Filipina caregiver's body to arrive in Manila With no help from RP Gov`t
A Filipina caregiver`s remains is soon to arrive in Manila on Jan. 14 without the help of the Philippine government.
Migrante-Alberta insists that it is the responsibility of the Philippine government to assist Filipinos in and out of the Philippines, dead or alive. Thus, the migrant group believes it should help in the repatriation of a Filipina caregiver`s remains and provide assistance to her two children.
``The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should help repatriate Merlinda Agus` remains back to her family through the agency`s repatriation fund, without any alibi,`` said Migrante Alberta coordinator in Edmonton Gina Martirez Doblado after the Philippine officials in Canada refused to assist in the repatriation of Agus’ remains. She cited the case of slain caregiver Jocelyn Dulnuan in Ontario which the DFA, upon pressure from migrant groups, helped repatriate in October 2007.
Agus, a 49 year-old nanny in Haddow Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, collapsed on Jan. 3 at a retail store where she was sending money to her family in Cabangcalan, Negros Occidental, a western Philippine province south of Manila. She was sent to the University of Alberta Hospital and was diagnosed with brain aneurysm, a condition where blood vessels going to the brain bulge and rupture.
Maria Cristina Mangulabnan, a fellow nanny, said that Agus was already in a state of comatose when she and some friends arrived at the hospital. Agus succumbed to death past 11 p.m. of the same day after her family in the Philippines, in a phone conversation with the doctor, decided that the respirator supporting Agus’s life could already be removed.
Mangulabnan also said that Philippine representatives in Canada refused to provide assistance for Agus’ repatriation. On January 5, Agus’ case was brought to the attention of Philippine embassy in Vancouver by her third employer. The employer was referred to the local consulate based in Edmonton. But Agus’ employer was told that since her benefit membership with the [Philippine] government was expired, it is now the employer’s responsibility to send her body to the Philippines. Mangulabnan and fellow nannies sought the help of Migrante Alberta, a non-profit group for Filipino migrants, in exposing the Philippine representatives’neglect of OFWs in need.
Repatriation is one of the services overseas Filipino workers subscribe to through a membership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). A $25.00 (US) is paid upon processing of contract and repaid when a new contract is entered into by a Filipino overseas worker.
“Agus worked as a domestic helper in Taiwan before going to Canada. Like her, to the surprise of her fellow nannies, none of them is an OWWA member because they were not informed about this when they moved working to Canada,” said Doblado. “The OFWs have been kept uninformed, and now, in the case of Agus, victim of the Philippine officials’ negligence!”
Present and previous employers and the Agbuloy Christian ministry contributed to cover the cost of repatriation of Agus’ remains that amounts to CAD $7,800. Agus’ friends also solicited from their employers and fellow nannies.
“This is an insult to her and to many overseas Filipino workers who are doing service to our country through our remittances,” Mangulabnan said, lambasting the inaction by the Edmonton consulate official Esmeralda Agbulos.
“Our group also demands that assistance to Agus’ family in Negros should be provided by the government,” Doblado said. “Even if we pay our OWWA membership, we actually get nothing in return in times we most needed it. They have refused to help the dead OFW, and now they will do the same to her children, saying that her OWWA membership already lapsed for her family to avail such benefits.”
”We have been sacrificing for the Philippine economy and yet we still get this kind of disservice,” said Doblado. Canada has been among the top 5 source countries of dollar remittances in the past few years. Of the more than US$16 B total remittances in 2008, more than US$1B was from Canada.
“With or without membership or any form of payment, OFWs and families deserve the assistance they needed, anytime, anywhere and from anyone in the government,” ended Doblado. #
Migrante –Alberta
Press Release
Jan. 11, 2010
Reference:
Gina Martirez Doblado, 780-2245456
migrantealberta@yahoo.com
aubreymakilan@gmail.com
Caregivers’ group lauds Juana Tejada Law implementation
Toronto, Ontario, December 16, 2009 – When Citizenship and Immigration Canada finally granted Juana Tejada’s dying wish of permanent residence on humanitarian grounds in 2008, it acknowledged an injustice that had befallen her. While she had otherwise met all the requirements for permanent residence under the Live-in Caregiver Program (“LCP”), being stricken with terminal cancer rendered her medically inadmissible to Canada, her application was initially refused, and she told by an immigration officer to leave Canada immediately.
