ASIAN MIGRATION NEWS
1-31 December 2009
Protecting migrant workers’ rights
During International Migrants Day last 18 December 2009, UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon highlighted the driving forces behind migration. He outlined that a
demand for foreign workers exists in places of high unemployment, underscoring
that migrants are needed to fuel growth amid the global economic crisis. The
secretary-general stated that “migration can be a positive and empowering
experience for migrants themselves, and for both the home and host countries.”
However, migrants are vulnerable to discrimination, exploitation and abuse. The
global economic and financial crisis has led countries to tighten restrictions
on migration, which can be considered a form of exploitation and abuse.
According to Ban, though, migration can be part of a long-term solution. He
urged the governments to protect human rights of migrants and to put human
rights at the heart of migration policy. Also, he called on the UN member-states
to ratify the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers
and Members of Their Families.
Canada to begin assessing migrants’ credentials
Canada attracts more than 250,000 new immigrants each year. Though most of these
immigrants are better qualified than some Canadian counterparts, they end up in
low-paid jobs because of non-recognition of their foreign credentials. In view
of the looming shortage of skilled workers in many industries, Immigration
Minister Jason Kenney announced that foreign credentials in 14 fields such as
engineering, architecture and nursing will be assessed within a year.
US deports 286 foreigners with criminal records
A total of 286 foreign nationals with criminal records have either been deported
from the United States or face deportation after a three-day immigration
enforcement operation in December, 2009. Those arrested – 257 men and 29 women –
hail from more than 30 countries in Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East
and Africa.
17 irregular workers arrested in London
A west London-based company faces a potential fine of up to 170,000 pounds after
17 irregular workers from India and Sri Lanka were arrested during a raid by
Britain immigration officials on December 10.
Sources: “Canada fast-tracks recognition of immigrant degrees,”
The Economic Times, 1 December 2009;
“Nearly 300 deported in major California operation,”
ABS-CBN News, 12 December 2009;
“Indians arrested for working illegally in UK,”
Hindustan Times, 15 December 2009;
“Migration important piece to global economic crisis, says UN chief,”
People’s Daily Online, 19 December
2009
EAST ASIA
China
(see also Japan,
India, Australia,
Other
Pacific)
Shanghai steps up bid to lure overseas Chinese talent
Shanghai officials teamed up with 17 major institutions to recruit skilled
overseas Chinese in the United States, Canada and Singapore as a response to the
Chinese government’s mandate to make the city a global financial center in the
year 2020. A job fair last 5 December 2009 held in New Jersey and organized by
the Shanghai Financial Development Services Office listed 117 job openings and
attracted more than 700 candidates. In addition to the attractive salaries being
offered, a one million-yuan cash bonus will go to hires recognized by the
government’s 1000 People Plan. The 1000 People Plan was a project announced
earlier this year to facilitate the recruitment of overseas Chinese talent in
various fields.
China to hire foreign bankers
A Chinese government official said the country’s State Administration of Foreign
Exchange has begun recruiting money managers to aid in the investment of the
country’s $2.3 trillion in foreign exchange reserves. The government would like
to increase its return on the reserves and wants to tap into the global
resources of bankers who may be looking for jobs.
Authorities step up bid to combat human trafficking
The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported more than 44,000 cases of female and child
trafficking between 2000 and 2007, with about 133,000 victims rescued by UNICEF.
Also, between April and October 2009, more than 6,000 people were rescued in a
national campaign to combat the phenomenon.
In related news, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee is starting
to examine the State Council’s application to ratify the UN supplementary
protocol. The move would help China implement effectively its Anti-trafficking
Action Plan for women and Children, which took effect in 2007. According to
Vice-Foreign Minister Li Jinzhang, the protocol would be implemented in the
Chinese mainland and the Macao SAR, but not in Hong Kong SAR. Meanwhile,
Shanghai railway police have rounded up a major ring of traffickers of babies,
in the process rescuing 12 infants. All in all, police have rescued 2,008
kidnapped children after solving 1,717 cases in a nationwide campaign against
child trafficking that began last 9 April. Recent abductions have also led the
Ministry of Public Security to set up a Web page to help reunite infants with
their parents.
Dalian City abolishes temporary residence system
The northeastern city of Dalian has issued 200 residential cards to migrant
workers last 25 December 2009 as the city officially abolished the controversial
temporary residence permit. The
city began to issue the temporary migrant permits costing about 35 yuan
(approximately $5) to farmers in 1993. As temporary residents, the migrant
farmers had to pay an additional 2,000-3,000 Yuan a year to have their children
admitted by primary and middle schools. The permit was seen to limit the rights
of migrant workers in the employment, education and medical care sectors.
