Migrant Workers Confronting COVID - Public Forum on Situation and Struggles of Migrant Workers in Asia Pacific during COVID-19
Migrant agricultural workers, factory workers, sea-based workers, and domestic workers gathered last March 18, 2022, to share the issues and struggles they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recently held Migrants Online Sharing for Visibility, Empowerment, and Solidarity or MOVES is an activity that aims to bring together migrants from similar sectors in different countries.
The forum was organized by Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) and co-organized by Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), KASAMMAKO-Korea, Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB), and Migrante International.
Four respective speakers, Gi Estrada of UMA, Chat Dimaano of KASAMMAKO, Xavier Bayoneta of Concerned Seafarers of the Philippines (CSP), and Sringatin of AMCB, succeeded in forging solidarity and support for their campaigns and advocacy efforts with fellow migrants at APMM’s Public Forum.
On Migrant Agricultural Workers in Sabah, Selangor, and South Korea
The first speaker, Gi Estrada of UMA, recounts the struggles of agricultural workers in Sabah, Selangor, and South Korea during the pandemic.
Migrant agricultural workers and advocates demand laws that are more focused on agricultural/garden workers, and their overtime and minimum wages. They demand that placement fees be free of charge without wage deduction and a monitoring body that ensures the employer’s compliance with migrant workers’ rights. Finally, they fight for decent working and living conditions for all migrant agricultural workers.
On Migrant Factory Workers in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
Chat Dimaano of KASAMMAKO (Alliance of Filipino Migrants Associations and Communities in Korea), the second speaker, reports the difficulties of migrant factory workers working in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
Migrant factory workers and concerned organizations call for the abolishment of all legal system, including the EPS, that justifies discrimination. They call for the creation of a work permit system and anti-discrimination law that guarantees their rights. They emphasize their call for the unity of all migrant workers to fight for equal rights.
On Seafarers of the Philippines
The third speaker, Xavier Bayoneta of CSP highlights the worsened difficulties of Filipino seafarers.
The Concerned Seafarer of the Philippines campaign for the elimination of blacklisting, watchlisting, and contractualization. They call for services and protection of seafarers, and an increase in the budget for services catering to migrant Filipinos. They call for the abolishment of the labor export program and for the government to ensure the availability of jobs in the Philippines. They demand that the current Philippine administration stop their negligence, corruption, red-tagging, militarization, and fascism, and continue the peace talks.
On Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Taiwan
Finally, SringAtin of the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body gives an overview of the vulnerable situation of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Taiwan.
In these countries, the issue of social exclusion and discrimination is evident as domestic workers are being deployed and the social protection scheme for migrants is severely lacking.
Migrant domestic workers and advocates call for the HKSAR government to include MDWs in priority groups for immediate access to health isolation and facilities and for all district councils to set up education and outreach programs in their districts to address the aforementioned immediate needs.
A Wider and Stronger Net of Unity for Migrant Workers
Amidst these vulnerable conditions and worsening crises, Estrada, Dimaano, Bayoneta, and SringAtin, APMM, fellow advocates, and the sectors that they represent, stand in solidarity and call for the involved governments to uphold the working and living conditions of the migrants. The migrant-sharing forum concludes with Rey Asis’ recognition of the heartbreaking struggles of migrant workers and the different efforts of migrant organizations that strengthen migrant campaigns. Asis calls to build solidarity with one another, and at the same time work together in continuing to champion migrant workers’ rights.
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