Inspired by Juana’s struggle for justice, the Independent Workers Association (“iWorkers”) launched a public campaign for The Juana Tejada Law in August 2008, calling for the elimination of the required medical examination for live-in caregivers applying for permanent residence. The iWorkers, in consultation with Juana’s lawyer, Rafael Fabregas, presented this campaign to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism in April 2009, and to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (“Standing Committee”) in May 2009.
The Standing Committee quickly responded by unanimously recommending that the Canadian Government implement The Juana Tejada Law, and on Saturday, December 12, 2009, the Canadian Government announced that it would adopt this recommendation among other proposed changes to the LCP. Bernarda Salonga, Juana’s sister who is also in Canada working as a live-in caregiver, was moved by these developments. “Thank you Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney for honouring Juana and all caregivers. Juana would have been very happy to hear this news. I am so proud of her,” she said. Unfortunately, Juana did not live to see the fruits of her labour. She passed away this past March 2009.
The iWorkers applaud and express their sincerest gratitude to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and to the Government of Canada for its full support of The Juana Tejada Law, and for its other proposed reforms to the LCP. Minister Kenney, in particular, has proven his leadership on this issue. “Minister Kenney's announcement adopting this recommendation has become a watershed moment for all foreign workers coming to Canada under the LCP, past, present and future” said Wayne Fraser, United Steelworkers (District 6) Director. “It is the result of many years of lobbying efforts with various federal governments.”
As an organization committed to improving the conditions of the workers, “iWorkers will continue its call for changes to the LCP not yet addressed with this announcement”, said Maru Maesa, a caregiver and an iWorkers organizer. “The iWorkers believe that no level of abuse and exploitation is acceptable. We reiterate our call for open work permits; for a ‘live-in’ component that is optional; for mandatory information sessions for caregivers and employers; for the extension of Interim Federal Health coverage to caregivers; for a moratorium on deportations of victimized caregivers; for application processing times to be reduced; for family members to be with the caregiver in Canada and allowed to work or study; for giving credit to work performed outside Canada towards the 2-year requirement; and for the monitoring of our wage rates”, Maru continued.
The iWorkers is an organization of foreign live-in caregivers, personal support workers and home care providers. It was formed in June 2008 as a joint initiative between the United Steelworkers (District 6) and Migrante-Ontario to protect and promote the rights and welfare of caregivers and home care providers and lobby for reforms that will improve the lives of these workers.
Contact Information:
Rafael Fabregas, Barrister & Solicitor
Mamann, Sandaluk, Immigration Lawyers
82 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1P1
Direct Tel: 416-548-9075 416-548-9075
E-mail: rfabregas@migrationlaw.com
Connie Sorio, Interim Spokesperson
Independent Workers Association
Cell: 647-200-2839 647-200-2839
E-mail: connie_sorio@yahoo.ca
Inspired by Juana’s struggle for justice, the Independent Workers Association (“iWorkers”) launched a public campaign for The Juana Tejada Law in August 2008, calling for the elimination of the required medical examination for live-in caregivers applying for permanent residence. The iWorkers, in consultation with Juana’s lawyer, Rafael Fabregas, presented this campaign to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism in April 2009, and to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (“Standing Committee”) in May 2009.
The Standing Committee quickly responded by unanimously recommending that the Canadian Government implement The Juana Tejada Law, and on Saturday, December 12, 2009, the Canadian Government announced that it would adopt this recommendation among other proposed changes to the LCP. Bernarda Salonga, Juana’s sister who is also in Canada working as a live-in caregiver, was moved by these developments. “Thank you Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney for honouring Juana and all caregivers. Juana would have been very happy to hear this news. I am so proud of her,” she said. Unfortunately, Juana did not live to see the fruits of her labour. She passed away this past March 2009.
The iWorkers applaud and express their sincerest gratitude to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and to the Government of Canada for its full support of The Juana Tejada Law, and for its other proposed reforms to the LCP. Minister Kenney, in particular, has proven his leadership on this issue. “Minister Kenney's announcement adopting this recommendation has become a watershed moment for all foreign workers coming to Canada under the LCP, past, present and future” said Wayne Fraser, United Steelworkers (District 6) Director. “It is the result of many years of lobbying efforts with various federal governments.”
