The Urban Partnership on the Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

In 2016, under the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU, the ‘Urban Agenda for the EU’ was launched to give European cities a greater say in shaping EU legislation, funding, and instruments for knowledge exchange. The initiative brought together cities, Member States and EU policymakers around 12 priority areas key to cities’ future—each area covered by a dedicated Partnership.

Open Society Emergency Response to COVID-19

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

The Open Society Foundations committed USD $133.7 million to combat devastation in the wake of coronavirus, prioritizing funding through public-private partnerships to support city governments in both response and recovery.5 A substantial portion of the funding was for urban immigrant and undocumented families, low-wage workers, domestic workers, caregivers, and those in the informal and gig economies who are at greatest risk from the pandemic, including direct, one-time emergency relief payments to up to 20,000 immigrant families in New York City.

Safer Migration Programme (SAMI)

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

‘Safer Migration’ (SaMI) project (Helvetas Nepal, funded by Switzerland) is a joint skill-upgrade initiative to ensure decent work in countries of destination. It provides skill training, including life skills and health, and certification for prospective migrant workers (9000 have benefitted from this programme between 2011 and 2018 of which 22% of women). Collaboration between CSOs, private institutions, the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) and Foreign employment board (FEB)

Canada's response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of making health services accessible to all and many Member States have decided to provide access to healthcare to all residents. Canada has updated pre-departure medical services for resettled refugees including testing and isolation and provided coverage for telemedical and virtual health services for beneficiaries of the Interim Federal Health Programme providing temporary health coverage for refugee claimants and other specific categories of migrants.

Plan to Guarantee Health Care for all New Yorkers

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

New York City, US launched a municipal program in 2019 to expand universal health care so that regardless of insurance, ability to pay, or immigration status all residents can seek services without fear of discrimination. Having established this program prior to COVID-19 was critical to the city’s ability to respond rapidly and inclusively when the pandemic hit

Portuguese government gives temporary residence to immigrants with pending applications

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portuguese Government has decided that all immigrants with residence permit applications that were pending at the Aliens and Borders Office (SEF) on 18th March will receive permission for temporary residence and have access to the same rights as all other citizens, including social support. The measure also includes asylum seekers. 

This measure will remain in force until at least July 2020.

 

Social protection for migrant workers: A necessary response to the Covid-19 crisis

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a major public health challenge and had serious economic and social impacts on origin, transit and destination countries, as well as on migrant workers and their families and on businesses and their operations. This informative note presents policy options in order to ensure comprehensive social protection for migrant workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Responding to gaps caused by the pandemic: the situation in Spain

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

Spain offers universal access to basic health services. Beyond the most favourable scheme enjoyed by EU nationals covered by EU common legislation, all migrants staying in Spain, irrespective of legal status, have access to the basic national health system. This measure has proved its utility during the pandemic.

Protecting migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Submitted by Mr. Camille Saadé on

This policy brief provides information and identifies a number of key recommendations to assist governments and other stakeholders in designing COVID-19 policy responses that can help to ensure the protection of migrant workers, as well as to inform responses for the protection of refugees and those displaced working in countries other than their own, differentiated by gender as appropriate and based upon relevant international labour standards, and ILO guidance and good practices.

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