According to Wan Zizheng, professor at the Law School of Dongbei University of
Finance and Economics, the “deletion of the word ‘temporary’ showed China’s
attitude to remove obstacles for migrant workers, improve their condition and
give them more recognition.” The new residential card meant not only the
exemption of extra educational fees for children of migrant workers, but also
equal rights with local citizens in employment, vocational training,
applications for driving license and vehicle registration and more benefits in
medical care and old age pensions. Meanwhile, Beijing is carrying out plans to
replace the temporary residency permit with a more integrated one, and aims to
make it accessible to more people thanks to a built-in chip that will
consolidate basic information, as well as social service functions to entice the
populace into using it.
Sources: “China recruiting foreign workers,”
oDesk Job News, 2 December 2009;
“Beijing set to replace temporary residency permits with residency permit,”
People’s Daily Online, 9 December
2009; Zha Minjie, “Police swoop on baby traffickers,”
Shanghai Daily, 15 December 2009;
“Six workers suspected of lung ailment,”
Shanghai Daily, 16 December 2009; Kelly Chuang Dawson, “Shanghai employers
go to US to hire returning Chinese expats,”
China Daily, 21 December 2009; Chen
Jia, “China joins UN fight against human trafficking,”
China Daily, 23 December 2009; “NE
city abolishes controversial temporary residence permits targeting migrants,”
People’s Daily Online, 26 December
2009
Fewer Nepali domestic workers in HK
As new applicants are being denied visas and those staying on have moved to
other professions, the number of Nepali domestic workers in Hong Kong is
dwindling. Four years ago, Hong Kong had about 2,000 domestic workers from
Nepal. Recent figures, however, show that they are down to 700. A majority of
domestic workers in Hong Kong are from Indonesia – 49 percent – and the
Philippines.
Source: “Number of Nepali domestic helps in Hong Kong dwindles,”
Republica, 9 December 2009
Plan to prevent human trafficking adopted
The Japanese government adopted an action plan to prevent human trafficking
cases and set up a working team to tackle child pornography last 22 December
2009. The government plans to take steps in strengthening immigration control,
dealing with the illegal employment of undocumented workers, crackdown vicious
employers and brokers and providing greater protection to victims in the form of
counseling and medical services. Earlier in the month, a senior immigration
officer was arrested on 4 December on suspicion of accepting 5.8 million yen in
bribes in return for helping foreign entertainers enter the country. According
to the police, he facilitated the issuance of certificates of eligibility for
resident status – required when applying for an entertainment visa – on 29
occasions to help entertainers from the Philippines, Argentina and elsewhere.
Authorities wary of ‘fake fingerprints’
Immigration officers at Japan’s primary hub, Narita Airport, have become wary of
Chinese nationals who might have entered the country by scraping the skin off
their fingers or cutting off part of the prints in order to alter fingerprints.
This year, there have been documented cases of Chinese individuals, as well as
nationals of other countries, who were refused entry for changed fingerprints. A
Korean woman had already been deported last April 2008 for slipping through the
airport’s biometric system by placing tape on her fingers.
Fake marriage helping Chinese to sneak into Japan
Foreigners are now resorting to fake marriages to be able to sneak into Japan.
In 2007 and 2008, police acted on 97 and 139 cases of fake marriages,
respectively, arresting or referring to prosecutors 375 and 416 people. Chinese
nationals topped the list of foreigners involved in such a practice, which can
lead that “married” individual to tie the knot with yet another foreigner and
subsequently be treated like any other Japanese national. A total of 114 people
involved in 49 cases the past two years have involved Chinese citizens.
37 Burmese refugees seek long-term residency
About three dozen Burmese nationals, who have been granted exceptional status to
remain in Japan without being designates as refugees, have applied for long-term
residency because they may not be able to renew their current status if the
situation in Burma changes. Their present status, which denies them welfare
benefits and does not allow their relatives to come to Japan, needs to be
changed if they are to stay on in the country without any work restrictions.
Japan needs foreigners: Lee Kuan Yew
Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, has weighed in on Japan’s immigration
issue by stating that the country has to open its borders and take in foreigners
who will live and work in the country. Lee said Japan needs to overcome fears of
“racial dilution” and allow foreign nationals to offset very low birth rates, a
situation very similar to that of his own country.
