batingaw13

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ISSUE 13: July to August 2008

In this Edition ISSUE 13 July-August ‘08

News, Views and Analysis from Migrante Melbourne

BATINGAW; BELL; HERALD; The New Voice of Filipino Migrants in Australia

ISSUE 13

Photo by www.arkibongbayan.org

Statement on the State of the Nation Address...Communiqué of the International Migrants Alliance Founding AssemblyThey lifted my spiritInternational migrant group condemns Kuwaiti police inhumane treatment...Workers, urban poor skip meals and sleep longer to cope with crisisPeople of the Diaspora: Trust & CorruptionRefections on World Youth Day

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ISSUE 13: July to August 2008Editorial

“I CARE for our OFWs(Overseas Filipino Workers)famed for their skill,integrity and untiring labor,who send home their pay asthe only way to touch lovedones so far away.Nagpupugay ako sa kanila (I salute them).”

What a touching statementfrom the PhilippinePresident Gloria MacapagalArroyo (GMA) in her 8th State of the Nation Address (SONA) 27th July this year.

YES, the OFW remittances keep the Philippine economyafloat. This is her government’s labor export policy andprogram as one solution to the current economic crisis ofthe country. No jobs at home so get it abroad.

There is a global crisis in the capitalist world. GMA saidthis is the cause of soaring food and oil prices. So shemade tough choices - “the global crisis did not catch ushelpless and unprepared…… we have the money to carefor our people and pay for food when there areshortages; for fuel despite price hikes.”

Yet more and more Filipinos leave everyday. So why can’ther government sustain this care for her people and keepthem at home to work for her vision of a “self-reliant”economy?

Her vision is based on the value added tax on oil andelectricity, destructive economic policies, continuing graft

An Uncertain State of the Nation Addressand corruption and unresolvedhuman rights violations – 910 killedand 195 abducted.

What is the real state of the nationunder GMA’s regime? Shall we sayeverything is at its highest:Inflation in the last 14 years; priceof oil, rice and other prime goods;people’s taxes, and the numberof unemployment and lack ofemployment.

An average Filipino worker is not even getting $ 2 US dollarsa day

GMA hails the explorations of natural gas, biofuels, oil andmines as accomplishments under her governance. Oh,yeah?

The track record of mining companies – as in AustralianMining companies ( e.g. Lafayette in Rapu-Rapu, OceanaGold mining project in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya ) - destroyedthe land, indigenous people were forced to leave. Andthey do not want to pay taxes for quarrying for example,in Nueva Vizcaya.

$ 130 MILLION US DOLLARS OF questionable transactionsin the National Broadband Network Philippine-China ZTEdeal is still high up in the air.

I wonder how her caring translates into action. Does shesleep soundly at night because she cares ? GMA lives in aworld of fiction. Her SONA can be a script for a very badsci-fi movie. Maybe. Her fantasy is to make the countryamong the world’s richest in 20 years. Because she cares.

Migrante Melbourne IncPublisher ofABN: 77 394 429 368

About BatingawBatingaw is a bi-monthly newsletter expressing views, news and analysis from Migrante Melbourne. An important aspect of developingthis newsletter is an intimate knowledge of and close involvement in all aspects of the Philippine and Australian struggles for justice,democracy and fair-go.

Contributing to Batingaw:Articles, photographs, cartoons, clippings, comments or a few lines are all very welcome. All material should be sentelectronically to: [email protected]. Readers are encouraged to contribute whatever they can by sendingdonations to the above address.

Editorial Team: George Kotsakis Labrador Cojuanco Dinggin Dalisay Reyvi Marinas

Contributors: Charo Pompa Stephanie Rabusa Shiela Galacio Katrina Kotsakis Dinggin Dalisay Malen Ang Malou Logan Gino Lopez Fe Nina Reyes Caesar Barona A. Reyes Lualhati Acda Anibeth DesiertoCirculation and Advertising: Jun Cabanos. For membership, advertising and subscription please call MigranteMelbourne on 1300 3666 74

A member of Migrante InternationalPO Box 606, Laverton, VIC 3028Local Call: 1300 3666 74Email: [email protected]: www.migrante.org.au

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Statement

Statement on the State of the Nation Address (SONA)of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA)GABRIELA- AUSTRALIA (Organisation of Filipino - Australian Women), Australia, 26July 2008

So, declared by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) in her address to members of politicalparties July 19, 2008 saying that the Philippines will

be among the world’s richest in 20 years.

“GMA is leaving in a world of fantasy” says Malou LoganChairperson of Gabriela-Australia. Ms Logan further saidthat GMA’s assessment of the Philippine economy could bea script for a very bad sci-fi movie in the making.

In a few days, she delivers her state of the nation addressat the opening of Congress and Senate. As in the past, itwill be grand. Her minions will applaud the way she wantsit.

This recent pronouncement of the Philippine presidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) on the economic growth ofthe Philippines runs opposite to the economic crisis of hergovernment.

Currently the Philippines is dependent on its Asian neighborsfor rice, the staple food of Filipinos. Blue collar labour andprofessionals are jobless, more people are leaving thecountry to work abroad, more people are hungry, prices ofbasic goods and services are soaring, issues of graft andcorruption in high places persist and the lingering questionson the legitimacy of her presidency have confined thepeople of this would be “first world” republic intointensifying misery.

Past governments and until the current Philippinegovernment of GMA follow her export labor policy andprogram as the solution to the basic problems in thePhilippines.

Majority of Filipino women has been carrying the burdenof stretching the few pesos in their pockets in order tofeed the family. Wake up now GMA from your fantasy.

Gabriela-Australia calls on Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to StepDown NOW. Philippine labour export is not the right tool touse in resolving the root causes of poverty and socio-economic problems.

GMA resign NOW!

Reference: Malou Logan, Chairperson-Gabriela Australia: 0433 216 548

We should getready for theday when weshall be a part ofthe First World(Northern Dispatch/Posted by Bulatlat.com).

