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By Nora O. Gamolo, OFW Times
Editor
Overseas Filipino worker groups
are among those spearheading the formation of the International
Migrants Alliance (IMA), the first-ever global formation of
grassroots migrants’ organizations.
IMA’s founding assembly will be
held in Hong Kong on June 15 to 16. Some 121 individuals from 97
organizations and 24 countries worldwide have confirmed their
attendance to the historic event.
Leading the overseas Filipino
worker groups is Migrante International, a federation of different
Migrante chapters operating in different countries and regions.
IMA’s co-convenors include a
Turkish group called ATIK-Europe; Migrante-Canada, Migrante-Europe;
May 1st Coalition for Immigrant Rights-USA; Philippine Forum-USA;
and Tenaganita, Malaysia
The upcoming assembly will be
hosted by migrant organizations under the Asian Migrants
Coordinating Body, and some Hong Kong-based NGOs, including the Asia
Pacific Mission for Migrants, the Mission for Migrant Workers and
the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.
Many of these groups have even
assisted the repatriation of many OFWs and given them various forms
of assistance in the past, like temporary housing.
The formation of international
federations of migrant worker groups and migrant advocate groups is
always seen as a victory for marginalized migrant workers, since
this broadens their base of support.
Among others, they have always
facilitated the easier egress from critical places of migrant
workers and given legal assistance to the beleaguered.
A spokesperson of the convenors,
Teresa Gutierrez of the May 1st Coalition in the USA, relayed that
the IMA was conceptualized due to the perceived need to create an
international alliance that can represent people living and working
in countries other than their home ones and create a common platform
for them.
“The formation of the
International Migrants Alliance in Hong Kong this June will signal
the awakening of the sleeping giant, that is the worldwide
immigrants’ mass movement,” declared Connie Bragas-Regalado,
chairperson of Migrante International, one of IMA’s lead convenors.
The formation of the IMA comes at
a time when migrants, immigrants, refugees and displaced peoples of
the world are confronted with increasing attacks on their economic
and political rights, said Regalado.
Migrants worldwide now number to
over 191 million and comprise 3 percent of the world’s population.
In 2006, migrants generated $276 billion in total global remittances
with more than $206 billion channeled to developing economies.
“We look forward to sharing
inside the global alliance the treasure trove of lessons and
victories of the Filipino migrants’ movement; and more
importantly, contributing our strength to the surging global
migrants’ mass movement,” she stressed.
Eni Lestari, spokesperson of the
Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, relayed that the presence of a
vibrant movement of migrant workers in Hong Kong played part in the
decision to hold the IMA assembly in the said territory.
“Successful campaigns were
launched by migrant workers in Hong Kong and the migrant movement
here is considered as one of the biggest and most active in the
world. Hong Kong is one of the focal points when it comes to the
gravity of the migrants’ situation and migrants’ resistance,”
she added.
There are about 250,000 migrant
workers in Hong Kong and almost 90 percent of them are women working
as domestic workers.
The IMA is expected to present a
position at the upcoming Second Global Forum on Migration and
Development to be hosted by the Philippines in October, calling for
the advancement of the recognition of domestic work as work. This
will entitle domestic workers to other workers’ rights indicated
in various international conventions.
Renowned Malaysian advocate for
migrants’ rights and Right Livelihood Award recipient Dr. Irene
Fernandez shall keynote the IMA founding assembly.
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