Numerous corporations have renewed their efforts to support the rights of migrant workers. Many corporations make such pledges internally or with their customers, but it’s refreshing to see such a commitment as the H&M company has made with an inter-governmental agency, reflected New York based immigration attorney Jon Purizhansky.

1. Corporations Step-up to Protect Migrant Workers

2. Corporations and governments throughout the world are working together to protect migrant
workers. On December 9th, the Swedish clothing corporation, H&M Group, renewed its interest in this
area by pledging to promote the ethical recruitment and protection of migrant workers in global supply
chains. The pledge was memorialized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the
United Nations agency International Organization for Migration (IOM).
International Organization for Migration

3. Numerous corporations have renewed their efforts to
support the rights of migrant workers. Many
corporations make such pledges internally or with their
customers, but it’s refreshing to see such a commitment
as the H&M company has made with an inter-
governmental agency, reflected New York based
immigration attorney Jon Purizhansky.
H&M Company

4. The H&M Group has a particular interest in around
workers’ rights. They are a multinational clothing-
retail company that operates in 62 countries with
over 4,500 stores and employs over 132,000
people. It is one of the largest global clothing
retailers having an online presence in over thirty
countries.
H &M Group is a Swedish multinational clothing-retail
Company

5. H&M’s Head of Sustainability, Anna Gedda, executed
the MOU on behalf of the company. The company
stated that “unethical recruitment practices and gaps
in the governance of labor migration” are among the
leading risks impacting global migrant workers in
todays economy.
H&M’s Head of Sustainability

6. Migrant workers are routinely taken advantage of, there are unethical fees charged to workers, rampant
fraud during the recruitment and on-boarding process, and seizure of personal documents, says Jon
Purizhansky. These have been issues for many years, and while governments have tried to remedy these
practices they still exist today. Having major corporations getting involved in this area draws attention to a
global issue and which can ultimately bring change.
Global Issue

7. IOM is a major United Nations initiative drawing
attention to this issue. They are the leading
international organization for migration and routinely
work with the international community to address
challenges in migration management. IOM also
promotes and advances the understanding of migration
issues and supports economic and community
development through migration. One of their critical
value statements is to uphold the dignity and well-being
of migrants and their families.
IOM is a major United Nations

8. IOM is the global leader in this space, reflects Jon Purizhansky. The organization was founded in
1951 and is supported by 173 member states. Being an arm of the United Nations provides the
resources and awareness of migration matters on a wide-global scale and the tools to drive
change.
IOM is the Global Leader

9. Another benefit of H&M’s very public pledge is
that it will encourage other social groups and
corporations to adopt similar positions to drive
continued awareness to a global issue.
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