Migrante International expressess its deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of Sally Ordinario, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain on this fateful day. The entire Filipino nation grieves with them and comes together in indignation with the Philippine government's failure to save their lives.
The execution of Sally, Ramon and Elizabeth highlights how Filipinos are victimized many times over by a system that continues to drive them towards life and death situations.
Sally, Ramon and Elizabeth were victims of large drug syndicates who took advantage of their unawareness, vulnerability and desperation to earn a living for their families. If anything, their plight and deaths have made the government and the Filipino people aware that for as long as masterminds, operators and coddlers of international drug trafficking syndicates remain scot-free, there will be more victims like them who will be trapped in the unjust situation of being drug mules. To date, there are more than 70 Filipinos on death row in China alone for the same offense.
Indeed, no Filipino goes out of the country with a death wish. When Sally, Ramon and Elizabeth went to China, when the 122 others on death row and more than 7,000 in jails abroad left, they were full of hopes and dreams to provide a better future for their families, especially for their children. Our 15 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), likewise, were compelled to leave the country to seek so-called greener pastures abroad in the absence of jobs, livelihood and decent living conditions in the Philippines. Unfortunately, this crisis of forced migration continues to be aggravated by the Philippine government's promotion and advancement of a labor export policy that has become more systematic and sophisticated over the decades.
These last few months have been grueling times for OFWs and their families -- the execution in China, civil wars and wars of aggression in Libya and looming elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa region, the earthquake in New Zealand and most recently the multiple disasters that hit Japan. Combined with the continuing onslaught of a global economic crisis that is translated into unending spates of price hikes and the Aquino administration’s intensification of privatization, liberalization and deregulation policies in favor of foreign interests, these are arguably the worst of times for our 15 million OFWs and their families.
Through these all, it has become more apparent that the Aquino administration is no different from previous regimes with regard its adherence to the policy of labor export. The Aquino government’s consequent actions and overall economic and political programs bare the sad fact of how our OFWs are being treated as cheap commodities for export. The present predicament of our OFWs are glaring examples of just how insincere, insensitive and inept the Aquino government is in upholding and securing the protection and welfare of our workers overseas, while ironically also showcasing a more blatant and unapologetic labor export policy that exploits our OFWs’ cheap labor and influx of remittances but sadly offers them nothing in return, especially in times of need.
Instead of addressing the root causes of forced migration through genuine land reform and national industrialization, Aquino had further opened up the national economy to abuse and exploitation of our workers’ cheap labor by foreign capital and interests through his so-called flagship program, the PPP (public-private partnership). Migrante International strongly believes that for as long as the labor export policy is in force, there can be no genuine protection for our OFWs. Government programs and policies, through the continuance of the labor export policy, will not serve to protect and uphold OFWs’ rights but only exist to further exploit and abuse.
What our OFWs and their families need during these hard times are actions and programs from the government that would enforce the creation of jobs at home and ease the onslaught of price hikes in order to curb, if not stop, forced migration. What our OFWs and their families need from the government during these hard times are fundamental and radical reforms that would deviate from the government's continued implementation of the labor export policy.
The deaths of Sally, Ramon and Elizabeth and the sacrifices of their families should serve as a potent slap on the face of the Philippine government to work and push for the building of a self-reliant economy to stop labor export and promote social equity and justice for the advancement of genuine national development.
March 30, 2011
PRESS STATEMENT
Reference: Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 0939-3914418
Migrante-Alberta’s Solidarity Message to the AFL Conference on Equity
The Filipino migrant organization Migrante-Alberta expresses its support for Alberta Federation of Labour’s 2011 Equity Conference with the theme, “Diversity and Inclusion: Equality vs. Equity.”
We join the AFL, and the growing number of people of colors, in their struggle to make Alberta a fair and just place for all cultures and races of society.
According to AFL, the number of visible minorities in Alberta had increased by close to 40 percent from 2001 to 2006 alone.
It is not surprising that Filipino workers and immigrants are part of this growing visible minorities. Because of the deteriorating economic conditions in the Philippines, many of our fellow Filipinos are forced to seek employment across the globe. This puts them at risk for abuses, discriminations and false promise of better future.
In Canada, the Philippines ranked 5th among countries that export workers in 2009, sending as many as over 29,000 workers to this country. And for many of us, although having already earned university-level education, work as low-skilled labourers in fastfood restaurants, meat processing facilities or in farms as seasonal workers. Immigrants from the Philippines to Alberta placed second, next to China, in a 2006 survey by Census Canada.