As an organization committed to improving the conditions of the workers, “iWorkers will continue its call for changes to the LCP not yet addressed with this announcement”, said Maru Maesa, a caregiver and an iWorkers organizer. “The iWorkers believe that no level of abuse and exploitation is acceptable. We reiterate our call for open work permits; for a ‘live-in’ component that is optional; for mandatory information sessions for caregivers and employers; for the extension of Interim Federal Health coverage to caregivers; for a moratorium on deportations of victimized caregivers; for application processing times to be reduced; for family members to be with the caregiver in Canada and allowed to work or study; for giving credit to work performed outside Canada towards the 2-year requirement; and for the monitoring of our wage rates”, Maru continued.
The iWorkers is an organization of foreign live-in caregivers, personal support workers and home care providers. It was formed in June 2008 as a joint initiative between the United Steelworkers (District 6) and Migrante-Ontario to protect and promote the rights and welfare of caregivers and home care providers and lobby for reforms that will improve the lives of these workers.
Contact Information:
Rafael Fabregas, Barrister & Solicitor
Mamann, Sandaluk, Immigration Lawyers
82 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1P1
Direct Tel: 416-548-9075 416-548-9075
E-mail: rfabregas@migrationlaw.com
Connie Sorio, Interim Spokesperson
Independent Workers Association
Cell: 647-200-2839 647-200-2839
E-mail: connie_sorio@yahoo.ca
In the face of global economic crisis, migrants have no other choice but to organize
Migrante Canada
December 18, 2009
Migrante organizations in Canada join migrants around the world in celebrating International Migrants’ Day and renewing our commitment to struggle for the rights and welfare of all migrants. As the Canadian state grapples with its own economic and political crises, migrants along with the Canadian working people persevere in their resistance to attacks on their rights.
Canada is one of the major destinations of Filipino migrants. It is also one of the countries with the worst track record in terms of labour and immigration policies. Labour and immigration rights especially those of migrants have been eroded and continue to be eroded. This year alone was marked by a series of US-style immigration raids, deportation of the undocumented and the sick, curtailment of migrants’ rights to organize through their anti migrant labour policies. Canada continues to do this while expanding its Temporary Foreign Workers Program, one that is designed to import cheap foreign labour without protection and without access to permanent residency.
The Philippine government, on the other hand, claims with pride that deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2008 increased by 14% from the previous year – what with the incessant and vigorous marketing efforts of its personnel abroad. It has also been very active in forging bilateral labour agreements to ensure the smooth outflow and bigger deployment of Filipino migrants. The Arroyo regime sent over a million workers abroad in the past year. Rather than addressing the root causes of poverty at home, this ruling clique like its predecessors would rather export Filipinos abroad.
Sending and receiving countries will continue to peddle “free market” globalization and force those conditions on the sending countries that will push workers to migrate, submit to even lower wages and acquiesce to even the most oppressive conditions. Gatherings backed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) such as the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) will continue to become a tool of imperialist globalization to rationalize the systematic commodification of migrants.
There is no better response to such attacks on migrants’ rights and welfare than organized action. Filipino migrants in Canada recently scored victories but only after a persistent and still continuing campaign to win changes to the Live-In Caregiver Program. On Saturday, December 12, 2009, the Canadian Government announced that it would adopt the Juana Tejada Law, calling for the elimination of the required medical examination for live-in caregivers applying for permanent residence.
Still Migrante Canada as one of the organizations at the helm of this struggle must continue to strengthen and expand its ranks. With organizations in BC, Alberta, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, it must persist in building a strong countrywide alliance, unite with migrants of other nationalities and engage in solidarity with the Canadian working people if it is to carry such initial hard-won gains forward. Only through the strengthening of the grassroots migrants’ movement will the struggle for the rights and well being of migrant workers advance. «
For reference:
Marco Luciano - 647.205.5908
migrantecanada@gmail.com
migrante.ca
December 18, 2009
Migrante organizations in Canada join migrants around the world in celebrating International Migrants’ Day and renewing our commitment to struggle for the rights and welfare of all migrants. As the Canadian state grapples with its own economic and political crises, migrants along with the Canadian working people persevere in their resistance to attacks on their rights.
