First-ever Global Online Rally of Migrant Domestic Workers! Inclusion, Protection, Services and Rights for Migrant Domestic Workers Successfully Held with 500 Migrants, Advocates Worldwide
Feature Story on the Global Online Rally of Migrant Domestic Workers for Inclusion, Protection, Services and Rights prepared by the International Migrants Alliance Secretariat
19 June 2020
More than 500 participants representing more than 100 organizations from 39 countries[1] gathered together in the first-ever Global Online Rally of Migrant Domestic Workers for Inclusion, Services, Protection and Rights held. According to Facebook analytics, the video has reached 16,303 people, received 5,271 engagements and 9,200 views, and was shared 278 times.
The Global Online Rally (GOR) was jointly organized by the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) and the International Women’s Alliance (IWA) to highlight the issues and concerns confronting migrant domestic workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held on June 16, on the occasion of the International Domestic Workers Day.
Indeed, true power lies in collective strength and the global movement of migrant domestic workers has proven that.
STORIES OF SUFFERING, STORIES OF STRUGGLE
The collective demand of migrant domestic workers and their advocates for inclusion, services, protection and rights was so immense that no distance or time zone, digital divide, language or pandemic can hinder them from articulating their situation and their just calls.
Below are some snippets of powerful speeches made by the GOR’s speakers. They can be accessed through the IMA’s website:
“What made us sad, when Hong Kong government and other governments in Asia provide economic relief and other aids to their peoples, again, migrant domestic workers and other migrant workers are excluded. No free COVID-19 testing is given and when it is given, it is used to crackdown undocumented migrant workers. The COVID-19 exposes the harsh reality of abusive working condition and unfair treatment of the migrant domestic workers.”
Sringatin, Indonesian domestic worker in HK, chairperson of Indonesian Migrant Workers Union
“Our movement is necessary because in countries in the Middle East, many believe domestic workers do not deserve freedom, do not deserve respect, and do not deserve rights to rest, leisure, just pay, decent food and shelter, privacy, and medical care… They are trapped in a system that does not respect or value their work and their voices, and give them little to no protections to defend themselves, are excluded from local labor laws, and risk arrest, deportation, detention or being charged with a crime, if they speak up, report labor violations or abuse.”
Joanna Concepcion – returned migrant to the Philippines, chairperson of Migrante International
“When I started learning about my rights, I realized that I didn’t have a choice; that I was forced to migrate, to become undocumented because of trafficking; that I was a victim of the system because of the lack of opportunities back home. What parent would want to leave their family just to be able to put food on the table? ...Many undocumented immigrants who have been detained for deportation are at very high risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the crowded and unhealthy conditions of the immigrant detention facilities across the U.S. and at the border. Trump attempted to stop immigration into the U.S. using the pandemic to discriminate and exclude forced migrant workers and asylum seekers from coming into the U.S.”
Lester Ramos – trafficking survivor, deputy secretary general of Migrante USA
“The pandemic has made crystal clear that inequality and injustice are at the epicentre of neoliberalism. It has shown how it has unevenly affected peoples and their communities, within and among nations, across the gender, race and class divide… We need to urgently put in place new metrics for defining human development, progress and prosperity. It can no longer be just about economic growth and profit for the interests of big business and a privileged few over the well-being of the people and the planet. It must no longer be about the 1% only.”
Margherita Coppolaro – Italian social worker, member of Associazione Mande
“We must live this suffering, this anguish, this helplessness in the most absolute and dark silence because the government and society do not want to understand that we are also part of this society and we are the first link in the economy. Denying ourselves the protection and recognition of the importance of our work makes it an act of violence in itself. That is why we organize ourselves under the motto of; We have courage, we have rights and together we fight for our causes! Regularization!”
Diana Moreno – former undocumented migrant in Canada, spokesperson for ATTAP-CTI
“Although it is true that migration responds to multiple causes, it is always due to some lack of social, labour, cultural, economic or political protection, and is accompanied by the violation of access to rights such as education and health, to the point of being unable to live in peace, among others. Within this framework, it is unlikely that migration will be carried out in a consensual and informed manner because expulsion occurs due to conditions of impoverishment in the countries of origin. However, governments continue to wash their hands of the matter and do not assume protection responsibilities towards their own citizens.”
Natividad Obeso González – Peruvian migrant worker in Argentina, President and co-founder of the Association of Migrant and Refugee Women in Argentina (AMUMRA in Spanish)
“We are and we should be proud that the COVID-19 pandemic did not stop us from voicing out our concerns and demands. When governments neglect and deny our human rights, we use the power of unity and solidarity to help our ranks and communities. We have learned how to re-organize ourselves and engage in campaigns through various platforms. We have learned how to defend ourselves in time of crisis. It is a positive lesson that we should celebrate.”
Eni Lestari, Indonesian domestic worker in Hong Kong, chairperson of International Migrants Alliance
“This is just one story, and there are millions more whose stories need to be told. My hope is that together with IMA and other progressive organizations we can continue to build a world where no no mother, no migrant worker, has to endure this kind of life. These stories can be retold again, as a life that once was, and a life that will never be. Onward to building a new world. Onward to victory.”