“ ”

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ISSUE 13: July to August 2008News

The message was clear: the time for the voice of thegrassroots migrants has come with the resounding successof the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) foundingassembly.

They came from all corners of the world. One hundred andsixty seven delegates representing 118 organizations from25 countries participated in the founding assembly of thefirst international formation of grassroots migrants onJune15 and 16 in Hong Kong. Among these, 102 were present asfounding members (regular and associate members) while16 have come as observers. The assemblies also noted sixorganizations who have signified to become foundingmembers but were unable to attend due to visa and financialissues.

In the spirit of international solidarity, the participantsshared each other’s experiences, learned from each other’sactions, debated and reached unities that shall propel theIMA in its future programs.

Inputs from a battery of speakers who were mainly fromgrassroots organizations of migrants were helpful for theparticipants to arrive at common understanding of majorissues that migrants face. After a painstaking process offinding common grounds, the basic principles of the IMAwere firmed up.

With the approval of the IMAConstitution, the election of itsleadership and first set of officers andthe approval of the General Programof Action (GPOA), the IMA was finallyborn.

United we shall break thechains of globalization

The first day of the assembly featuredpresentations on the different themesrelevant to migrants.

Held at the City University of Hong Kongand co organized by the WomenEmpowerment in Moslem Context ofthe Southeast Asia Research Center(WEMC SEARC), the program wasattended by more than 350 migrantsincluding about 200 foreign workers –mostly domestic workers – from HongKong.

A well applauded video that showed the situation thatmigrants face and why building the IMA is imperative openedthe program. The crowd was moved, agitated and was putin high spirits to make the assembly a success.

As the names of the organizations attending the IMA werethen called, it even heightened the atmosphere of thesuccess of the assembly.

The Very Revd Andrew Chan, dean of the St. John’sCathedral and board member of the Mission for MigrantWorkers (MFMW) and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants(APMM) that are both based in Hong Kong, welcomed allthe delegates and bid the conference to achieve its aims.

Afterwards, renowned advocate for migrants, Dr. IreneFernandez of Tenaganita (Women’s Force) delivered thekeynote address to the assembly. She expounded on theglobal context of the current migration process, how theseprocesses have changed and were shaped by thedevelopments of the global capitalist system, as well asthe increased forced migration, especially of women.

She also took note of the apparent debate between theright to migrate against the right of people againstdisplacement. She said that such was a false debate,

Communiqué of the International MigrantsAlliance Founding Assembly“For a long time, others spoke on our behalf. Now we speak for ourselves.”

Delegates to International Migrant Alliance (IMA) Founding Assembly, June 2008, Hong Kong

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ISSUE 13: July to August 2008News

imposed by people with a superficial understanding of whatit means to be a migrant. “Free movement and the rightnot to be displaced, are two essential elements to theassertion of collective and individual self determination,”Fernandez explained.

Finally, Dr. Fernandez congratulated all the delegates ofthe IMA as she also called for revolutionary changes “tobreak these chains of global exploitation and oppression.”

Dr. Fernandez’s address was then followed by a battery ofpanel speakers.

The first panel consisted of noted anti globalization activistswho elaborated on the theme of Wages, Job Security,Remittances and GATS Mode 4. These topics wereelaborated on by Mr. Aziz Choudry of the GATT watchdogand MR. Sonny Africa of the respected research think tankIbon Philippines. The presentation of Mr. Jose Gonzales ofFrente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales gave aconcrete face to the ill effects of globalization as heexpounded on the situation of migrant agricultural workerscoming from Mexico.

In the second panel that focused on the War on Terror,Immigration and Refugees and the Criminalization ofUndocumented Migrants, speakers that included Ms. SarwatViqar of the Center for Philippine Concerns in Canada, Mr.Ufuk Berdan of the Federation of of Turkish Workers inEurope and Mr. Terence Valen of the Filipino CommunityCenter in the United States discussed how the US led waron terror has eroded the rights of migrants especially withmany anti migrant policies. Mr. Ramon Bultron of the APMMmeanwhile expounded on the general situation that facesthe undocumented migrants and their different concerns.

Afterwards, Filipino migrants in Hong Kong from theCordillera region in the Philippines presented a short playthat depicted, in a “Torch Relay” the history of the struggleof Filipino migrants in Hong Kong.

The third panel was composed of regional and nationalwomen leaders who talked about violence against women,trafficking and globalization. Speakers were Ms. Emmi deJesus of the militant women’s group Gabriela in thePhilippines, Ms. Asfinawati of Asia Pacific forum on Women,Law and Development (APWLD) and Hsiao Chuan Hsia ofthe Trans Asia Sisters Association of Taiwan (TASAT) whichis an organization of immigrant brides in Taiwan.

The last panel of the day tackled the issue of Health, Familyand the Social Costs of Forced Migration. Speakers for thepanel were Ms. Valentina Soe of the regional group CARAMAsia, activists from Australia Ms. Vivi GermanosKoutsounadis of the Greek Orthodox Community of the NewSouth Wales and Ms. Jane Brock Corpus of the ImmigrantWomen Speakout Association, Prof. Robyn Rodriquez ofPhilippine Forum and the National Alliance for FilipinoConcerns in the US, and Mr. Syamsul of SEKBERBMI which isan organization of returned migrants and families of migrantworkers in Indonesia.

In the evening, the IMA delegates discussed and approvedthe IMA’s Basis of Unity that shall serve as the Alliance’sguiding principles in its work and activities in the future.

United in one stand, firm and resolute

On the second day, the panel that tackled Organizing,Building of Alliances and Campaign Strategies was held.Panel speakers were all grassroots migrant leaders fromdifferent countries – Ms. Connie Bragas Regalado of MigranteInternational in the Philippines, Ms. Teresa Gutierrez ofthe May 1st Coalition for Immgirant and Worker Rights inthe US, Ms. Wol San Liem of the Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU)in Korea and Ms. Eni Lestari of the Asian Migrant’sCoordinating Body (AMCB).

