APMM launches Migrant Voices Interview Series

On Monday, 8 November 2021, at 1 PM Hong Kong time, Live at APMM FB Page, APMM launched its premier of Migrants’ Voice Interview Series. 

The Migrant Voices interviews is a series of online interviews with migrant workers, migrant worker returnees, and members of their families, to find out their stories and struggles during the ongoing pandemic as well their hopes, aspirations, demands and calls. 

The series of migrant voice interviews will be held twice a month, every second and fourth Monday of the month, at 1PM Hong Kong time. 

Premier to this migrant voice interview is an interview with Yosa, an Indonesian migrant worker currently based in Macau. Yosa has worked in Macau for approximately 10 years. She is also the chairperson of IMWU, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, in Macau.

In this interview, Yosa shares with us about the difficulties experienced by migrant workers in Macau, especially those who work in the formal sector. During the lockdown period, many migrant workers lost their income and jobs because all companies were closed and not operating.

During the lockdown, many IMWs lost their jobs, had their visa and blue card cut, did not go to work but also did not get paid. They are on their own, stranded without a job, income and also can not go home because no flights are available. While they are in Macau, they still have to pay for their basic needs. 

Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (IMWU) Macau at the beginning of the pandemic has already taken initiative to serve the migrant workers. Before the lockdown, IMWU managed to distribute masks to stranded IMWs in Macau who are waiting for a visa from Hong Kong, IMWs who already don’t have a visa, and also to tourists who are still in Macau. At that time, only local citizens and blue card holders were able to buy masks. 

Then, IMWU started to collect donations from IMWs who are still working and also from local community and organizations, who give donations in cash, foods and goods for IMWs who are affected by the pandemic and lockdown. IMWU distributed the donations monthly. Yosa said “although not much, but at least there’s support for their logistics during the lockdown”. 

After the lockdown, the situation is getting better, but not for work. Some of the IMWs started to work again, although not full, because they only work for 10 days or two weeks in a month. The new case of a family that got infected by Corona virus, also impacted again to the IMWs, because lockdown is happening again although only in the infected area. But Macau is small, and all of the people in Macau have to run mass testing and vaccination, Yosa explained. 

During this pandemic, Yosa said that migrant workers have to strengthen unity and solidarity, because that’s the only one that can help us all, not limited to IMWs but also to other fellow migrant workers from other nations. 

She also asks the Indonesian Government to pay more attention to the situation of IMWs in Macau. The Indonesian Government can ask for dialogue with JBMI or IMWU about the situation of IMWs in Macau and what they need. Yosa added that the Indonesian Consulate should be more proactive, not only waiting for IMWs ask for assistance, because so far, we're the only ones who always have to propose

Hopefully, the videos will tell the stories of migrants’ struggle amidst pandemic and inspire others to support and work together in achieving human rights of migrants and social justice.