LUMINE – Labor Unions, Migrant Workers and Ethnic Inequalities is a 36-month research project led by Katia Pilati at the University of Trento. The project investigates how ethnic inequalities experienced by migrant workers in the labour market are connected to wider social and political inequalities in Europe. LUMINE focuses on migrant workers’ engagement with labour unions across five European countries: Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain
Migrant workers are often employed in low-skilled and precarious sectors such as logistics, agriculture and hospitality. These sectors are frequently marked by low wages, insecure contracts and limited access to social protection. In this context, labour unions can play an important role in defending workers’ rights, improving working conditions and supporting the social and political inclusion of migrant workers.
The project examines how union participation is shaped by three main factors:
Individual experiences
The project studies how migrant workers’ personal characteristics, working conditions and experiences of discrimination influence their engagement with unions.
Union practices
LUMINE investigates how different unions represent migrant workers, whether they include migrant workers’ demands in their activities, and how they collaborate or compete with other organisations.
National contexts
The project compares how institutional settings, welfare systems, industrial relations and migrant integration policies affect migrant workers’ opportunities to participate in unions.
Research Approach
LUMINE uses a mixed-method research design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The project includes analysis of national contexts, union activities, organisational surveys, interviews with union representatives, and interviews with migrant workers.
By studying the period from 2008 to 2023, LUMINE also considers how major crises, including the 2008 economic recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, have affected migrant workers and their relationship with labour unions.
Project Aim
The main aim of LUMINE is to better understand whether labour market inequalities faced by migrant workers extend into the socio-political sphere. The project seeks to identify the conditions under which labour unions can become spaces of inclusion, representation and democratic participation for migrant workers.
LUMINE’s findings will contribute to academic debates on migration, inequality, labour unions and civic participation. The project will also provide insights for policy-makers, unions and civil society organisations working to promote fairer and more inclusive societies.