The panel presentations became very important inputs inthe finalization of the Alliance’s Constitution and GeneralProgram of Action.

Plans included in the GPOA included activities and programsfor education and information, campaign and mobilizationthat will pick up from the IMA concerns expressed in thepanel topics, international advocacy including challengingthe Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) inthe Philippines this October, and expansion of the Allianceincluding the formation of country chapters and recruitmentof more members from the regions of Africa and LatinAmerica.

Communiqué of the International... (continued...)

Australian Delegation to IMA

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NewsBy Stephanie Rabusa

The finalization of the IMA’s GPOA elated the delegates asit provided the roadmap of what the IMA wishes to toachieve for the next three years.

To lead the IMA, members of the International CoordinatingBody (ICB) were chosen by the different global regions aswell as elected at large.

To ensure that global regions are represented in the IMAleadership, regional caucuses were held to elect theirrepresentatives to the ICB. Among them were Jose Gonzalesof FIOB for Latin America, Teresa Gutierrez of May 1stCoalition for Immigrant and Worker Rights for the USA, SolPajadura of Migrante Ontario for Canada, Mr. Ramesh Panditof Nepalese Labour Organization for South Asia, Mr. UfukBerdan of ATIK for Europe, Mr. Nhel Morona for Middle Eastand Africa and Dr. Irene Fernandez for East Asia andOceania.

Among those ICB members elected at large were: Ms. TessTesalona of Immigrant Workers Center, Canada; Prof. RobynRodriquez of Philippine Forum, USA; Ms. Rumana Sheikh ofBOMSA, Bangladesh; Ms. Grace Punongbayan of MIGRANTEEurope; Ms. Eni Lestari of AMCB,HK; Mr. Ali of Federationof Workers from Turkey in Switzerland; Hsiao Chuan Hsiaof Taiwan; Ms. Connie Bragas Regalado of MigranteInternational, Philippines.

Associate members that comprised NGOs and migrantserving institutions also selected among themselves twomembers who will sit as ex officio members to the ICB –Ms. Wahu Kaara of Kenya Debt Relief Network and Mr. RamonBultron of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM). Ms.Kaara vowed to assist the IMA in its priority of expandingmembership in the African region.

Communiqué of the International... (continued...)

migrante melbourne

Name:Address:

Tel:Email:

Migrante Melbourne is a voluntary community organisationof Filipino and Filipino-Australian migrants and workerspromoting and upholding their welfare, human rights andworkers’ rights. It also deepens members’ awareness of theroot reasons of the Filipino hegira to over 180 countries andsettlement issues in their adopted homelands.

Visit us on the web at www.migrante.org.auI would like to:

SEND TO PO BOX 606, LAVERTON VIC 3028 or

CALL US on 1300 3666 74

Get Involved!

Migrante Melbourne, Eastern: Ricky Salamanes - 0401 315305 Migrante Melbourne, Western: Reyvi marina - 0421 119776 Migrante Perth: GinoLopez - 0413 464953; Melbaltazar - 0414 247154 , Anibeth Desierto - 0402 941935 Lingap Migrante, Sydney: Edwin Subijano - 0409 461600, BongAndres - 0410 632707 Migrante Sydney Neighborhood: Mahlen Ang - 0421 937391

become a member of Migrante Melbournebe updated with information from Migrante Melbournedonate to Migrante Melbourne

These seventeen members comprised the newly constitutedICB of the IMA.

The ICB then elected among themselves officers of theexecutive committee.

Elected members of the executive committee were: EniLestari of AMCB HK, chairperson; Ufuk Berdan of ATIKEurope, vice chairperson; Connie Bragas Regalado ofMigrante Philippines, secretary general; Teresa Gutierrezof the May 1st Coalition for Immigrant and Worker Rightsin USA, deputy secretarygeneral, and; Tess Tesalona ofImmigrant Workers Center in Canada, Treasurer.

Migrants on the march, onward we shall move

The establishment of the IMA marked a historic chapter inthe movement of migrants and immigrants for rights andwelfare and for comprehensive social change.

It was a timely effort of the migrants of the world to forgea stronger and higher unity in the face of daunting problemsand issues that worsen the exploitation and oppression ofthe migrants.

Indeed it is now time to “speak for ourselves.”

For we are the migrants forced to leave our countries andfamilies. We are the ones displaced by poverty, politicalpersecution, war on terror, economic hardships and othersocial ills perpetuated by imperialist globalization.

We are the grassroots migrants. With our solidarity, we shallspeak and we shall fight to gain more victories. #

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News

It is disturbing how a small disco party could evolveinto a potent force that would jog one’s jaded braininto thinking… real serious thinking. Yes, thinkingat such an event is utterly foreign, considering thatthe evening was reserved only for fun and trippingthe light fantastic!

The organisers certainly outdid themselves in makingsuch a happy occasion enjoyable to all. Kudos tothem! It was equally generous of everyone whoattended in response to the call of the officers toshare an evening of fun, abundant food, and dancingin unselfish support of the organisation and what itstands for. They deserved the organisers’ heartfeltthanks.

However, a small part of the activities reared itsugly head which, otherwise, would have elevatedthe affair into an excellent evening. It laid barefor all to see what kind of a race we, Filipinos, haveevolved … or more accurately, devolved into.

From time immemorial, the term “Filipino time”has indeed been proverbial. When we were in thePhilippines, it meant one hour tardiness. Now thatwe are in Australlia, it is expected that we shouldhave progressed with our time management. Trueto form, we have! We are no longer late by onehour; instead we have probably wound our clocksback so that our lateness has progressed to two,even three, hours.

The disco event was scheduled to start at 7:00 pm.Half an hour later, a remark from a white Australianwas overheard, “Where are the masses?” Well,surprise, surprise! (Or is it?) The masses started totrickle in close to two hours later.

