Migrant Workers and the Right to Family Accompaniment: A Case for Family Rights in International Law and in Canada

International human rights instruments provide for protection of the family as the fundamental unit of society. However, a consequent right to family accompaniment, which can be defined as the right of migrants to bring their family members to the destination state, is not sanctioned and continues to be resisted. This article reviews the international and regional legal framework regarding migrants’ family rights. Using Canada as a case study, it explains why labor migration, as currently developing in the country, requires Canada to implement appropriate family accompaniment policies for migrant workers. One key argument is that is in the interest of Canada, as of every state of destination, to facilitate ‐ rather than hinder ‐ migrant workers’ family unity.