Sources: Nozomu Hayashi, “Fake marriage
helping Chinese to ‘sneak’ into Japan,”
The Asahi Shimbun, 5 December 2009; “Immigration officer held for graft over
residency papers,” Daily Yomiuri, 5
December 2009; “Police to arrest Chinese who altered fingerprints to evade
checks,” Daily Yomiuri, 5 December
2009; “Japan needs foreigners: Lee Kuan Yew,”
Sydney Morning Herald, 11 December
2009; “37 Myanmar exiles seek long-term residency,”
The Japan Times, 16 December 2009;
“Human trafficking plan ok’d by Cabinet,”
The Japan Times, 23 December 2009
Pyongyang to prohibit entry of aliens until February
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has announced a restriction on the
entry of foreigners from 20 December to February 2010. Analysts from South Korea
believe this is an attempt by Pyongyang to ease internal unrest caused by
monetary reform or to prevent the spread of the A/H1N1 virus.
North Koreans arrested for illegal entry into Thailand
Police from the northern Thai province of Chiang Rai arrested 14 North Korean
nationals, including eight women and a child, on 14 December and charged them
with illegal entry. The North Koreans, who were on a bus bound for Bangkok, were
questioned by authorities before being formally charged.
Sources: AFP, “Fourteen North Korean refugees arrested in Thailand,” 14 December 2009; “DPRK to prohibit entry of foreigners,” People’s Daily Online, 16 December 2009
Foreign workers can now renew visas without mandatory departure
A new regulation by the Ministry of Labor last 10 December 2009 provided that
foreign workers are no longer required to leave the country to renew their
visas. Foreign employees may also be rehired for up to two years without
renewing their three-year work visas. Covered by this new ruling are E-9
(non-professional or less-skilled workers) visa holders and ethnic Koreans with
H-2 (working visit) visas. The new regulation is expected to strengthen the
productivity of companies since it secures stable jobs for trained foreign
employees. Also, the workers will be relieved from extra expenses such as
airfare.
Majority of foreign workers under the EPS are low skilled
According to a report of the Ministry of Labor, the majority of foreign workers
registered with the employment permit system (EPS) are classified as
less-skilled. Data show that 89 percent of E-9 visa holders (“non-professional”
or less-skilled) worked at manufacturing firms, with 41 percent of males in that
sector earning between 900,000 to one million won a month. A salary of one
million won or less is much lower than the average monthly pay of workers at
companies with more than five workers, which is pegged at 2.6 million won.
A bill proposes warrants in crackdown vs. irregular foreigners
Rep. Lee Chun-seok, from the main opposition Democratic Party, has proposed a
bill requiring immigration officers to possess a court-issued warrant before
entering a building or house to search for suspected irregular migrants. The
bill comes amid concern expressed by the Human Rights Commission over numerous
raids carried out without proper or official documentation. Already, three
people have been killed and 24 wounded in crackdowns between January 2005 and
August 2009.
Mandatory HIV testing of foreign workers opposed
Civic groups and immigrant workers filed a petition with the National Human
Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) claiming that banning foreign workers who
test positive for HIV/AIDS constitutes a violation of their human rights. The
group seeks to nullify the mandate requiring foreign nationals applying for E-2
(foreign language instructors), E-6 (entertainers, models, athletes and artists)
and E-9 (less skilled workers) visas to show proof that they tested negative for
HIV/AIDS. The petition also opposed the second HIV tests conducted on
low-skilled migrant workers upon arrival in South Korea and the immediate
deportation of all those found positive for HIV.
FTA unlikely to attract skilled Indian professionals to Korea
The free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and India, to take effect
beginning 1 January 2010, may fail to meet its objective of attracting
much-needed skilled workers from India, according to a research think-tank. The
National Assembly Research Service said that the Korea-India Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreement is likely to fall short of its goal since it will
only grant one-year visas to Indian professionals, unlike countries like Canada,
New Zealand and Germany, which use green cards to woo highly-skilled Indians.
Sources: Kang Shin-who, “Groups oppose AIDS discrimination,”
Korea Times, 1 December 2009; Bae
Ji-sook, “Foreign manufacturing workers paid W1 mil. Monthly,”
Korea Times, 3 December 2009; Lee
Tae-hoon, “Plan to attract skilled workers from India doomed to fail,”
Korea Times, 3 December 2009; Park
Si-soo, “Migrant workers will get eased visa rules,”
Korea Times, 9 December 2009; “Visa
renewal not needed to rehire foreign workers,”
The Korea Herald,” 10 December 2009;
Lee Tae-hoon, “Warrant needed to crack down on illegal foreigners,”
Korea Times, 15 December 2009
Draft bill to allow Taiwan to handle refugee cases
The Executive Yuan passed a draft bill on 31 December 2009 that will provide a
legal basis for the government to handle refugee cases and allow asylum seekers
from other countries to stay in Taiwan. According to the draft bill, foreign
nationals or stateless persons who are under threat from wars or natural
disasters or who are facing persecution for political reasons may apply for
refugee status with the Taiwanese government. Decisions on all applications
would be made within a one-year period, during which time applicants would be
allowed to stay in Taiwan and have access to free legal consultation services,
basic medical care and accommodation. In case of mass application for refugee
status, the Ministry of Interior said it will impose a quota on the applications
and seek consultation and assistance from the United Nations. Presently, most of
refugees seeking asylum in Taiwan are from Tibet or descendants of Kuomintang
members who were stranded in northern Thailand following the end of the Chinese
civil war in 1949.
