Migration, climate, and construction: BWI calls for “worker justice” in the green transition

A new report by the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) brings to light the critical, yet often overlooked, role of migrant workers in the green transition. These workers, many displaced by climate-related disasters, find themselves in vulnerable positions—filling low-skilled, dangerous jobs in cities they helped build but in which they are offered limited rights and protections. The report stresses that a green transition cannot be truly just without the inclusion of migrant workers, who are increasingly bearing the brunt of climate impacts in both their home and host countries.

Migrant workers are essential to the construction sector and are tasked with building the infrastructure required in the green transition, yet they remain excluded from many of the benefits of “green” jobs. These jobs are often precarious, involve exploitative recruitment practices, with limited social protection, and have barriers to union representation, skills’ recognition and access to quality training opportunities. Extreme heat and hazardous weather conditions make the construction sector particularly dangerous, disproportionately affecting migrant workers, who may additionally fear to lose their job and endanger their family livelihoods if they denounce risks at the workplace. The report calls for the dismantling of such barriers, ensuring migrant workers' access to fair wages, occupational health and safety, and training opportunities aligned with international labour standards.

The report advocates for structural changes in recruitment and labour practices, calling on governments, industry leaders, and policymakers to adopt fair recruitment, social protections, and safety measures that account for the specific vulnerabilities of migrant workers. By addressing these issues, the construction industry can contribute to a genuinely inclusive and resilient green transition that recognises and respects the dignity and rights of all workers. “The climate transition must leave no one behind, especially those who are at the heart of building our cities and economies,” BWI Secretary General Ambet Yuson added.

Read the full report.   

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