When the guest speaker of the evening wasdelivering his speech, the hall was transformed intoa marketplace. People were chattering away likechipmunks in the woods or screeching like monkeysin a rainforest, drowning out what the speaker was

trying to say. It was embarrassing because I wassitting close to two white Aussies in the same table.

Immediately at that instant, I recalled the mottofrom a selective high school of my son’s that I haveattended about a year ago, which read: “Mannersmakyth man”. “Man” in this motto is the collectiveterm for both men and women, not the sexist kind.

I would have ignored this incident had it not beenfor the non-Filipino guests who attended theoccasion. It was certainly not an impression thatboded well for us, Filipinos. It is no wonder that asFilipinos we have to struggle hard to gain respectin the workplace or in the community. We still havea long way to go, an arduous climb if attitudes andmanners are not improved.

We cannot persist in living a life like a fly atop acarabao, boasting emptily about how the former ishigher than the latter, just waiting there vulnerablyto be flicked dead by the animal’s tail. We cannotforever be like flies, buzzing noisily over a cow’sdung. We need to rise above our present state inlife, if not in wealth and prestige, at least inbehaviour, discipline, and good manners. We onlydeserve respect from others if we respect ourselvesfirst.

As long as we remain in our present state of denial,organisations like Migrante will have to labour toohard indeed in order to get recognition for our skills,resourcefulness, intelligence, and industry.

We see the Philippines going down in infamy in theeyes of world politics. We see the social andpolitical cancer eating away at the ethical and moralfibre of society. Must we, who have excisedourselves free from the advancing chancre of thecountry, permit ourselves to perpetuate the samescenario in Australia, where we can really make ourmark as highly recognised and successful individuals?I wonder!

Notes From The Observer:by: Ruperto Demonteverde

Disco event and a thunderbolt

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Article

They lifted my spirit by May Kotsakis

“We find a way”, was the common answer of the Filipinodomestic workers in Hong Kong who hosted us on ourexposure tour around the Central Hong Kong.

I was with fifteen other Australians and more than threehundred international delegates to the IMA (InternationalMigrant Alliance) founding assembly and the ILPS TIA(International League of PeoplesStruggle Third InternationalAssembly) held in Hong Kong inJune 2008.

After the two conferences, someof the International delegatesstayed two or more extra daysto see Hong Kong. Some of usfrom Australia stayed andparticipated on an exposure tourorganized by the APMM (AsiaPacific Mission for Migrants). Itwas on a Sunday which is theonly day off of most Domesticworkers in Hong Kong. Our tourwas to meet and mingle with theFilipino Domestic workers.

I did not expect what I saw andwitnessed on the streets.Thousands and thousands ofdomestic workers, ninety ninepercent of them women arecamped on every corner of themain road in central Hong Kong,the Chater Road, in a park calledthe Blackman garden or ChaterGarden, at the ground floor of

the HSBC which is an open space or in other spaces theyare allowed to stay. Some of them are seated along thewindow at the Worldwide Plaza or were walking aroundthe plaza. (More than half of the 220,000 domestic workersin Hong Kong came from various provinces in the Philippines)

That day was their only free day in a week when they cando personal things, talk to their family back home, meetfriends and acquaintances, read and find out news in HongKong and in the Philippines, study and teach and many,organized meetings and workshops to discuss current issuesand concerns. That day was their only day they are notpressed with time, time to cook, feed the family they areserving, take care of the children, clean the house, do thelaundry and many other chores and work they have to dofor their ‘amos’ (boss). That day was their only day theycan laugh with friends, cry, sing with gusto, dance and mockaround.

We pass a huge group of women cleaning and coloring eachother’s nails. Several women talking with their mobilephones cradled on their shoulders while manicuring theirfriend’s nails. Not far from the group was another group ofwomen looking into some merchandise for sale. Selling onthe street is prohibited in the area but they find a way toavoid the police. A man and several women seated on ablanket on a pavement were playing cards and laughing

Australian delegation to the ILPS TIA with Luis Jalandoni of NDFP, June2008, Hong Kong

Filipino domestic workers at the basement of the HSBC, Central Hong Kong

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Article

their lungs out. A woman was proudly showing to friends apicture of her daughter receiving a medal at the schoolback home in the Philippines. She said sadly that her ‘amo’did not allow her to go home to her daughter’s graduation.Still another woman, bleary-eyed was speaking on her cellphone having a lover’s spat with her husband whom shehas not seen for months.

We stopped at a group conducting a program in the middleof Chater Road. They had speakers who talked aboutcurrent issues in the Philippines. One of the speakers wasRepresentative Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Women’s Party. Someparticipants rendered songs entertaining the audience whilethey share their packed lunch and their picnic baskets. Avery graceful dancer was interpreting the songs at thedelight of the audience.

We listened to speeches about the effects of mining in thePhilippines in a forum organized by various groups ofDomestic workers and supporters. The forum was held atthe Anglican Church hall where the temporary office ofthe Mission for Migrant workers was situated.

We participated in a birthday party of all those celebratingtheir birthday in the month of June. There was karaoke,the most popular entertainment and fund raising activityamong domestic workers in Hong Kong. The irony is, in theiractivity, anyone who wants to sing pay HK$5.00 and this is

They lifted my spirit... (continued...)

part of the fund they raise.Many of the participants arequeuing to be able to singcontrary to our parties herewhere we need to push andreally persuade someone toperform.

There were also regionalgroupings such asKapangpangans towards the endof the Chater Road, the Visayansat the Blackman Garden or theIlocanos at the basement of theHong Kong and Shanghai Bank(HSBC) and others.

Every group we visited treatedus with different delicacies.Pansit was one of the mostcommon, prepared in variousways depending on the regionthe cook came from.

Our lunch was provided by themembers of the GabrielaWomen’s Party, FilWomenAssociation and Migrante

Sectoral Party at the Eastern part of the Chater Garden.That was a lavish lunch, complete with sinigang, karekare,laing, pinakbet, inihaw na isda, pansit, puto, kutsinta andother food and to top it up, a delicious special halo-haloon a hot summer day.

