Labor Migration (Approximately $500,000 available): With this program DRL seeks to protect the human and labor rights of migrant workers so that they can enjoy dignity and full and equal protection under the laws of the countries in which they work. Proposals should target migrant workers who face employment and societal discrimination and a lack of sufficient legal protections; face exploitation due to restrictions on their right to change jobs, remove themselves from unacceptable employment situations, or travel freely out of their host countries; and face dangerous working conditions, harassment in the workplace, and forced labor. Well-developed proposals will include any or all of the following groups of migrants: disabled persons, women, and youth. DRL seeks proposals with program activities that will:
- Engage with grassroots civil society groups, labor organizations, and other local stakeholders to provide necessary support and assistance—in sending and/or receiving countries—to workers from the Asia-Pacific region seeking employment in to Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE or other Gulf States;
- Establish linkages between civil society organizations in sending and receiving countries;
- Paying special attention to recommendations in the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, conduct in-country advocacy or awareness-raising in Qatar, Kuwait and/or other Gulf States regarding implementation and enforcement of labor laws, as well as outreach to labor recruiters operating in countries of origin;
- Leverage promising practices (e.g. training curriculum and various policy findings) that result from multilateral and regional fora such as the Colombo Process;
- Educate the general public about conditions of work and human rights abuses faced by migrant workers.
Sub-Saharan Africa (Approximately $500,000 available): Mainly to promote internationally recognized labor rights, specifically targeting the significant informal sector economy. Proposed activities must seek to reduce barriers to formalization and extend benefits and social protections to workers in agriculture, street vending, domestic work, waste picking, and/or other informal economy work, with a particular focus on youth and women. DRL seeks program proposals with program activities that will:
- Engage with civil society, including local trade unions, to promote and protect the rights of informal economy workers and increase the capacity of their representative organizations to advocate for their rights;
- Establish effective channels of communication with local or national authorities that can address the needs of informal sector workers;
- Support efforts to increase social protection and access to public services for informal economy workers;
- Partner with at least one local grassroots organization that has experience working to protect and promote the rights of workers in the informal economy in the proposed country or countries.
- Work in one to three countries.
