ASTI Distributes €20k worth of Food Vouchers among Undocumented Migrant Workers

ASTI, the non-profit association for migrant workers in Luxembourg, has appealed once more for donations to support undocumented migrant workers during the challenging circumstances linked to COVID-19.

For workers living in Luxembourg in an irregular administrative situation, the cessation of economic activities following the COVID-19 pandemic was dramatic. Originally from countries outside the European Union (EU), they had already worked in conditions that did not comply with the law before the crisis. Without social security, these individuals received a salary well below the legal minimum wage. Following the cessation of economic activities, according to ASTI, these people found themselves unemployed, without state aid and without entitlement to social assistance. Many have accommodation, live here with their families, some with school children. ASTI has maintained that their only fault is that they were unable to obtain a residence permit allowing them to work legally in Luxembourg. The closure of borders also did not allow them to return to their country of origin.

While in other countries like Ireland and even Tunisia, the state has implemented free food aid for undocumented migrants, Luxembourg has not followed suit. Consequently, ASTI has set up food voucher distribution stations at social grocery stores. Thanks to the support of many donors, the association has been able to raise €10,000 euros. Exceptional aid worth €10,000 from the Œuvre Grand Duchesse Charlotte has enabled ASTI to increase its pool to help undocumented migrants who, in a situation of illegal residence, have come to them in desperation.

Since 10 April 2020, ASTI has been organising food voucher stations at its headquarters on Tuesdays and Fridays, allowing these people to shop at social grocery stores.
To date, the association has distributed vouchers to undocumented migrants for a total amount of €20,000.

ASTI has so far contacted 214 people, including 61 children. They represent 105 households including 32 families with up to five children, eight single-parent families with one to two children, ten couples without children and 57 single individuals.

The main origins of the people asking for help are Brazilians and Peruvians from Latin America, as well as Senegalese, Cameroonians, Nigerians and Cape Verdeans from sub-Saharan Africa and people from the Maghreb. A quarter of applicants are from countries of former Yugoslavia, primarily families, half of whom had previously applied for international protection.

Their average length of stay in Luxembourg is three to four years, with none of the applicants having been here for less than a year. Indeed, six people have been in Luxembourg for more than ten years. Most were employed in catering and camping and 90% have stable accommodation. 75% of people have come to ASTI more than once.

This action to support undocumented migrants is an opportunity for ASTI and its Migrant Info Desk to better understand the administrative situation of these people and above all to see if steps to regularise their stay are possible.

In the meantime, ASTI has decided to continue its distribution of food vouchers for social grocery stores. In order to be able to extend this support, the association has relaunched its call for donations to the ASTI Solidarité bank account:  CCPL LU72 1111 1515 1501 0000 (reference: “support for undocumented migrants”). All donations to ASTI are tax deductible.