The Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) on 18 December 1990.

The convention

• establishes the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, independent of their migration status
• establishes the rights of migrants and members of their families
• confirms civil and political rights, taking into consideration the particular situation of migrant workers (for instance, the right to have the appropriate consular authorities informed in the event of arrest, provisions concerning violations against laws on migration, prohibition of collective deportation)
• defines migrants’ economic, social and cultural rights, taking into consideration the particular situation of migrant workers, (right to urgently required medical treatment, basic right of access to education for children of migrant workers)

A Committee monitors the implementation of the present Convention. The states parties shall regularly submit reports. In addition, they may recognize the Committee’s competence to examine complaints by states or individual persons.

At present, there are 37 states parties to the Convention. Up to now, Switzerland has not ratified the Convention.