UFCW Canada advocates for migrant workers at Labour Rights Week in Oaxaca

Oaxaca, Mexico – March 9, 2015 – Recently, the Mexican state of Oaxaca held its first Labour Rights Week for Migrant Workers. The event, conducted by Oaxaca’s Department of Labour (SETRAO) in coordination with UFCW Canada, the Global Workers Justice Alliance, and Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales (FIOB), consisted of lectures, conferences and workshops held in the municipalities of Ejutla de Crespo, Tlaxiaco, Ixtlán and Jalapa de Díaz. Information booths were also installed in Oaxaca’s airport as well as the main bus stations of the state.

The Governor of Oaxaca, Gabino Cué, officially launched the event. The focus of the First Labour Rights Week was to promote basic human and labour rights knowledge and tools for migrants travelling in Mexico, the USA and Canada. At the same time, the UFCW Canada, Global Workers Justice Alliance and FIOB provided migrants a useful directory of advocates who can assist them during their stay abroad, including the Agriculture Workers Alliance support centres operated in association with UFCW Canada.

UFWC Canada continues to strengthen its outreach and advocacy for migrant workers throughout Oaxaca and other Mexican states from where thousands of migrant workers come to Canada each season. At the same time, the First Labour Rights Week provided an opportunity to reinforce direct ties with municipal authorities to provide an exchange of information to improve migrant workers’ working conditions.