Donna Denina – Filipino-American, member of International Women's Alliance
A UNITED CALL FOR INCLUSION, FOR SYSTEM CHANGE
In a statement it released for the International Domestic Workers’ Day, the IMA called for immediate actions to the problems of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for a change in the system shaped by imperialist neoliberalism that put them in a perpetual state of vulnerability and insecurity.
According to the IMA, MDWs are some of the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis’ grave impacts, enabled by theirexploitative and oppressive situation resulting from and perpetuated by imperialist control of the global economic and political situation through its twin weapons of neoliberalism, and war and conflict.
Coming from countries whose development is stunted by neoliberal policies, MDWs experience social exclusion, slavery, and are made targets of unfair scapegoating by governments during periods of crisis.
Sadly, in the face of the hardships of MDWs aggravated by the pandemic, even the shortcomings of the ILO Convention No. 189 or the Domestic Workers Convention – the approval of which is commemorated on June 16– are exposed as many countries still refuse to ratify the convention and its enforcement is also not ensured.
The IMA calls on governments of both countries of destination and countries of origin must be made to: (1) Ensure the health and safety of MDWs against the COVID-19; (2) Protect the employment and labor rights of MDWs; (3) Stop the criminalization of undocumented MDWs; (4) Include MDWs to aid and relief programs; and (5) Provide repatriation and livelihood support for MDWs who lose their job due to the pandemic.
More importantly, it called for a change in development strategy that advances and repackages imperialist globalization, preserves inequalities and inequities, and deodorizes the inhumane labor export and commodification of migrants in the name of migration for development.
A SHOW OF STRENGTH AND SOLIDARITY
In addition to the speeches made by migrant leaders and advocates, the GOR also showed videos of cultural performances and campaigns by various migrant domestic workers’ and migrant groups.
The Network of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong rendered a powerful performance of migrant domestic workers’ suffering and their determination to change their situation. Members of Migrante Hong Kong sang a song entitled, What Kind of Hero, depicting the irony of MDWs being called modern heroes yet continually being denied protection and access to justice. IMA USA Chapter showed the various actions that they have led against the US government’s continued attacks on immigrants, migrants and refugees and its plan to build the US-Mexico border wall. Canada’s Comite de femmes d’ATTAP presented their current campaign for visibility of migrants’ issues and regularization for all migrants in Canada. Finally, Miredes Internacional presented a beautiful song, entitled “Mujer Migrante” (Woman Migrant), composed and rendered by Freda Montaño.
The participants of the GOR were just as active and engaged. They listened intently to the speakers, were generous in their adulations and expressions of solidarity both on Zoom and Facebook, and with all their hearts chanted during the segments for coordinated online chanting. Below are the slogans chanted all throughout the GOR:
Good enough to work, Good enough to stay
Assez bons pour travailler, Assez bons pour rester
We are workers, We are not slaves
Yes to Inclusion, No Discrimination
We….. are PEOPLE….. We…. are not illegal, NO!
When migrants' rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up! Fight back!
Aleeeeerta, Aleeeeerta: Alerta, Alerta
Alerta que camina, migrantes trabajadoras de América Latina!
The GOR, which ran for 1 hour and 45 minutes, was capped with all Zoom participants flashing placards they have written calls and slogans on and chanting almost tirelessly as if they did not want to part ways and end the online rally.
A COLLECTIVE EFFORT
The success of the Global Online Rally of Migrant Domestic Workers is due to the hundreds of people and organizations that have worked together to make it happen.
To the coordinating team of the GOR that helped in shaping the program, inviting speakers, and strengthening linkages with one another to ensure the smooth flow of the program – Miredes Internacional, the USA, Canada, and Hong Kong and Macau chapters of the IMA, and the IWA Secretariat;
To our translators – Jana (for Spanish), Sheryl (for French), Yuni (for Bahasa Indonesia), Waii (for Thai), Anisha and Alina (for Nepali), and Bandula (for Sinhala). Thank you for being with us and braving the technical glitches in order to provide simultaneous interpretation to our 300 Zoom participants;
To the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants for not only sharing their Zoom platform for the GOR and providing technical support all throughout but being the IMA Secretariat in coordinating all campaigns and activities of the platform;
To Baneng of United Filipinos in Hong Kong for emceeing the program, Trina for laying out the promotional poster, friends in the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development for sharing with us their amazing members to be our interpreters, the various organizations that have helped mount, record and share their video performances, and countless number of people who have contributed time and effort to the GOR;
And yes, to all the participants of the GOR, from those on Zoom and Facebook, your active participation in the whole of GOR has made it vibrant, alive and empowering.
As we have proven that we can speak for ourselves, let us continue building our global migrant movement by organizing and mobilizing more migrant domestic workers, migrant workers, immigrants, refugees, displaced peoples and advocates all over the world.
#WorkersNotSlaves
#DomesticWorkIsWork
#IncludeMigrants
#CareForThoseWhoCareForYou
#EndViolenceAgainstWomenAndMigrants
[1] Countries and country regions present were Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Dubai, Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela, Zambia