All over the world, the figure of the foreigner is exploited to stir up fear and justify tighter border controls. At the same time, a significant portion of the global economy relies on the labor of migrants. While seemingly contradictory, this system of migration management actually perpetuates the exploitation of the Global South by the Global North—albeit through different means.

Drawing on his experience as a community organizer and his in-depth research, Mostafa Henaway takes us to the four corners of the globe to expose the mechanisms at work behind several well-known brands. From Amazon warehouses to Dollarama stores, and across the agricultural, food, and delivery sectors, he analyzes temporary worker programs and the harmful effects of this system designed to marginalize, exploit, and divide.

More than just a relentless analysis of a global system of hyper-exploitation, *Essential Work, Disposable Workers* is also the story of the bonds of solidarity that unite migrant workers in their quest for recognition. A read that challenges preconceptions.