Migrant Workers' Voice - the voice of all migrant workers, Kampala, Uganda

MIGRANT WORKERS’ VOICE ORGANISATION

ABOUT US

Migrant Workers’ Voice Organisation (MWVO) is a labour-rights and migrant-worker advocacy organisation registered and operating in Uganda. The Organisation promotes and protects the rights, dignity, safety, and welfare of migrant workers through awareness creation, rights education, counselling, capacity building, advocacy, case management, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration support.

MWVO works to prevent and respond to human trafficking, migrant smuggling, forced labour, labour exploitation, discrimination, violence, abuse, and other violations affecting migrant workers. Its programmes target prospective migrant workers, current migrant workers, returnee migrants, immigrant workers, families, communities, employers, recruitment agencies, government institutions, and other stakeholders in the migration sector.

The Organisation draws on the experiences of migrant workers and returnee migrants to provide practical guidance, information, referrals, psychosocial support, and advocacy. Through its growing network of returnee migrants and partners in Uganda and other countries, MWVO contributes to safe labour migration, access to justice, social protection, and the sustainable reintegration of migrant workers.

OUR VISION

A society in which all migrant workers enjoy dignity, safety, equal opportunities, decent work, and full protection of their rights.

OUR GOAL

To contribute to safe, orderly, regular, and rights-based labour migration while strengthening the welfare, resilience, protection, and development of migrant workers and their families.

OUR MANDATE

The mandate of Migrant Workers’ Voice Organisation is to:

  1. Promote safe, informed, and rights-based labour migration.
  2. Protect migrant workers from exploitation, abuse, trafficking, and forced labour.
  3. Create awareness of migrant workers’ rights and responsibilities.
  4. Support migrant workers in accessing justice, remedies, referrals, and appropriate authorities.
  5. Strengthen the participation of migrant workers in decisions affecting their welfare.
  6. Provide counselling, guidance, and psychosocial support.
  7. Support the rescue, referral, rehabilitation, and reintegration of distressed migrant workers.
  8. Promote decent work, freedom of association, and collective bargaining.
  9. Conduct research, documentation, policy advocacy, and public education.
  10. Build partnerships that improve migrant-worker protection at national, regional, and international levels.

OUR CORE VALUES

Migrant Workers’ Voice Organisation is guided by the following core values:

i) Human Dignity

We respect the inherent dignity, worth, and rights of every migrant worker and every person we serve.

ii) Human Rights

We uphold and promote the human and labour rights of migrant workers without discrimination.

iii) Integrity

We conduct our work honestly, ethically, professionally, and responsibly.

iv) Transparency

We promote openness, accountability, and responsible management of information and resources.

v) Empathy

We listen to and respond compassionately to migrant workers and other persons in vulnerable situations.

vi) Inclusion

We serve all people without discrimination based on sex, gender, age, disability, religion, nationality, ethnicity, social status, or financial ability.

vii) Empowerment

We equip migrant workers, families, and communities with knowledge, skills, information, and opportunities.

viii) Innovation

We develop practical, creative, and sustainable responses to emerging migration challenges.

ix) Professionalism

We provide reliable, respectful, timely, and evidence-based services.

x) Partnership

We work collaboratively with government, civil society, communities, private-sector actors, and international partners.

xi) Accountability

We accept responsibility for our decisions, conduct, programmes, and results.

xii) Flexibility

We adapt our programmes and services to changing migration realities and the needs of affected persons.

OUR FOCUS AREAS

Migrant Workers’ Voice Organisation focuses on the following priority areas:

OUR PROGRAMMES AND SERVICES

Rights Protection and Labour Advocacy

Migrant Workers’ Voice Organisation advocates for the protection of migrant workers in accordance with applicable national laws, regional instruments, international human-rights standards, and international labour standards.

The Organisation

MWVO also engages government institutions, employers, recruitment agencies, civil-society organisations, trade unions, diplomatic missions, and other stakeholders to improve policies and practices affecting migrant workers.

Human-Rights Advocacy

The Organisation represents and supports migrant workers and other persons whose rights have been violated in connection with labour migration.

MWVO provides information, referrals, advocacy, and case follow-up without discrimination based on sex, gender, nationality, religion, disability, social status, or financial ability.

Where appropriate, the Organisation works with government agencies, diplomatic missions, law-enforcement authorities, lawyers, service providers, employers, recruitment agencies, and partner organisations to promote protection, accountability, and access to justice.

Training, Counselling, and Guidance

MWVO provides practical information and support before, during, and after migration. Its counselling and guidance services draw on the experiences of returnee migrants and trained professionals with knowledge of labour migration.

The services include:

The Organisation conducts periodic capacity-building seminars and pre-departure conferences to help prospective migrant workers make informed decisions and prepare for possible challenges during migration.

Rescue, Referral, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration

MWVO supports distressed migrant workers who may be victims of trafficking, forced labour, torture, violence, exploitation, abuse, unlawful detention, or other serious violations.

