognizes the positive impact of migrants on its economy, workforce and varied social landscape.

However, Vienna is somewhat its own microorganism. A study in October 2017 discovered that many Austrians lacked education surrounding issues of migration. Even if they were educating themselves about such issues, studies suggested biased news coverage that called for tougher border controls created unfounded fears and anti-migrant rhetoric.

Initiatives Fighting for Migrants’ Rights

Despite the rise of nationalist rhetoric across the country, social initiatives are still fighting for the lawful right of migration to Austria while also providing migrants with a framework that allows them to live and work in the country legally.

Megaphon, a street magazine based in Austria’s second-biggest city, Graz, just celebrated its 30th birthday. With it, it marked three decades of standing for social equality and migratory rights. Megaphon works specifically with migrants and asylum seekers from West Africa and Eastern Europe, offering them an empowering alternative to begging on the street by giving them the chance to sell the street magazine for double the amount they bought it for. 

Many of the Megaphon vendors have unfortunately slipped through the cracks of the bureaucratic system in Austria, meaning that they often face work permit restrictions. Megaphon makes it possible for vendors to be self-employed without having the necessary documentation.

Social Initiatives Are the Future

Megaphon is just one example of an organization pushing back against the anti-migrant rhetoric that is gaining prevalence across the country. Such initiatives are more important than ever to fight for those on the fringes of society and ensure they do not end up in a life of poverty. 

– Saroj Spickett

Saroj is based in Graz, Austria and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Indonesian Female Migrant Domestic Workers Left Behind

Indonesian Female Migrant Domestic WorkersAccording to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there are an estimated 2.6 million domestic workers in Indonesia, including more than 110,000 children younger than 18. Yet domestic workers are not recognized as “workers” under Indonesia’s labor laws. This means they remain invisible in the eyes of the state and excluded from basic protections like minimum wage or working-hour limits.

The issue stretches far beyond Indonesia’s borders. More than 9 million Indonesians currently work overseas, most of whom are women. Of these, 32% are employed in the domestic sector, largely in private households in countries such as Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. This hidden and unregulated environment often leaves workers exposed to exploitation, wage theft and abuse.

Struggles of Indonesian Female Migrant Domestic Workers

For many women, becoming a domestic worker is not a choice but a necessity. Coming from rural or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, they migrate in search of income to support their families. However, because their labor is not formally recognized, many end up trapped in cycles of exploitation.

One major struggle lies in the working conditions. Without standardized contracts, workers may face excessive hours, a lack of rest days and arbitrary wage deductions. Their isolation in employers’ homes makes it difficult to seek help when abuses occur. Gender norms further worsen the situation: domestic labor is frequently dismissed as “women’s work,” devalued as unskilled and undeserving of fair compensation.

The absence of legal recognition also allows abuse and violence to persist unchecked. Human Rights Watch has documented cases of psychological, physical and sexual abuse against domestic workers. Former Indonesian migrant worker Win Faidah described her ordeal: “No day passed without torture. My eyes were blindfolded, my back and chest were burnt with an iron… I thought I was going to die and I was ready to die.” Her story is tragically not an isolated one.

NGOs Driving Change

Despite the obstacles, grassroots organizations and international partners are carving out space for reform.

Migrant CARE has emerged as one of the most prominent advocacy groups. Its approach, built on counseling, advocacy, research and education, extends from national-level lobbying to village initiatives. Through programs like Villages that Care for Migrant Workers (DESBUMI), Migrant CARE provides communities with the tools to offer legal aid, information and empowerment at the local level.

The Indonesian Migrant Worker Union (SBMI) plays a key role in organizing workers and addressing cases of exploitation. From 2014 to 2024, SBMI reports supporting more than 1.1 million individuals with social and legal services. It assisted more than 7,600 legal cases and helped keep more than 236,000 at-risk children in school. SBMI campaigns also target predatory recruitment agencies that charge illegal fees to vulnerable workers.

ILO complements these efforts by partnering with the Indonesian government to develop protections for domestic workers. Its campaigns focus on fair wages, safe working conditions and recognition of domestic labor as essential work. By building research and policy frameworks, the ILO strengthens advocacy efforts already underway by local NGOs.

Conclusion

Indonesian female migrant domestic workers are essential to the households they sustain and the national economy through the remittances they send home. Yet they remain some of the least protected workers in society, facing systemic neglect, social stigma and widespread abuse. The combined efforts of organizations like Migrant CARE, SBMI and the ILO demonstrate that progress is possible, from community-level empowerment to international advocacy.