Survey reveals satisfaction among highly-skilled foreign workers
A survey of highly-skilled foreign workers living in Taiwan found that close to
90 percent of respondents found the Taiwanese people to be “friendly,” while
75.1 percent expressed satisfaction with their living environment. However,
there were low satisfaction ratings on the bilingual markings on product
packaging (19.5 packaging) and in the ease of understanding the rules and
regulations governing foreign workers (38.3 percent). Some 1,076 white-collar
foreign workers were interviewed for the survey out of a population of 18,532.
Currently, there are about 960,000 foreigners and immigrants in the country,
including workers in the manufacturing and construction industries and those
married to Taiwanese nationals.
Demonstration for migrant workers’ rights
More than 1,000 workers from the Taiwan International Workers’ Association and
other labor groups marched from the Taipei Main Station to the office of the
Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) on 13 December to call for the protection of the
rights of migrant workers. The demonstrators threw slippers at the council
building to symbolize the government’s alleged inaction over violations of the
basic rights of migrant domestic workers. Aside from being forced to work long
hours with no breaks, other violations cited by the protestors include the
absence of sick leaves, discrimination and lack of privacy and freedom.
Meanwhile, the CLA said that a legislation seeking to remedy the situation is in
the offing but some details still need to be finalized, including finding
alternative care arrangements during a caregiver’s day off.
Move to ease restrictions on hiring foreign domestic workers opposed
A proposal by the CLA to relax restrictions on hiring foreign domestic workers
has been met by stiff opposition and could be deferred. The proposed amendment
to the Employment Service Act would have allowed an estimated 2,000 families to
hire foreign workers for domestic work. Under the proposal, households having
two people older than 80 years old would be among those qualified to hire
foreign domestic workers. However, according to the Taiwan Labor Front, the plan
could jeopardize the chances of middle-aged women to re-enter the workforce
after having children and make it difficult for elderly individuals to find job
opportunities to boost their personal and family income.
Sources: “Groups oppose more foreign home workers,”
Taiwan Headline, 4 December 2009;
“Workers pan CLA rights record,”
Taiwan Headlines, 14 December 2009; Shi Hsiu-chuan, “Foreign residents
survey finds good and bad in Taiwan,”
Taipei Times, 17 December 2009; Chiachen Hsieh and Deborah Kuo, “Refugee
draft bill passed,” The China Post,
31 December 2009
Remittances from GCC to drop by 9 percent in 2009: World Bank
Remittances coming from overseas workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
countries are expected to record a nine percent drop in 2009, before picking up
again in 2010, according to the World Bank. The slowdown is due to a decrease in
economic activities, layoffs from the public and private sector companies and an
increase in the cost of living in the GCC countries. Nevertheless, the World
Bank is optimistic that the region will bounce back in 2010 as a result of
rising oil prices and stronger investor confidence.
Source: “World bank sees 9 percent
decline in outward remittances from GCC in 2009,”
The Daily Star, 31 December 2009
France set to expel Afghan migrants
France is set to expel a group of at least 11 Afghans on 22 December, three
months after authorities closed down a so-called “jungle” migrant squatter camp
in Calais. Many irregular migrants and refugees gathered in this camp hoping to
cross the English Channel into Britain. The refugee aid group, Cimade, has
appealed to the French government to reconsider the planned expulsion. The
previous repatriation of three Afghans from France and 24 from Britain in
October drew protests from left-wing opposition and humanitarian groups.
Source: “France to expel Afghan migrants in days,”
Hindustan Times, 15 December 2009
Bid to restrict visas of women from certain countries blocked
A parliamentary group, known as the Al Asala bloc, is seeking to impose stricter
visa requirements on women from China, Ethiopia, Russia and Thailand in a bid to
control prostitution. According to the group, majority of the sex workers in
Bahrain are women coming from these countries.
However, the move to forward the proposal to the Cabinet for immediate
action has been put on hold. Some members of Parliament agreed to submit the
issue for further study by a parliament committee and for subsequent discussion
with the Interior Ministry.
