On Labour Day, DiEM25 demands dignity, rights, and justice for all workers, regardless of origin

They pick the fruit we eat, build the homes we live in, clean the hotels we stay in, and serve our food in restaurants across Europe. Migrant workers are everywhere – powering entire sectors, sustaining the economy, and holding together societies that depend on their labour. But what do they get in return?

Exploitation. Invisibility. Precarity.

Whether fleeing war, seeking a better life, or simply trying to survive, migrants in Europe face a system stacked against them. They are offered the jobs no one else wants: back-breaking labour with long hours, low pay, and no protection. Housing, if available, is often overcrowded, overpriced, and barely habitable.

And for those without regularised status, the situation is even more dire. No rights. No safety net. No voice. Employers know this – and they take full advantage. Wage theft, threats of deportation, and unsafe conditions are rampant, while governments often look the other way.

This isn’t a glitch in the system. It is the system – a shadow economy built on fear, silence, and institutional neglect, benefiting those at the top.

DiEM25 says: Enough is enough

We refuse to accept a Europe that builds its wealth by crushing its most vulnerable workers. Migrant workers deserve the same rights as everyone else. Full stop.

That starts by dismantling the racist, bureaucratic barriers that divide people into categories: “good migrants” and “bad migrants,” “economic” versus “political,” “legal” versus “illegal.” These labels serve only to dehumanise.

Here’s our vision for change:

End arbitrary migration categories
Scrap the “safe third country” and “first country of asylum” doctrines. Rights should depend on shared humanity, not bureaucratic classifications.

Equal rights at work
Migrant workers must have the right to unionise, access pensions and healthcare – including mental health support – and live in safe housing. No exceptions.

Democratic participation
If you live, work, and contribute here, you should have a say – in your workplace and at the ballot box.

Freedom of movement and access to justice
Migrants must be able to move freely within Europe and access free legal support. Justice cannot be a privilege.

Real opportunities, not empty promises
Recognise foreign qualifications. Provide free language and vocational training linked to real employment. Invest in intercultural skills to foster true inclusion.

Europe’s migration policies are broken – and they’re breaking lives. DiEM25 is fighting to rebuild them from the ground up, guided by solidarity, dignity, and justice.

Because migrant workers aren’t a problem to solve. They’re part of the solution. And they deserve better – as do we all.

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