Many of the domestic workers said that they have to leavetheir bosses’ house as early as five o’çlock in the morningbefore their “amos” wake up to avoid being asked to dochores on their day off. Others are made to prepare theirbosses’ family breakfast, lunch and dinner prior to leavingfor the one day of the week they are supposed to be on dayoff. So we asked how they prepared all the food including“tinapa” (smoke fish) with their very tight schedule. Theysaid that they find a way.

They find a way to educate a mate while on the way to themarket. They find a way to discuss current issues whilecooking for their ‘amos’. They find a way to study whilewaiting for the children under their ward at school or atplaygroup. They find a way to organize an activity whiledoing the laundry or cleaning the house with their mobilephones stuck to their ears.

They find a way to educate, organize and mobilize aroundmany issues that affects them and their families at home,under a controlled, under resourced and difficultconditions. They lifted my spirit. ###

Filipino domestic workers at the side of the Chater Garden, Hong Kong

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MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM MIGRANTE

Visit us on the web at www.migrante.org.au

Issues

International migrant group condemns Kuwaiti policeinhumane treatment to striking, unpaid Bangladeshiworkers

The International Migrants Alliance (IMA), a newlyfounded broad international alliance of 112 progressivemigrant organizations of different nationalities from 25countries around the world, condemns in the strongestterms the brutal and inhumane treatment by the Kuwaitipolice to striking, unpaid Bangladeshi workers.

IMA is working for the advancement of migrants’ rightsand interests regardless of their nationalities.

Citing reports from local newspapers in Kuwait, IMA saidthe Kuwaiti government has already expelled anddeported more than 1,400 Bangladeshi workers with grossdisregard to their basic rights as guaranteed byinternational human rights and migrant rights covenants.

Instead of heeding the legitimate demands of the strikingBangladeshi workers such as the release of their unpaidsalaries for over 4 to 6 months, payment of their rightfulwages as stipulated on their employment contracts, andtheir demand for better working conditions andaccommodation, the Kuwaiti government let loose itsmighty Police force in beating mercilessly the strikingworkers.

In time of soaring prices and high inflation in Kuwait asin any other GCC countries and around the world, itsgovernment should address and consider raising thesalaries of all expatriates to cope up with the rising costof living.

IMA deplores the Bangladeshi Embassy officials in Kuwaitwho kept its mouth mum over the labor struggles of their

International migrant group condemns Kuwaiti policeinhumane treatment to striking, unpaid Bangladeshi workers

Eni Lestari, ChairpersonInternational Migrant Alliance (IMA)

nationals who are ironically boosting Bangladesh’seconomy by sending about US$8 billion a year.

IMA further castigated the Bangladeshi Embassy Officialsin Kuwait who did nothing to provide assistance andproper representation so that its worker’s rights andwelfare will be protected and safeguarded.

IMA is calling for the Bangladeshi Embassy Officials inKuwait to investigate the reported unscrupulous laboragents who are taking advantage of their workers bytaking cuts or deductions on the workers’ salaries suchas housing, medical and meal costs, which should beprovided free by the employers to their hired workers.

IMA would like to remind all sending governments andreceiving host governments that they are all accountableand have state responsibility to protect the rights andwelfare of every expatriate worker as guaranteed ininternational rights covenants such as the InternationalHuman Rights Law and the International Convention onthe Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers andMembers of their Families.

To this end, IMA demands to the Bangladeshi governmentto provide assistance and protect its migrant workersrights and welfare; and to the Kuwaiti government tostop the summary expulsion and mass deportation ofBangladeshi workers from their work and above all topay respect the rights and welfare of all migrant workersin Kuwait.

IMA is also calling on the Kuwait Society for Human Rightsand the Kuwait Trade Union Federation to extend localassistance to the workers, and to the Special Rapporteurof the Commission on Human Rights on the Human Rightsof Migrants and the UN Human Rights Council toinvestigate these reported migrants’ rights abuses inKuwait. (end)

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By

Statement

Rosa, 55, is a garment worker in Taytay, Rizal for almostten years now. The company implements a quota basiswhich forces her to work for more than 12 hours a

day, seven days a week, to reach the minimum quota. Intotal she receives around 2,000P (US$ 43.94) during payday, which she will use to pay previous debts, house rent,water, and electricity bills. Because she only has 300P (US$6.59) left for food, she will have to reduce its quality andquantity, or borrow some money from illegal five-sixoperators.

Rosa’s plight is not rare anymore. The worsening economiccrisis, as obviously shown in continuous rise in prices ofcommodities like fuel and rice, forces workers and urbanpopulation to develop ingenious means of subsistence andto tighten their belts further.

Of course, the Arroyo government may delight of the poor’screativity. In fact, it is Malacanang advice to cope withsurging prices while government is raking in billions ofrevenues from the very price hike that punishes the poor. Whilst the poor must be commended with how they continueto survive and refused to be robbed completely of theirdignity, their plight should shame those who profit fromtheir poverty.

The stories below are from direct interviews with workersfrom different factories and urban poor communities. Everyaccount strikes similarities and echoes the same situationthat every one of us was systematically placed into.

Skipping Meals

The soaring price of rice and other basic foods have resultedin reducing, if not the quality, the quantity of meals orfood intake.

For example, Ruth, Rosa’s fellow garment worker, told usthat her family is eating breakfast and lunch at the sametime (also widely known as “brunch”) to avoid moreexpenses. Ruth is a casual worker and receives only 110P(US$ 2.42) daily wage, 177P (US$ 3.89) below the mandatedminimum wage in Region 4.

Nanay Mildy, 60, an urban poor resident in Intramuros,Manila, has similar story. She told us that her family is nowused to prolonging sleeps during daytime and wake-up pastbreakfast late in the morning.