Sources: “Bid to curb women’s visas blocked,”
Gulf Daily News, 9 December 2009;
Aniqa Haider, “Embassies silent on visa rule clampdown,”
Gulf Daily News, 10 December 2009
Authorities peg number of illegal border crossers at 45K
Border police confirmed that some 45,000 people have been arrested for
unauthorized entry into Iranian territory since March 2009, or roughly an
average of 600 persons detained per day for such offense. There are now plans to
provide the border police with more training and modern electronic devices in an
effort to reinforce Iranian border security.
Source: “45,000 had been detained for illegal entry into Iran since March:
commander,” Tehran Times, 11 December
2009
Iraq
(see also Bangladesh)
IOM airs plea for repatriation of stranded migrant workers
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it needs $2.5 million to
assist in the repatriation of some 700 African and Asian migrants stranded in
Iraq. Despite the violence in Iraq, thousands of migrants have continuously
entered the country to work in the construction, carpentry and domestic work
sectors, with a majority of them coming from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Uganda.
According to the IOM, many of these migrants had been forced to sign fake
employment contracts and had their passports confiscated by employers, rendering
them vulnerable to exploitation.
Source: “Plea for stranded Iraq migrants,”
BBC News, 16 December 2009
UN agency slam’s Israel’s ‘hot return’ policy
Israel’s so-called immediate or ‘hot return’ policy in dealing with asylum
seekers is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court following a lawsuit
filed by the UNHCR claiming that
the policy violates international law. Under the said policy, asylum seekers
caught crossing into Israel are returned to a neighboring country within 24
hours as long as they have not gone beyond 50 kilometers from the border.
According to the UNHCR, the policy is in violation of Israel’s international
obligations since it has yet to forge a formal agreement with Egypt to ensure
the welfare of asylum-seekers sent back over the border. Some 217 people have
allegedly been returned to Egypt in the first nine months of this year pursuant
to the hot return policy. The UN agency has also presented some documents
indicating that people returned to Egypt are routinely sent to jail and are also
denied access to procedures that would allow them to obtain refugee status.
In a related development, Israeli border authorities nabbed 515 Palestinian
nationals for unauthorized entry into the country on 12 and 13 December
following raids conducted across Israel. The arrested individuals were sent back
to the West Bank.
Sources: Dana Weiler-Polak, “Israel’s ‘hot return’ of Sudan refugees prompts UN
concern,” Haaretz, 1 December 2009;
Yaakov Lappin, “Border Police arrest 515 Palestinians for illegal entry into
Israel,” Jerusalem Post, 13 December
2009
Kuwait
(see also Bangladesh)
Labor law for migrant workers passed
The Kuwaiti parliament passed a new labor law on 23 December that provides
foreign workers with more favorable work conditions, including better annual
leaves, end of service indemnities and holidays. The new law also mandates the
setting of a minimum wage for certain job categories, particularly those
involving less-skilled labor. Meanwhile, tougher penalties, including jail
terms, would be imposed on businessmen who trade in visas or who recruit
expatriate workers but fail to give them the pledged jobs and pay their
salaries. The law, however, does not do away with the sponsor system, which
virtually renders workers under the mercy of their local employers. Kuwait hosts
2.3 million migrant workers, including some 140,000 Filipino workers.
Sources: Agencies, “Kuwait MPs pass new labour law, but sponsor system stays,”
Gulf News, 23 December 2009; AFP,
“New law on foreign workers passed in Kuwait,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 25
December 2009
Lebanon
(see also Philippines)
Lebanon urged to boost protection of foreign domestic workers
A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report entitled, “Slow Movement: Protection of
Migrants’ Rights in 2009,” shows the need to bolster efforts in protecting
foreign domestic workers in Lebanon. Despite the government’s efforts to
initiate reforms, some 200,000 women migrant workers in the country continue to
be vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by their employers. Many migrant
domestic workers, particularly from Ethiopia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka,
complain about delayed or non-payment of wages, forced confinement, lack of free
time and verbal and physical abuse. Current Lebanese laws that guarantee
workers’ rights do not cover domestic workers. The HRW report called on the
Lebanese government to “amend the labor code to provide comprehensive legal
protection for domestic workers” and urged the Labor Ministry to monitor labor
conditions.
Plight of Palestinian refugees draws attention anew
The visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Beirut last 7 December once
again drew attention to the issue concerning an estimated 300,000 Palestinian
refugees living under dismal conditions in 12 camps across Lebanon. The visit is
significant in the light of talks of a possible revival of the Middle East peace
process and the nagging fear among the Lebanese that any solution arrived at in
dealing with the Palestinian refugee problem is bound to be detrimental to
Lebanon. The UN Relief and Works Agency estimates the number of Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon to be around 400,000, but both Lebanese and Palestinian
authorities believe the actual number is closer to 250,000.
