The current WTO talks have brought migration into the center of trade policy work. Some developing countries’ governments are negotiating for developed countries to expand their commitments on temporary labor migration (Mode 4) as covered under the GATS.

The use of “guest workers” raises many human rights and economic development questions for both sending and receiving countries. Migrant and human rights groups and some policy makers wonder whether the WTO is the appropriate body to be dealing with this multi-faceted issue.

The American Friends Service Committee - AFSC (USA), Migrant Rights International - MRI (Geneva), and National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights - NNIRR (USA) have come together to host a half day forum on this topic on December 16th in Hong Kong during the WTO meetings. This event is more than a symposium, providing a much needed space for dialogue on an issue that has caused some polarization among NGO’s as well as governments in the Global South and their civil society.

The goal of the half-day forum is to build common understanding, mutual respect and future avenues for communication as we expect this topic to become more relevant in the future.

Since participants will come from a wide range of understanding of the linkages between trade and migration, the first part of the day will be spent exploring overarching issues on this topic. The second segment will narrow the focus of the debate with testimonies from former guest workers. The third segment will bring together individuals with varying views on Mode 4 (including WTO delegates from Least Developed Countries) for a healthy debate on the topic. Lastly we will talk about strategies for future ways of working together.

Participants include FOCUS on the Global South, Migrant Forum Asia (MFA), Asian Migrant Centre (AMC), Migrante International, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM), Coalition for Migrant Rights (CMR), South Centre, U.S. Teamsters, Via Compesina, and others.