Migrant workers participate in every facet of the energy transition: they mine and produce nickel, cobalt and alumina for electric vehicle batteries, install renewable energy infrastructure, build sustainable urban development projects and manufacture electric vehicles.
However, in 2025 alone, BHRC recorded 23 cases of migrant worker abuse in industries crucial to the energy transition. It includes seven cases in transition mineral production, six in EV supply chains, three in sustainable urban development, three in recycling and re-commerce, two in renewable and low-carbon energy, and one case each in eco-tourism and low-carbon cement kiln construction.
Cases related to green economy were disproportionately linked to excessive production targets and unreasonable working hours. Safety violations were recorded in over half (52%) of these cases – higher than across the wider database (25%). “Climate solutions cannot be built on exploitation,” said Catriona Fraser, Migrant Workers Researcher at BHRC. “With the green economy expected to surpass USD7 trillion in annual value by 2030, companies reaping huge profits from this transition must ensure the rights of migrant workers are respected,” she further adds.