Because Lebanese laws forbid refugees from owning property and working in
many sectors, they rely mainly on the UNRWA for educational, health and other
forms of assistance.
Sources: AFP, “Lebanon’s Palestinians fear they are refugees for life,”
Borneo Bulletin, 7 December 2009;
Farah-Silvana Kanaan, “Migrant domestic workers left unprotected despite
reforms,” The Daily Star, 22 December
2009
Call for ratification of UN convention on human trafficking
The Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking (QFCHT) called on Qatari
authorities to ratify the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime and its supplementing protocols in order to address the problem
of trafficking in persons, especially women and children. According to a QFCHT
report, there is a need to streamline the procedures for the recruitment of
migrant workers. It suggests the use of a genuine market needs assessment as the
basis for recruitment in order to reduce the incidence of trading in visas. The
group also called for closer cooperation among all government agencies involved
in combating the crime and to employ the latest technologies for investigating
and handling all forms of human trafficking.
Source: “QFCHT calls for ratification of UN convention on human trafficking,”
The Peninsula, 8 December 2009
United Arab Emirates
(see also Philippines)
UAE organizes team to monitor contracts of Indian, Filipino workers
The Ministry of Labor announced the setting up of a national team to look into
the implementation of a model initiative for basic contractual agreements
governing migrant labor from India and the Philippines. The team is composed of
representatives from both government and private sectors, the Ministries of
Foreign Affairs, Interior and Health; Dubai Health Authority; Jumeriah Group; Al
Naboodah Construction Group; Abu Dhabi National Hotels; Associated Construction
and Investment Company LLC; Al Nour Hospital and NMC Specialty Hospital. The
initiative stems from recommendations made by participating countries in the
January 2008 Abu Dhabi Dialogue on overseas employment and contractual labor
among origin and destination countries in Asia. Labor Minister Saqr Ghobash
Saeed Ghobash said the UAE wants to find innovative solutions for regulating the
relationship between sending and receiving countries of temporary contractual
workers.
Dubai debt crisis worries migrant workers
The debt crisis in Dubai has caused fear among the various migrant communities
in the emirate. Indians who make up 40 percent of the population of Dubai had
reason to worry. Although the crisis is not likely to affect the whole of India,
it is expected to affect Kerala, whose economy is heavily dependent on
remittances from overseas Indian workers. Remittances from overseas Indians make
up around 22 percent of Kerala’s income. As of the first week of December,
dozens of Indian migrant workers who returned home for the Muslim holiday of
Eid, have allegedly received text messages from the Gulf informing them that
they no longer have jobs to return to. Meanwhile, with the suspension of some
400 major construction projects in Dubai following the debt crisis, as many as
60 percent of Malaysian migrant workers in the emirate’s construction industry
had allegedly not been paid their salaries. A total of 4,000 affected Malaysian
workers have reportedly returned home this year.
In related news, Philippine Labor Secretary Marianito Roque assured some 200,000
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Dubai that the government is ready to
implement measures to cushion the impact of the crisis. Philippine President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the Labor Department and the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration to assist in the redeployment of displaced
Filipino workers in Dubai to other emirates or other countries in the Middle
East, if the need arises. Secretary Roque also expressed optimism that the
financial crisis in Dubai is unlikely to leave a huge dent on OFW remittances
given the “temporary or transitory work arrangement” in the emirate and the
resultant low average income among many Filipino workers there.
Sources: Kong See Hoh, “Malaysians in Dubai forced to flee without pay,”
The Sun Daily, 1 December 2009;
“Dubai debt crisis worries OFWs,” ABS-CBN
News, 1 December 2009; “No major job losses for Filipino workers despite
Dubai debt crisis,” All Headline News,
3 December 2009; Mayen Jaymalin, “Dubai crisis to cost RP $300 million in
remittances,” The Philippine Star, 7
December 2009; “DOLE ordered to assist OFWs in Dubai,”
The Philippine Star, 8 December 2009;
“Team to follow–up on contracts of Indian and Filipino workers,”
Khaleej Times, 24 December 2009
SOUTH ASIA
Burma agrees to take back 9,000 Rohingya refugees
According to Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Mirajul Quayes, Burma had agreed to
take back some 9,000 registered Rohingya refugees from among the 28,000 who have
been living in two camps in Cox’s Bazar for nearly two decades. The announcement
came on the first day of the fourth foreign secretary-level talks between the
two countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh. The issue
regarding the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, who fled from the Northern
Rakhine state of Burma to Bangladesh in 1991-1992 to escape persecution, has
been a source of tension between the two neighboring countries. Previous efforts
to repatriate the refugees whom Burma had identified as its nationals had been
unsuccessful due to tensions along the border. Moreover, the 28,000 registered
refugees in Cox’s Bazar allegedly refused to be repatriated for fear of further
repression in their homeland.
