We are sharing the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Prof. Dr. Surya Deva, whose recent country visit to Germany echoes many of the concerns AFRIW has consistently raised regarding skilled workforce migration and the situation of international students. His findings underline the urgent need to address vulnerabilities that migrants face from exploitative recruitment practices to precarious employment and housing conditions.
The Special Rapporteur calls on Germany to work closely with partner countries under skilled migration agreements to ensure that mobility pathways do not become breeding grounds for exploitation or modern slavery. He stresses the importance of creating conditions for decent work, strengthening labour rights protections, and revising legislative provisions that assign migration control tasks to labour inspectorates so they can focus on safeguarding workers rather than policing them.
These recommendations directly support the advocacy efforts undertaken by AFRIW for fair, safe and just migration. AFRIW urges all concerned German ministries and departments to consider implementing the Special Rapporteur’s proposals. Doing so would reinforce Germany’s commitment to protecting migrant workers, ensuring equitable mobility pathways, and upholding the dignity of those who contribute to the country’s labour market and society.
You can read the report on our website: Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development
The Special Rapporteur, Prof. Surya Deva, will be presenting this report to the Human Rights Council on 11 September 2026.