Officials from U.S. and Canada Visit Migrant Worker Center

 

In April 2024, officials from the United States and Canada visited the Migrant Workers Resource Center in Tijuana, Mexico to learn about its services. The center, run by the union SUCOMM, provides migrant workers with information about their workplace rights and helps fix issues with immigration paperwork.

Demand for the center’s assistance has grown steadily. In 2022, it helped 372 migrant workers, and by 2023 that number had increased significantly to 1,280 workers from 32 countries. This major rise demonstrates the need for such resources among migrant communities.

Unions play an important role in supporting migrant workers, according to the International Labour Organization which backs the center. SUCOMM’s Sol Merino said they hope to establish more centers in other cities with large migrant populations, like Tapachula and Ciudad Juarez. However, this would require additional staffing and training.

One satisfied customer, Colombian migrant Angie Wilches, praised her “very good” experience at the center. She received useful guidance on labor laws and was able to quickly resolve issues with her immigration documents.

The resource center collaborates with local organizations, and government labor and refugee agencies, creating an extensive network to refer migrants to necessary services. Visitors saw this collaborative system in action during their tour.

Attendees met with representatives from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Haiti — countries with significant migrant communities in Tijuana. They discussed the significance of the center’s assistance to these workers.

To gain insight from employers, the delegation also visited the Panasonic factory to understand the perspective of companies employing migrant staff.

The visiting officials included leaders from the U.S. and Canadian embassies, as well as the U.S. Departments of Labor and State, Canada’s embassy in Mexico, and the Baja California Labor Secretary.