These families, like most, are eating only 2 meals a day,not simply because they want to save money, but becausethey simply could not afford the standard three meals aday.

Teofilo Galalo, 55, is a regular worker in Reliance FarmInc., a small scale piggery in Novaliches industrial belt. Hehas been working there for almost 27 years now. He receives336P (US$ 7.38) daily wage. He allots 186P (US$ 4.09) forfood everyday which will be shared by eight members ofthe family. This is far way below the 862P (US$ 18.94) dailyfood allowance needed for a family of six according toNational Productivity Wage Commission (NPWC).

At the time of this writing, commercial rice in Metro Manilais around 35-40P (US$ .77-.88) per kilogram, while in otherregions it has already reached 52P (US$ 1.14) per kilogram.Many had already shifted to either 25P (US$ .55) perkilogram NFA commercial rice, or to 18.50P (US$ .41) perkilogram NFA rice, for others who can withstand its soap-like taste. But even if their palettes refuse, the stark realitythat they don’t have choice makes the soap-like NFA ricedelectable.

Walk to work

The soaring prices of petroleum products also createdsignificant coping techniques among the workers.

Renilyn Tubay, 19, works in Unity Packaging, a factory with50 workers which produces boxes for medicines and skinapplications. Women workers receive only 281P (US$ 6.17)everyday for eight hours of work, while men receive 331P(US$ 7.27). The discriminating disparity between salariesin effect means more burdens for Renilyn compared to malecounterparts. Minimum wage in Metro Manila is pegged at382P (US$ 8.39) per day.

As a result of insufficient salary, Renilyn started to walkeveryday to save her travel expenses. She needs to wakeup at 6am to reach workplace at 8am.

Celine Castillo, 32, is also suffering distress because ofcontinuous oil price hikes. Though she doesn’t work, shehad to do all the budgeting for the family and necessaryadjustments.

Her husband works in Rebisco Company which producesHanzel, Rebisco Crackers, Marie Choco Sandwich, etc. Outof 2,900 total workforces, only 1,900 are regular workers.According to Celine, she now shifted to charcoal or uling incooking instead of the usual LPG tank. Two sacks of ulingare enough for a month which costs up to 300P (US$ 6.59).She saves 350P (US$7.69) at most.

At the time of this writing, gasoline is at 61P (US$ 1.34)per liter, diesel at 54P (US$ 1.19) per liter, while a regularLPG tank is at 650P (US$ 14.28).

Workers, urban poor skip meals and sleeplonger to cope with crisis by the CTUHR team

Page 12


Dropping out Education was deemed before by poor families as the bestway to break the chains of poverty. However, in the presenttime crisis, schooling became very luxurious andunsustainable.

For example, Ruth, 32, also a garment worker in Taytay,Rizal, failed to enroll her eldest son, a second year collegestudent in University of Rizal System (URS) Taytay campus.They were forced to spend enrollment budget for food.“Life was very hard… we need more income and so I wantmy children to look for work,” she said in Filipino.

Even the International Labor Organization (ILO) expressedits worries over the decline in the enrollment rate in schoolsfrom 96.77% in 2000-2001 to 83.22% in 2006-2007. (PDI, 19June 2008). Decline in enrollment will logically increasechild labor, a condition that ILO and the trade unionmovement wanted eliminated.

Extra-income

Economic crisis have gripped the workers too much. Forworkers, performing well inside a factory is not enough tosustain a decent, simple life. They have to exhaust all meansto generate more income outside working hours. Direct-selling seems to benefit a lot from wage peggingand consistent price hikes. Workers that we had interviewedtold us that they sell Avon, Natasha, DXN, and other productsto create more money to augment financial needs.

Jose Campilos, 20, works as taga-igib ng tubig in an urbanpoor community in Intramuros, Manila. His work does nothave a regular salary. It depends upon the need for waterin the neighborhood and how much they want to pay him.He acquires 50-100P (US$ 1.1-2.2) everyday. He also dolaundry services sometimes, he receives 100-200P (US$ 2.2-4.4) per labada. But due to high prices, he also collectsplastic bottles and tin cans by night.

Celine, aside from saving money by using uling, also sellsembotido to her neighbors in the afternoon. While Ruth dolaundry services during Sundays in exchange of money orfood.

Doles and subsidy to the poor will not address the problem

Despite the worsening crisis that had succumbed workersin suffering and pain, Ms Gloria Arroyo has remained deafif not living in hallucinations. Her posters bearing herpicture beaming in Ramdam ang Kaunlaran (Progress is

ubiquitous) continues to hang in major buildings, highwaysand bombard TV advertisements.

Another poster says ‘Labanan ang Kahirapan’ (Fight Poverty)fill the MRT stations. And the only thing that Arroyogovernment does is to hand doles and subsidy to poorconsumers of electricity while benefiting from a windfallof revenues. The government collects P52 billion in revenuesand expecting another P18 billion more due to weeklyincrease in fuel prices as a result of 12% VAT on fuel. Thecollection is needed, as Malacanang says, because it allotsP2 billion in subsidy for the poor. Where the remaining goes,is a big question.

A big section of the population wants the VAT removed andthe oil deregulation law that allows companies to increaseoil prices anytime they want, scrapped. Arroyo governmentrefuses stubbornly, the way it refuses the demand for alegislated 125P across-the board, nationwide wage increase(US$ 2.75). Instead, tried to deceive the people and creategood public image by using temporary and artificialsolutions.

The 2 billion peso, for example, allotted budget to give500P (US$ 10.98) allowance to some 400,000 low electricityconsumers is not just temporary but it encourages peopleto depend and expect that some more charity will comefrom the government. It reduces the poor to beg, deprivingthem of their dignity, while the government smiles handingcrumbs and a pack of rice from the money it gets from thepoor through VAT.

