Pervez Siddiqui of Films4Peace Foundation/IMA Asia Pacific during the Asia Pacific Peoples’ Forum on Sustainable Development, Plenary 3: Harnessing Peoples’ Power in Achieving Development Justice

Distinguished guests, it is my honor to speak with you today about the struggles of migrants and how migrants are speaking up for their rights after various oppressions, taking place especially during the corona pandemic, and what kind of problems they have gone through and turned around. My name is Parvez Siddiqui, and I am the executive director of Films 4 Peace Foundation. We are working on safe, orderly, and regular migration through artistic activism, strategic communication, and research. I am also part of the newly formed Bangladesh chapter of the International Migrants Alliance, a global alliance of grassroots migrants, refugees, and displaced peoples.

As the COVID-19 outbreak worsened, many of us lost our jobs and were not paid for months. Most of us are migrant workers and without work, we had no choice but to go hungry. Our movement was restricted, and we were left stranded in a foreign land, However, we did not lose hope. According to a survey by the Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants in 2021, about 60% of migrant workers' families did not receive any remittances during the three months of the Covid-19 pandemic. This lack of income has led to a struggle to manage day-to-day expenses, with many families relying on loans, income from other family members, and assistance from others

Through the International Migrants Alliance and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, we reached out to migrants across the region, sensitizing them to our plight. In the case of Bangladesh, we provided evidence to the government, which responded by arranging fast food for migrants in different countries. Although the assistance provided was insufficient, it was still a significant victory for us.

During the pandemic, returning home became the only option for many of us as businesses closed and jobs were lost. Unfortunately, some individuals and institutions stigmatized us, accusing us of spreading the virus from village to village. We were marked with a red flag and told to stay away from society. We protested against this injustice and collectively raised our voices with civil society organizations and the government. Thanks to our efforts, the government stopped identifying the homes of our migrants. This was a major achievement for us.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been connecting migrants online every week through social media, giving them a platform to share their problems and concerns. We have also tried to connect them with policymakers to find solutions to their issues. When airfare prices skyrocketed as we prepared to return to work, we came together to protest this unfair treatment. As a result of our collective action, fares were significantly reduced.

Our efforts have also borne fruit in the vaccination campaign. Thanks to our direct conversations with policymakers, migrants in Bangladesh have been given priority in the vaccine rollout. The government and NGOs have taken steps to reintegrate returnees, but there is still a long way to go. Although the help provided is not enough, it is still a significant victory for us.

Bangladeshi migrant workers were not the only ones who spoke up. Everywhere in Asia Pacific, migrant workers braved the pandemic, launched campaigns, and won victories for themselves and their communities. Financial aid during the height of COVID was extended to migrant workers, international students, and even undocumented migrants in many countries. Wages of migrant domestic workers recently increased in Hong Kong. Calls by migrant and local workers to review the oppressive Japan Technical Intern Program in Japan and the Employment Permit System in South Korea are being heeded.

Migrant workers are conducting awareness-raising campaigns, creatively engaging in their host countries as well as in their motherlands. They are forming organizations, joining trade unions, and initiating cooperation with migrants of various nationalities and host peoples. In November 2022, the Bangladesh and Asia Pacific chapters of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) were formed. I am the founding member of IMA Bangladesh. This manifests that the unity among migrants and advocates is getting stronger.

These victories are an encouragement for us to continue waging campaigns, organizing our fellow migrants, and forging solidarity. The New Normal is simply a new term for the worsening crisis we all face. We bear witness to and experience racial, gender, and ethnic discrimination, policies that legitimize attacks on our rights and freedoms, fascism, corruption, and poverty. The New Normal seems bleak but history and our very own collective experiences prove we can change our conditions for the better. Let our advocacies in these spaces be strongly linked to the aspirations and campaigns of the people we serve. There is hope in our collective struggle.

As members of the international community, it is our responsibility to protect the rights of migrant workers and provide them with the support they need during these challenging times. We must empower them by giving them a voice and advocating for policies that provide access to healthcare, social protection, and fair wages. We must also fight against discrimination and exploitation, and work to create a more just and equitable world for all, regardless of where we come from or where we live.

To the leaders of the Asia Pacific region, I urge you to take action now to protect the rights and dignity of migrant workers. We cannot ignore their struggles any longer. We must work together to create a more just and equitable world, where every individual has access to the basic human rights and protections they deserve. This requires a concerted effort from all of us, and I am confident that together, we can make a real difference.

In conclusion, let us stand together in solidarity with migrant workers and fight for their rights and dignity. Let us ensure that they are recognized as essential contributors to the economy and society and that their rights are protected. The time for action is now, and we cannot afford to wait any longer. Thank you.

#APFSD #MigrantWorkers #MigrantsConstituency