We hope that through a thorough examination of the biases and stereotypes that form the bases for prejudice and discrimination in our society, the conference succeeds to develop strategies to improve workplace conditions.
Be assured that Migrante-Alberta will stand beside you in your endeavour to achieve a fair and just society for all workers.
26 Feb 2011
*Migrante-Alberta is a chapter of Migrante-Canada, an alliance of progressive Filipino migrant/immigrant organizations from B.C. to New Bruinswick.
We join the AFL, and the growing number of people of colors, in their struggle to make Alberta a fair and just place for all cultures and races of society.
According to AFL, the number of visible minorities in Alberta had increased by close to 40 percent from 2001 to 2006 alone.
It is not surprising that Filipino workers and immigrants are part of this growing visible minorities. Because of the deteriorating economic conditions in the Philippines, many of our fellow Filipinos are forced to seek employment across the globe. This puts them at risk for abuses, discriminations and false promise of better future.
In Canada, the Philippines ranked 5th among countries that export workers in 2009, sending as many as over 29,000 workers to this country. And for many of us, although having already earned university-level education, work as low-skilled labourers in fastfood restaurants, meat processing facilities or in farms as seasonal workers. Immigrants from the Philippines to Alberta placed second, next to China, in a 2006 survey by Census Canada.
We hope that through a thorough examination of the biases and stereotypes that form the bases for prejudice and discrimination in our society, the conference succeeds to develop strategies to improve workplace conditions.
Be assured that Migrante-Alberta will stand beside you in your endeavour to achieve a fair and just society for all workers.
26 Feb 2011
*Migrante-Alberta is a chapter of Migrante-Canada, an alliance of progressive Filipino migrant/immigrant organizations from B.C. to New Bruinswick.
Save Our Seniors Homes! Save Our Jobs!
We, in Migrante-Alberta, support the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees’ “Save Our Seniors Homes” campaign against the closures of Red Deer Nursing Home and Valley Park Manor.
As an organization for Filipinos in Central Alberta, Migrante-Alberta believes the closures of these two public nursing homes will affect the secured jobs of its respective employees, which include many Filipinos. In only less than two months before the closure, many employees of the two nursing homes are still uncertain of their life after the reported closure. On the other hand, many of them, who have worked for these two nursing homes for decades, have already accepted lower-paying jobs in fear of unemployment.
Also, the shift to new continuing care and assisted living facilities will also cost the health system more money, without addressing the need for long-term care facilities. According to AUPE, “Central Alberta is home to 230 of those Albertans who have been forced to wait for long-term care, and more than 50 of them are in Red Deer.” Despite this, AUPE said that the government is giving the new Michener Extendicare “$21.5 million and only getting four additional long-term care beds out of it.” The closure of 216 beds is clearly a disservice to Albertans who need long-term care.
We call the attention of Central Alberta`s Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Red Deer MLAs Mary-Anne Jablonski and Cal Dallas, to listen to their constituents and intervene in the forthcoming closure this fall. We also urge all Albertans to be vigilant and act against anti-people moves like these. If officials will not heed our call, we should make sure that in the next elections, we will only put those who will genuinely represent our voice.
Save Our Seniors Homes!
Save our jobs!
MIGRANTE-ALBERTA
Aug. 10, 2010
As an organization for Filipinos in Central Alberta, Migrante-Alberta believes the closures of these two public nursing homes will affect the secured jobs of its respective employees, which include many Filipinos. In only less than two months before the closure, many employees of the two nursing homes are still uncertain of their life after the reported closure. On the other hand, many of them, who have worked for these two nursing homes for decades, have already accepted lower-paying jobs in fear of unemployment.
Also, the shift to new continuing care and assisted living facilities will also cost the health system more money, without addressing the need for long-term care facilities. According to AUPE, “Central Alberta is home to 230 of those Albertans who have been forced to wait for long-term care, and more than 50 of them are in Red Deer.” Despite this, AUPE said that the government is giving the new Michener Extendicare “$21.5 million and only getting four additional long-term care beds out of it.” The closure of 216 beds is clearly a disservice to Albertans who need long-term care.
We call the attention of Central Alberta`s Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Red Deer MLAs Mary-Anne Jablonski and Cal Dallas, to listen to their constituents and intervene in the forthcoming closure this fall. We also urge all Albertans to be vigilant and act against anti-people moves like these. If officials will not heed our call, we should make sure that in the next elections, we will only put those who will genuinely represent our voice.
Save Our Seniors Homes!
Save our jobs!
MIGRANTE-ALBERTA
Aug. 10, 2010
Migrante-Alberta demands assistance to dead OFW, family
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
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
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