Few days ago, the government ordered a fare hike underthe pretext of giving drivers, jeepney drivers particularlysome relief from high cost of fuel. The poor, mostly workersare the jeepney passengers. Whilst it is understandable touplift the drivers, the fare hike will come from the verypockets of the workers, who have been denied of thesubstantial wage increase. This government insulted theworkers with 10-20P (US$ .22-.44) wage hike, an amountthat is just enough to buy 2 packs of instant noodles, loadedwith sodium and MSG.

The government won’t repeal 12% e-vat, legislate andimplement 125P wage increase. It stands to benefit fromthem, unless, thousands of workers and the poor again fillthe streets to demand not only the VAT repeal, but removalof the government which reduces its people into beggars.When that day happens, the poor will have more reasonsto smile, even to laugh.#

Workers, urban poor skip meals... (continued...)

by the CTUHR team

Statement

Page 13


“But why did you give him $1000 in cash without anyreceipt in return?” was my question asked so many timeslike a scratched long-playing record.

The S457 visa workers I was helping – in return for the $1000they handed over in cash - had had either their tax returnsor their tax amendment forms supposedly done by anotherFilipino S457 worker (let’s call him Sam) who said he couldget them back tens of thousands of dollars tax credit. Samclaimed to have insider contacts at the Australian TaxationOffice (ATO).

It’s a true story of which the ins and outs beats any long-time soapie mystery. From all accounts, Sam operatingwith his Sudanese cab-driver mate who claimed to be anaccountant and another Filipino – managed to scam over aperiod of several months at least $230,000 from 230Filipinos in Western Australia who were S457 visa holders,some who’d got the $1000 to pay him by borrowing fromtheir Australian resident girlfriends.

A number of the workers did get back $10,000 or even more.The catch was that, upon a few trips to the ATO, I thenfound out that the claims Sam had put in on behalf of theworkers for these large amounts were for very dubious andfalse or non-existent expenses eg for parents being in WAwhen in fact they were over in the Philippines or false claimsfor the use of the personal car for work purposes.

What happens next continues the nightmare. And it’s justabout the ones whose fate I happened to hear about orknow of. One S457via worker who’d received over $10,000through these false tax claims he’d trustingly allowed Samto put in for him was about to be deported because ofthese false tax claims. Fortunately, his union helped himout and he was allowed to pay back the money with a heftyfine.

A number of other workers also got these hefty fines, whileshortly after, the ATO was about to send out penalty lettersto many more of the other 230.

Others who could not believe that they’d been so easilyscammed went in search of Sam, finding out that he’d goneand come back and while in the Philippines had stayed in

some 5-star resort, then back in Western Australia, hadthen bought himself a $45,000 jeep and rumours were rifethat he’d also bought himself a new house via his localgirlfriend’s name.

These workers wanted him imprisoned, then thrown out ofthe country and some said he’d done the same thing inDarwin before moving into Western Australia.

The horrible thing was that hardly any of these 230 scammedworkers had seen – or got a copy – of what claims Sam andhis cohorts had put into the tax office for them BUT Samand company had each and everyone of their originalsignatures, tax file numbers, bank account and personaldetails!

With their personal details included, the workers had signedalmost empty tax forms – and handed these forms willinglywith $1000 cash included to Sam and company!!!

So as the ATO logically pointed out, Sam and company couldnot only undertake bank transactions on any of these 230 xS457 workers’ bank accounts – but lodge another set ofclaims AGAIN if they wanted to with the tax office for thesame 230 scammed workers for the following tax year.

So the workers were advised to change their bank accountnumbers and eventually their tax file numbers!

But why did they trust Sam? Did he look like the Messiah?Or was it the smell of tens of thousands of dollars, likegamblers sense when they think they’re on a winning streak?

(Sam convinced not just his own work colleagues but allthese other S457 visa holders from so many other differentcompanies to believe in him…)

A number of them told me that they trusted Sam not onlybecause he was a worker like them but because: “he’s likeus, he’s Filipino”.

I wonder was this also the same reason why EmilioAguinaldo’s men were able to come close to AndresBonifacio to kill him – because they thought they were allon the same side, all Filipinos fighting against the samecoloniser?

Article

By Anibeth Desierto

People of the Diaspora: Trust & Corruption (1)

Page 14


Article

Did none of Bonifacio’s men or Bonifacio himself think thatthe leadership of the so-called Philippine Republic wouldbecome a struggle between on one side, the illustrado classand Aguinaldo who were sympathetic to the colonizingAmericans and on the other side, the workers who believedin, and identified with Bonifacio and his dream of a trulyindependent Philippines?

I wonder was this also the same reason why Gloria Arroyogot elected to the presidency of the Philippines in 2001?Because Filipinos trusted her, another Filipino, to changetheir impoverished lives for them? Yet seven years hence,her government has pocketed hundreds of millions of dollarsfrom an unbelievable trail of corruption: $US130millionfrom the inflated NBN-ZTE scheme and a host of otherquestionable transactions.Is it because the molecules in the air in the Philippinesmust be so full of this corruption that cheating, lying,embezzlement has become the norm?

Yet such abuse of another human being as with Sam andcompany to their S457 colleagues or Arroyo’s governmentto the impoverished workers at large- still seems incrediblyevil.

People of the Diaspora: Trust & Corruption (continued...)

From 2001 when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the Philippine presidency, Karapatan (Alliance for theAdvancement of People’s Rights) has documented more than 900 political killings and 200 disappeared.

Join Us in Demanding Justice for the victims and the end of killings, abduction and harassment of

human rights and community activists in the Philippines

ST P

STOP THE KILLINGSIN THE PHILIPPINES

When you know that the average worker in the Philippinesis not even getting over US$2 a day and can barely eatenough to survive – and you and your friends have pocketedbillions of pesos – which could build schools, hospitals andsave the lives of millions – and they are Filipinos and humansas you are, how does one sleep at nights?