Amnesty for Bangladeshi irregular migrant workers in Kuwait
Some 30,000 Bangladeshi irregular migrant workers are expected to benefit from
the three-month amnesty announced by the Kuwaiti Parliament on 12 December. The
said amnesty would allow irregular migrant workers in Kuwait, including
Bangladeshis, to either regularize their status or leave the country to avoid
penalties and strict legal actions.
Bangladeshi workers in trouble in Libya
According to some Bangladeshis who have recently returned home from Libya,
around 5,000-6,000 irregular migrant workers from Bangladesh are being held
against their will in underground rooms in various parts of Libya. Unscrupulous
labor brokers allegedly confiscated the workers’ passports upon their arrival in
Libya and are demanding payment of huge amounts in recruitment fees.
Bangladesh’s labor counselor in Libya, Akber Hossain, explained that the
beleaguered workers fall into three categories:
those who went to Libya on legitimate work visas but are unqualified for
the jobs they were hired for; those who went there on short-term tourist visas
after receiving fake work invitations from Libyan companies; and those who were
promised jobs in Europe but who ended up stranded in Libya.
Jobs in Iraq for Bangladeshi workers; remittances in 2010
Officials from the Manpower Bureau announced that some 2000 Bangladeshi workers
are set to obtain employment in Iraq this month as part of initiatives to speed
up reconstruction efforts in the war-torn country. Some 256 Bangladeshi workers
had already left for Iraq in November to work in low-paying cleaning jobs in and
around the Iraqi capital of Baghdad but there is a huge demand for more workers,
according to a private recruiting firm. Iraqi companies are reportedly offering
migrant workers a monthly salary of US$300 plus free food and accommodations.
The employment offers from Iraq came amid job losses incurred by close to 70,000
Bangladeshi workers in the Gulf countries and Southeast Asia as a result of the
global recession.
Meanwhile, according to a World Bank study, remittances from overseas
Bangladeshis, largely migrant workers, would grow by at least 8.5 percent and
are expected to reach US$10.38 billion in 2010. At present 64 percent of annual
remittance inflows come from the Middle East.
Bangladesh may be unprepared to deal with environmental refugees
Saber Hossain Chowhary, chairperson of the All Party Parliamentary Group on
Climate Change and Environment from Dhaka, called on the international community
to recognize the existence of environmental refugees and the need for a
universal framework to deal with the issue during the Coppenhagen climate change
conference. Chowdhary revealed that an estimated 30 million people would likely
be displaced as a result of climate change. Given the dense population of
Bangladesh, it may be unable to deal with the emergence of environmental
refugees.
Sources: “Remittance growth to stay at 8.5 pc: WB,”
The New Nation, 10 December 2009;
“Search fails to find fishermen,”
Shanghai Daily, 10 December 2009; A Z M Anas, “2000 Bangladeshis likely to
get jobs in Iraq by this month,” The
Financial Express, 11 December 2009; Porimol Palma, “Workers end up in thick
soup in Libya,” The Daily Star, 11
December 2009; Simit Bhagat, “What about 30 million climate refugees,”
The Times of India, 15 December 2009;
“Bangladeshis working illegally in Kuwait to Benefit from amnesty,”
The Financial Express, 21 December
2009; “Burmese Muslims to be repatriated,”
BBC News, 29 December 2009; “Myanmar
agrees to take back 9,000 of its nationals from Bangladesh,”
People’s Daily Online, 29 December
2009; “Myanmar to take back 9,000 Rohingyas soon,”
The Daily Star, 30 December 2009;
“Rohingyas say no to repatriation,”
The Nation News, 31 December 2009
India
(see also South Korea,
UAE, Nepal)
Tough times for returning Indian expats
A few years ago, India initiated a program to entice talented Indian scientists
living abroad to go back to their homeland.
As a result of this program, tens of thousands of former emigrants
returned to India with their families, intending to take advantage of the
country’s booming economy and at the same time learn more about their roots.
According to Vivek Wadhwa of Harvard University, close to 100,000 ‘returnees’ or
‘repats’ are expected to move from the United States to India over the next five
years. However, a study by Wadhwa indicates that about 34 percent of repats had
difficulty settling in India compared to 13 percent of Indian immigrants who
experienced similar difficulty in settling in the US. Foremost among the repats’
complaints are the traffic situation, the lack of infrastructure, the
bureaucracy and pollution in India. Repats seem to have difficulty in
reconciling their Western business education with the inefficiencies and
ambiguities in India’s business environment.