Closing the wage gap and securing legal recognition will require sustained political will. However, these NGOs have shown that meaningful change can begin from the ground up.

– Kai Xian, Lim

Kai Xian is based in Lille, France and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Labor Rights and Migrant Workers in Tunisia

Migrant Workers in Tunisia Need Labour Rights Tunisia was ranked among the top 10 worst countries for workers’ rights in 2025 by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Despite being at the epicenter of protests against corruption and economic deprivation in the region more than a decade ago, Tunisia’s systemic issues remain prevalent, and the poverty rate is still around 15%.

The Global Rights Index

The ITUC organizes to defend workers’ rights across the world, is democratically governed and motivated to manage cooperation between unions and major global institutions. It has created a database to track abuses against migrant workers, called the Global Rights Index. The 12th edition of the Index works to catalogue recent anti-democratic acts against workers from governments, revealing a crisis for workers’ rights globally.

The recent Index is paired with the ITUC’s campaign “For Democracy that Delivers,” an attempt to unite labourers’ collective power to successfully defend their rights. More and more governments are reshaping legislation to criminalize civil organizations as “foreign agents,” the ITUC believes. Unions negotiating for workers’ rights have seen judicial action and legal provisions being used to stifle freedom of expression in Tunisia, causing the ITUC to express concern for union figures facing possible prosecution or arrest.

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre also manages a database to record the human rights violations against migrant workers around the world. It outlines companies and businesses named in the Migrant Worker Allegation Database, containing publicly recorded cases and conveying how vulnerable migrants are worldwide.

Migrants and Workers

Tunisia holds the status of a transit space and gateway for Sub-Saharan Africans to migrate into Europe, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace experts state. European governments often practice blanket policies and actions to prevent migrants from emigrating or seeking asylum, leaving this group to remain in Tunisia or bordering regions with an unstable status. While remaining in Tunisia, a number of migrants have to undertake work in the region to sustain themselves. 

An affiliated union in the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) was established to organize Sub-Saharan African workers in light of their sizable number in the workforce. The UGTT, a political actor and union representing 800,000 Tunisian members, remains one of the Arab world’s most influential trade unions. Inclusion in this union provides a framework to succeed in strengthening the rights of migrant workers in Tunisia, securing and including them as part of a formal economy.

The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) conventions are agreements self-sanctioned and ratified by Tunisia, of which more than half are enforced according to the Danish Trade Union Development Agency. Despite this, the ITUC’s research stands that these rights are in jeopardy due to the persecution of free speech. Additionally, the government did not sign the four ILO ratifications specific to migrant protections as of 2024.

Anti-migration practices have led to the obstruction of critically inalienable human rights of migrants. Similar treatment is undeniably advancing toward other groups, as evidenced by the ITUC describing worsening rights for all workers in Tunisia. Both vulnerable to wavering legal frameworks, unadopted protective legislation and the degradation of workers’ rights, migrant workers in Tunisia have multidimensional security concerns.

Sub-Saharan African Migrants

Migrant workers from Sub-Saharan Africa faced even greater levels of hostility and economic risks from anti-migrant sentiment in the Tunisian government. Human Rights Watch recounts severe, “racially motivated” abuses after President Kais Saied’s abrasive remarks sparked violence in the first half of 2023. A large number of Black migrants, refugees and asylum seekers faced physical endangerment and economic risks due to targeted firings, increased unemployment and robberies.

Migrants unlawfully losing jobs creates less revenue for the host country, as the OECD claims economic impacts from migration are related to their structural integration into labour markets, salaries and employment. Its research suggests that, generally, migrants do not take more benefits than citizens and that they contribute more in taxes on average.

The Saied government’s lack of protection for the process of seeking asylum directly opposes its state obligation to shelter asylum seekers and refugees. International law also mandates the right to seek asylum from persecution according to Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Looking Ahead

Despite increasing research and clarification on economic and humanitarian complexities, the Tunisian administration has held steadfast to expulsion tactics against the unprotected group. Tunisia has been encouraged by various human rights organizations on actions to take in order to uphold its duty to protect asylum seekers, migrants and refugees. Databases like the Global Rights Index and union operations for legislative inclusion are critical to confronting the issues faced by migrant workers in Tunisia.

