On Monday 29 June 2026, Luxembourg non-profit organisation Association de Soutien aux Travailleurs Immigrés (ASTI – Association for the Support of Immigrant Workers) adopted a political resolution at its General Assembly calling for a fair, humane and realistic regularisation of people living in Luxembourg without legal residence status.

ASTI argued that many people without valid residence permits already live and work in Luxembourg, contributing to the country's economy, paying taxes and social security contributions, sending their children to school and establishing lasting social ties. However, it said these individuals remain "invisible" in the public debate and are often portrayed through "prejudice and misconceptions", despite evidence showing they are "neither a threat nor a burden to society".

According to the organisation, the absence of legal residence status exposes many people to labour exploitation, housing insecurity, limited access to healthcare, economic dependence, social isolation and fear of public institutions. ASTI also argued that maintaining people in an irregular administrative situation encourages undeclared work and social dumping by allowing unscrupulous employers to exploit vulnerable workers.

The NGO maintained that regularisation would represent "a measure of social justice, human dignity and social cohesion" and would help combat labour exploitation, undeclared work and unfair competition more effectively. It also called on the Luxembourg government to introduce an exceptional regularisation campaign based on "clear, transparent and accessible" criteria, followed by a permanent regularisation mechanism in national legislation.

ASTI further urged the government to adopt "an approach based on facts and on social and economic realities, rather than security-focused or stigmatising narratives", and called on politicians and the media to address the issue "with responsibility, rigour and humanity".

In its resolution, ASTI: 

  • recalled that fundamental human rights apply to everyone, regardless of their administrative status;
  • stressed that the presence of workers without legal residence status also reflects structural labour shortages in Luxembourg, particularly in sectors facing severe workforce shortages, although this situation remains illegal and unstable;
  • noted that exclusively repressive policies have never eliminated the presence of people living irregularly but have instead increased their vulnerability and invisibility;
  • stated that regularisation is a matter of social justice, human dignity and social cohesion;
  • emphasised that regularisation would help combat labour exploitation, undeclared work and unfair competition more effectively;
  • recalled that several European countries have already implemented regularisation campaigns with positive outcomes for both the people concerned and public finances and social protection systems;
  • called for the rapid introduction of an exceptional regularisation campaign for people living irregularly, based on clear, transparent and accessible criteria;
  • advocated the introduction of a permanent regularisation mechanism in Luxembourg's legislation after the proposed campaign, based in particular on length of residence, social integration, children's schooling, family ties and employment;
  • called for existing administrative criteria and procedures to be reviewed to prevent people from falling into or remaining in an irregular situation for disproportionate or purely bureaucratic reasons;
  • called for undocumented migrants to be guaranteed effective access to justice, protection from exploitation, healthcare, housing and education;
  • requested stronger protection for undocumented workers who are victims of abuse or working conditions that violate labour law;
  • urged the government to adopt an approach based on facts and social and economic realities rather than security-focused or stigmatising rhetoric;
  • called on political leaders and the media to address the issue of people living irregularly responsibly, rigorously and humanely in order to combat stereotypes and exclusionary narratives;
  • considered regularisation to be a fundamental issue of social justice, human rights and democracy;
  • confirmed that ASTI would continue to play a permanent role in supporting any policy promoting the regularisation of people in an irregular administrative situation;
  • reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive, supportive society that respects the dignity of everyone living in Luxembourg.