Seasonal Migrant Workers

Abstract

Seasonal migrant workers are individuals who temporarily leave their country of origin to labour in another country for a defined period of time per year. Formalized national programmes have existed since at least the 1950s as a mechanism for states to address labour supply shortages without reliance on permanent immigration. International labour and human rights laws have sought to extend rights to migrant workers, including seasonal workers, to ensure equality of treatment with national workers in a country. However, many challenges exist for workers to realize such rights in practice, often due to the temporary and contingent nature of the immigration and work permits allocated under seasonal labour migration programmes. In addition, growing reliance on third-party recruiters and other private intermediaries in seasonal labour migration render workers further vulnerable, and a growing body of international instruments aim to better regulate this emerging industry.