– Aliyah Omar

Aliyah is based in Alberta, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Migration to India, Poverty and the Politics of Exclusion

Migration to IndiaMigration to India has long reflected a complex mix of geography, history and regional instability. From persecuted minorities in South Asia to economic migrants seeking work, India has, for decades, absorbed people crossing its borders. In many cases, this migration has offered a lifeline; safety, access to livelihood and new beginnings. However, in recent years, the politics of Hindu nationalism has reshaped how the country views migrants, deepening vulnerabilities and reinforcing cycles of poverty. Yet, amid these challenges, there remain examples of resilience and potential for a more inclusive approach.

1. A Historical Overview

India has historically hosted displaced populations including Tibetans, Afghans, Sri Lankan Tamils and Rohingya Muslims. While not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, India has traditionally adopted a pragmatic, albeit informal, approach to asylum. In many communities, local support networks, religious institutions and NGOs have helped new arrivals find their footing. This social infrastructure has allowed some migrants to gradually improve their living conditions, find employment and send children to school.

However, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of December 2019, marked a key turning point. The law fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, excluding Muslims from its scope, thereby punishing them. Presented by the government as a humanitarian gesture, it draws criticism from citizens and groups for institutionalizing religious discrimination. Consequently, migration to India is increasingly becoming, not a matter of regional urgency or economic contribution, but a question of religious identity.

2. Exclusion and Statelessness

Among the groups most affected are Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. Many came to India after fleeing violent persecution, hoping for protection. Instead, India detained or labeled them illegal immigrants. In 2024, Rohingya refugees in Assam held a hunger strike to protest indefinite detention. With no formal recognition of their status, access to housing, education and health care remains extremely limited.

For migrants without documents, whether due to fleeing conflict or bureaucratic exclusion, the result is a state of legal invisibility. Without proof of identity, the country denies them welfare benefits, government schooling and formal employment. This leads to entrenched poverty that is less about economic conditions and more about political choices.

3. Hindu Nationalism and the Narrative of Threat

What has shifted in recent years is not the scale of migration to India, but the narratives surrounding it. Hindu nationalist discourse presents Muslim migrants as demographic threats or infiltrators. In this environment, policies such as the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) serve to redefine national belonging.

In Assam, the NRC process has already left thousands, many of them poor and Muslim, stateless. These individuals now face the burden of proving their citizenship through documentation they may never have had. For those arriving in India today, poverty is no longer simply a backdrop; it is often the outcome of systematic exclusion.

4. Labor and Local Integration

Despite these obstacles, many migrants contribute meaningfully to India’s economy. In border states and urban centers, migrants work in construction, agriculture, domestic labor and small-scale manufacturing. Even in the absence of formal protections, many have managed to secure stable income over time. In cities like Hyderabad and Delhi, refugee communities have set up small businesses, language schools and community support services, often with limited resources but strong internal solidarity. 

These contributions challenge the dominant narratives of threat and burden. Instead revealing how migration to India can, when supported by thoughtful policy, contribute to local economies and social resilience.

5. Toward a More Inclusive Future

The path forward depends on how India chooses to balance national interest with humanitarian responsibility. A more inclusive approach would involve expanding legal protections, enabling access to documentation and ensuring that religion is not the basis for citizenship. Small policy shifts, such as temporary work permits, school access for children or municipal registration for housing, could significantly reduce poverty among new arrivals.

At the same time, civil society, legal advocates and local communities have shown that change does not depend solely on national policy. Grassroots efforts continue to offer legal aid, education and medical services to undocumented migrants. These actions, while limited in scale, show what is possible when dignity and inclusion are prioritized. While difficult to find structured organizations, there are groups helping the cause of migrants. For example “an Indian medical specialist who volunteered in several migrant-led organizations, such as a regional group and the Indian consulate-general medical committee, and has successfully helped repatriate bedridden patients and the mortal remains of deceased to India. He simultaneously partners in a law firm specializing in insurance cases for migrants who have met with accidents.” Although the motives of those helping are questionable and often selfish, they do eventually benefit migrants and those in need to a tangible extent.

Looking Ahead

Migration to India reflects both the region’s humanitarian need and the country’s political divides. For many migrants, it offers a last resort against persecution or poverty. Yet too often, their arrival is met with suspicion, exclusion and institutional neglect. Still, the potential for integration remains. Migration continues, but under policies that choose who gets dignity and who remains disposable. Unless these dynamics are addressed, migration will remain a mirror not just of poverty, but of the nation’s growing inequality.

– Maryam Qutbuddin

Maryam is based in Reading, UK and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash