A/78/180 residence status of migrant workers are not tied to one employer or sector, by taking into account the reality of the labour market and allowing bridges between different types of work and work permit statuses in order to prevent migrant workers from falling into irregularity when a job situation changes or in cases of exploitation. This includes abolishing “no objection” and exit permit requirements to allow migrant workers the opportunity to change sponsors; (i) Lift gender-specific barriers to the labour market by providing migrant women with legal status, independent of their families, partners, spouses and employers; (j) Take measures to ensure that family reunion policies, multiple re-entry and access to permanent pathways are applicable to migrant workers at all levels, including domestic workers, in order to enable their spouses and children to join them in their country of destination; (k) Improve understanding of the different realities and challenges faced by migrant workers, as well as their specific needs, through actively engaging with migrants and conducting awareness-raising campaigns to better uphold the dignity of migrant workers, and to highlight their social and economic contributions to society; (l) Protect migrant workers’ rights to collective bargaining rights, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, regardless of status or sector of employment, as well as reinforce the capacity of trade unions to defend the labour and human rights of migrant workers and foster a vibrant civic engagement on labour migration governance and practices; (m) Ensure human rights-based, gender-responsive, age- and childsensitive safe and regular migration pathways, taking into account the particular needs of all migrants in situations of vulnerability; ensure access to regular status for irregular migrants; regularization and work permit renewal processes must be free from employer sponsorship and provide migrant workers with direct pathways to regular status; (n) Undertake early identification of victims of gender-based violence or trafficking in persons; ensure that there is a clear “firewall” between local police and immigration authorities to encourage reporting of crimes, as well as provide safe housing for migrant workers who seek to leave abusive employers, spouses, partners or other individuals; (o) Develop bilateral agreements on labour migration between countries of destination and origin that prioritize the full implementation of the human rights and labour rights of migrants based on international standards and fully incorporate the voices of both migrants and civil society, as well as encourage systematic sharing of intelligence on parties that exploit migrant workers; (p) Ensure that all data collection systems are up to date, accurate and disaggregated by age, gender, race, ethnicity, migratory status, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, socioeconomic background, geographic location and other characteristics, which also fully capture phases of labour migration and recruitment patterns, the welfare and treatment of migrant workers and their whereabouts. 23-13823 21/21