Depending on the circumstances and available resources, support may include:

All rescue and referral interventions are undertaken in accordance with applicable laws, safeguarding principles, confidentiality requirements, and the best interests of the affected person.

Case Management and Technical Support

MWVO manages cases through a structured process that may include:

  1. Identifying and registering cases.
  2. Assessing the nature, urgency, and risks involved.
  3. Documenting facts, evidence, and available records.
  4. Reviewing relevant laws, policies, contracts, and institutional procedures.
  5. Developing case-management and referral plans.
  6. Coordinating rescue, protection, legal, medical, and psychosocial interventions.
  7. Preparing reports, recommendations, and advocacy briefs.
  8. Supporting communication and settlement discussions where appropriate.
  9. Following up on referrals and case outcomes.
  10. Identifying patterns that may require policy or institutional reform.

The Organisation provides information on relevant labour standards and the laws and policies of countries of origin, transit, and destination. Where specialised services are required, MWVO refers cases to qualified professionals and competent authorities.

Rehabilitation, Skills Development, and Economic Empowerment

MWVO recognises that returning migrant workers may face unemployment, poverty, trauma, stigma, debt, family difficulties, or a lack of skills and capital. Rehabilitation therefore includes both psychosocial recovery and practical support for sustainable reintegration.

The Organisation supports:

The Organisation has also supported skills development among teenage migrant-worker development clubs, including training in the production of reusable sanitary pads and other practical livelihood skills.

Migrant-Worker Networks and Cultural-Exchange Programmes

MWVO promotes cooperation and solidarity among prospective migrants, current migrant workers, returnee migrants, families, and communities.

Activities may include:

These activities strengthen solidarity, promote safe-migration information, and encourage migrant workers to support one another.

OUR TARGET GROUPS AND BENEFICIARIES

International Migrant Workers

These are persons who leave their country of origin temporarily or periodically to seek employment in another country.

MWVO supports international migrant workers with information, rights education, counselling, referrals, advocacy, and assistance in cases involving exploitation, abuse, trafficking, forced labour, discrimination, or other violations.

Internal or Domestic Migrant Workers

These are workers who move from one region or locality to another within the same country for employment.

Although they may not cross an international border, internal migrant workers may still face trafficking, deceptive recruitment, low wages, unsafe workplaces, violence, discrimination, and other labour-related abuses.

Prospective Migrant Workers

These are persons preparing to migrate for employment. MWVO provides them with pre-departure information on:

Returnee Migrants

Returnee migrants may require counselling, legal assistance, medical referral, skills development, livelihood support, family reintegration, and guidance on rebuilding their lives after returning home.

Immigrant Workers

MWVO supports workers who move to Uganda or another country for employment, business, study, marriage, family reasons, or permanent settlement and who may face workplace exploitation, discrimination, abuse, trafficking, or difficulty accessing remedies.

Families and Communities

Families and communities are important beneficiaries because they influence migration decisions, provide support during migration, and contribute to the reintegration of returnee migrants.

Vulnerable and At-Risk Groups

Special attention is given to women, young people, children, persons with disabilities, undocumented workers, survivors of trafficking, victims of forced labour, and workers facing violence, detention, or other serious risks.

OUR NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS

MWVO works to establish and strengthen partnerships with:

These partnerships support coordinated referrals, improved access to services, information-sharing, policy engagement, research, advocacy, and stronger protection mechanisms for migrant workers.

ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY

Migrant Workers’ Voice Organisation is supported by an executive and technical team with experience in migration, labour rights, human rights, advocacy, counselling, administration, finance, case management, community mobilisation, and programme implementation.

The Organisation’s personnel include individuals with direct or professional experience of labour migration, including returnee migrants and persons with knowledge of migrant-worker challenges in different countries.

This combination of technical knowledge and lived experience strengthens MWVO’s ability to provide practical, responsive, and migrant-centred support. MWVO continues to strengthen its capacity through:

PROPOSED ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

MIGRANT WORKERS’ VOICE ORGANISATION STRUCTURE

i) Governance and Executive Level

ii) Management and Technical Level

iii) Support Structures

The organisational structure may be adjusted in accordance with MWVO’s governing documents, registration requirements, operational needs, and available resources.

GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

MWVO is committed to responsible governance, transparent administration, and accountable service delivery. The Organisation seeks to ensure that:

EXPECTED CONTRIBUTION

MWVO contributes to the following outcomes:

CONCLUSION

Migrant Workers’ Voice Organisation is committed to ensuring that migration for work is safe, informed, dignified, orderly, regular, and beneficial to migrant workers, their families, communities, and countries of origin and destination.

Through advocacy, awareness creation, training, counselling, case management, rescue and referral, rehabilitation, skills development, research, networking, and partnerships, MWVO seeks to ensure that no migrant worker is left without information, protection, representation, or a voice.

Migrant Workers’ Voice Organisation: Protecting rights, promoting dignity, and strengthening the development of migrant workers.

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