Similarly, when you know that of the S457 workers you arerecruiting to work in Australia, there will be thoseunfortunate enough to be employed under slave-likeconditions, paying exorbitant rent, exposed to hazards inunsafe worksites, that they could be seriously injured ifnot die in such unsafe work conditions while threatened bytheir employers to keep silent about their conditions or bedeported, that if they died in the worksite their familieswould hardly be able to even survive – and you yourselfanother Filipino who’s doing the recruiting, also threatenthem with deportation (and you might even be the pastorof a church you’ve put up – which is a real story by theway) or you’ve deliberately scammed them of $1000 whichcould have gone to feed their children and families: howdo you sleep at nights?

Page 15


July 13 2008 marked the start of the World Youth inSydney, Australia. It was estimated that over 110,000international pilgrims and 113,000 local pilgrims have

registered during the week-long celebrations of World YouthDay. Hundreds of thousands of people have come to theRandwick Racecourse and Centennial Park to hear the Pope’sfinal mass.

World Youth Day (WYD) is a Roman Catholic youth-orientedevent. However, the Roman Catholic church claims thatwhile the event is headed by the Catholic faith, alldenominations are welcome to attend.

Pope John Paul II, in 1986, has initiated WYD. It is celebratedevery two to three years and was launched to revitalisethe perceived flagging interest of youth all over the worldin Catholic values and religion. This event aims to attractyoung pilgrims from every nation to come to a particularcountry and re-affirm their faith together. The church claimsthat having events like these will open up global issues andencourage the young to participate in Catholic Youth workbased, of course, on the teachings and values of the CatholicChurch.

With 400,000 people, WYD was reported to be the largestgathering of people in Australia ever. No wonder, our mostprominent politicians were at the event hailing the CatholicFaith. Prime Minister Rudd, in his speech quoted ‘ Somesay there is no place for faith in the 21st Century. I saythey are wrong. Some say that faith is the enemy of reason,I say, also they are wrong, because faith and reason aregreat partners in our human history and in our humanfuture. Rich in humanity, rich in scientific progress.’

In today’s world, the church still has a powerful influenceon people’s attitudes and values. Their policies have beenfollowed by countless Catholics all-over the world —conservative policies that have existed since medievaltimes.

These ‘moral policies’ have been detrimental to the growthof societies all over the world. Some of these policies areagainst condom use, family planning, abortion andhomophobia — many of which have been more deleteriousto the lives of women and the poor who are the mostdisadvantaged members of society. Looking at this analogy,the Catholic Church’s stance on these issues create conflicts

between economic and social life. These policies are notin touch with ordinary people’s sentiments. Worldwideproblems like AIDS and population growth are not discussedand are deemed to be left in the hands of God.

During the WYD week-long event, the activities includeOpening Mass, Stations of the Cross, Evening Vigil and FinalMass. All of these activities did not include spaces wherethe youth can express their concerns about the world theylive in. There were no avenues for them to explore. Therewere no issues to be discussed. They were there to listenbut not to be heard.

The NSW state and Federal government also, in all, havespent an estimated $210 million dollars in taxpayers’ moneyfor the event. The economic benefits to the communityare still to be determined. Will this be enough to engageyoung people in organised religious activities or could themoney have been better spent?

From the telecasts, the youth seemed to be trapped in asymbolic ritual that does not seem to be of any purpose. Inthe eyes of the church, young people were a flock of sheepthat are to be led to the right path. In the streets of everymajor city in Australia, young people with their countriesflags, were seen roaming around and soaking theatmosphere. The whole experience seemed to beexhilarating to the young but when they go back to theirown countries, I wonder what message they will spread?

The next WYD in 2011, will be held in Madrid, Spain. Thiswill be an interesting event as the decision is seen as astrategic one for the Catholic church. Spain has one of thelargest Catholic populations in the world. It is no surpriseas Catholicism has been spread widely by the Spanishconquistadores. Spain is also currently being run by thePrime Minester Jose Luis Zapatero, from the SpanishSocialist Workers’ Party. It is well known that Zapatero’sgovernment is moving towards a more secular society topromote progress and migrant growth. Zapatero’s policies,including same-sex marriage and easier divorce, are inconflict with the Catholic church’s conservative policies.

Sources:http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/wyd08_eventshttp://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23345326-5016946,00.htmlhttp://www.alp.org.au/media/0708/mspm150.php

Refections on World Youth Day By: Stephanie Rabusa

Article

Page 16


Events Calendar - Mark your Diary

Migrante Melbourne : : PO Box 606, Laverton, VIC 3028

To:

Affix Stamp

06 August – Hiroshima Day

Remembering the day the U. S. military dropped the very first atomic bomb ever to be dropped on areas full ofcivilians at 8.15 am on the 6th of August 1945.

30 August, Saturday – Migrante Melbourne’s Winter Tipanan

Dinner Disco6.30 p.m., Laverton Civic Centre, Cor Railway Ave & Crown St, LavertonA celebration and a venue for the whole family to dance, eat, perform, watch and enjoy together.A fundraising activity for Migrante Shelter, Philippines.For further information and tickets contact Steph at 0422171969, Reyvi at 0421119776 or Migrante Melbourne at1300366674

06 September, Saturday – ILPS Australia Report Back forum

5.00 pm CEPU Meeting Room, 139-155 Queensberry St., Carlton SouthReport from Delegates to the IMA (International Migrants Alliance) Founding Assembly and to the ILPS TIA (InternationalLeague of People Struggle Third International Assembly) in Hong Kong in June 2008.

28, 29 & 30 October – International Assembly of Migrants & Refugees (IAMR)

Manila, PhilippinesThe assembly will project the concerted voice of migrants led by IMA, MigranteInternational and other advocacy groups for migrants’ rights, on the real issues, concerns and positions surroundingthe agenda of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).

11 November - Arms Expo – Exposition of Military armaments and other deadly weapons

South AustraliaThere will be various activities leading to and during this expo to expose and oppose the militarisation of Australiaand the neighbouring countries.

10 December – International Human Rights Day

18 December – International Migrants Day

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