Canada is one of the major destinations of Filipino migrants. It is also one of the countries with the worst track record in terms of labour and immigration policies. Labour and immigration rights especially those of migrants have been eroded and continue to be eroded. This year alone was marked by a series of US-style immigration raids, deportation of the undocumented and the sick, curtailment of migrants’ rights to organize through their anti migrant labour policies. Canada continues to do this while expanding its Temporary Foreign Workers Program, one that is designed to import cheap foreign labour without protection and without access to permanent residency.
The Philippine government, on the other hand, claims with pride that deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2008 increased by 14% from the previous year – what with the incessant and vigorous marketing efforts of its personnel abroad. It has also been very active in forging bilateral labour agreements to ensure the smooth outflow and bigger deployment of Filipino migrants. The Arroyo regime sent over a million workers abroad in the past year. Rather than addressing the root causes of poverty at home, this ruling clique like its predecessors would rather export Filipinos abroad.
Sending and receiving countries will continue to peddle “free market” globalization and force those conditions on the sending countries that will push workers to migrate, submit to even lower wages and acquiesce to even the most oppressive conditions. Gatherings backed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) such as the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) will continue to become a tool of imperialist globalization to rationalize the systematic commodification of migrants.
There is no better response to such attacks on migrants’ rights and welfare than organized action. Filipino migrants in Canada recently scored victories but only after a persistent and still continuing campaign to win changes to the Live-In Caregiver Program. On Saturday, December 12, 2009, the Canadian Government announced that it would adopt the Juana Tejada Law, calling for the elimination of the required medical examination for live-in caregivers applying for permanent residence.
Still Migrante Canada as one of the organizations at the helm of this struggle must continue to strengthen and expand its ranks. With organizations in BC, Alberta, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, it must persist in building a strong countrywide alliance, unite with migrants of other nationalities and engage in solidarity with the Canadian working people if it is to carry such initial hard-won gains forward. Only through the strengthening of the grassroots migrants’ movement will the struggle for the rights and well being of migrant workers advance. «
For reference:
Marco Luciano - 647.205.5908
migrantecanada@gmail.com
migrante.ca
Genuine Protection for Migrant Workers!
Scrap amendments to the TFW program
We, in Migrante Alberta Chapter in Canada, join the Coalition for Change, a broad community organization representing a diverse cross section of national, regional, and local organizations fighting for migrant workers rights, in its campaign for the scrapping of the proposed amendments to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The regulatory changes would limit migrant workers’ time in Canada to four years and bar them from reentering Canada for the next six years.
It is undeniable that migrant workers have been and are among the significant pillars in building a nation, be it a superpower like Canada. In this light, it is only just to give the rights due them. In order to do this, we call for genuine laws or changes to Canada`s laws that genuinely address the issues of temporary foreign workers.
Thus, we echo the calls of the Coalition for Change:
``Real protection means enforcing standards on employers and agencies hiring migrant workers.
Real protection means allowing migrant workers to bargain collectively, with full coverage under labour legislation.
Real protection means access to citizenship benefits and responsibilities.
Real protection means permanent residence on arrival.
Real protection means regularization for all.
Real protection means prohibiting fees migrant workers are forced to pay to find work, a fair appeals process for repatriations and an end to deportation.``
Thus, we call for the scrapping of the said amendments to the TFW program.#
Statement
MIGRANTE ALBERTA
Dec. 2, 2009
We, in Migrante Alberta Chapter in Canada, join the Coalition for Change, a broad community organization representing a diverse cross section of national, regional, and local organizations fighting for migrant workers rights, in its campaign for the scrapping of the proposed amendments to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The regulatory changes would limit migrant workers’ time in Canada to four years and bar them from reentering Canada for the next six years.
It is undeniable that migrant workers have been and are among the significant pillars in building a nation, be it a superpower like Canada. In this light, it is only just to give the rights due them. In order to do this, we call for genuine laws or changes to Canada`s laws that genuinely address the issues of temporary foreign workers.
Thus, we echo the calls of the Coalition for Change:
``Real protection means enforcing standards on employers and agencies hiring migrant workers.
Real protection means allowing migrant workers to bargain collectively, with full coverage under labour legislation.
Real protection means access to citizenship benefits and responsibilities.
Real protection means permanent residence on arrival.
Real protection means regularization for all.
Real protection means prohibiting fees migrant workers are forced to pay to find work, a fair appeals process for repatriations and an end to deportation.``
Thus, we call for the scrapping of the said amendments to the TFW program.#
Statement
MIGRANTE ALBERTA
Dec. 2, 2009
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