Tightened measures for migrant domestic workers
The Kerala government has tightened security measures for female migrant
domestic workers amid rising reports of the trafficking of poor, uneducated
women for the sex sector in foreign countries. Apart from limiting would-be
migrant domestic workers to women who are at least 30 years of age, the state
government also requires applicants for such jobs to possess all the necessary
federal-attested papers and other relevant documents to ensure protection of
their rights as workers overseas. These papers include the original visa
attested by the Indian Embassy, the original employment contract that clearly
specifies the nature of the job and the employee’s salary, working hours,
entitlements and benefits and a document assuring access to a prepaid mobile
phone connection upon arrival at the place of work.
Troubled Indian workers in Malaysia; missing crew off Somalia
There is a rising number of Indians, particularly among skilled and semi-skilled
workers, who have fallen prey to unscrupulous recruitment agents. They have been
promised excellent, high-paying jobs in Malaysia only to find out upon their
arrival that either the jobs are non-existent or the salaries are way below
their expectations. According to the High Commission, it has been receiving an
average of seven to eight complaints per month among Indian migrant workers in
Malaysia. Among the usual complaints are non-payment of wages, beatings and
inhuman living conditions.
In other news, the Indian dhow, Laxmi Sagar, was hijacked by Somali pirates off
the coast of Somalia on 13 December. The dhow is believed to be operating
between Saudi Arabia and the African coast. There is no word yet on the fate of
the Indian crew.
Migrant workers issue in talks with Saudi Arabia and Moscow
India is still negotiating with the Saudi Arabia over the setting of minimum
wages for its hundreds of thousands of blue-collar workers there. Saudi Arabia
has not yet decided on the matter even if some of the Gulf States have already
signed a memorandum of understanding on the issue of minimum wage.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Nairupama Rao revealed that talks with Russian
authorities have been ongoing at the consular level regarding the difficulties
being faced by Indian workers in Russia. According to Rao, Indian workers
applying for an extension of their work visas are still awaiting the release of
their passports, some of them for a few months now. Russian authorities have not
explained the reason for the delay. Observers noted, however, that other foreign
nationals have not experienced the same problem. Since it is mandatory for
foreigners in Russia to carry their passports at all times, Indians could not
venture far from their homes for fear of questioning by the police. Indian
officials also noted the practice by Moscow airport authorities of subjecting
first-time Indian visitors to questioning for up to three hours.
India keen on deploying skilled workers to Europe
India is interested in expanding the migration base of its skilled workers,
which is currently concentrated in the Gulf region. According to G. Gurucharan,
joint secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, India would like to
see more of its skilled workers deployed to Europe.
The government has already begun moving towards this objective with the
signing of a memorandum of understanding on labor mobility partnership with
Denmark earlier this year.
More Indian workers bound for Italy
The number of Indian agricultural workers going to Italy has been rising
steadily over the last few years. A total of 11,300 work contract visas have
been issued this year to Indian farmers, largely from Punjab, who possess
agricultural skills that are in demand in Italy. This is higher than last year’s
figure by more than 90 percent. Besides agricultural workers, there has also
been an increase in the number of skilled Indian professionals going to Italy
with work contracts.
UK tightens rule for Indians under inter-company transfers
Britain will impose stricter immigration rules on Indian IT professionals
seeking to move to the UK under inter-company transfers. Starting January next
year, workers in this category would need at least 12 months work experience
with their present company, instead of six months, to be eligible for transfer
to the UK. Moreover, they will not be allowed to settle in the UK permanently
even after the mandatory stay of five years.
32 Indians nabbed at London Olympic site
The UK Border Agency has reported the arrest of nearly 100 irregular immigrants,
including 32 Indian nationals, following a crackdown at the site of the 2012
Olympics Games in east London. The arrests, conducted between April and late
November, were carried out in response to reports that the organizers of the
2012 Olympic Games had been employing low-waged agency workers, mostly from
overseas, in violation of labor agreements.
Center to provide legal aid to migrant workers
The Overseas Manpower Company of Andhra Pradesh (OMCAP) has announced the
opening of a separate center that would provide legal assistance to thousands of
migrant workers bound for foreign countries, particularly the Gulf countries.
The Migration Resource Center will open on 18 December at the OMCAP office in
Vijayanagar colony. According to OMCAP, the center was necessary given the
nearly 90,000 migrant workers leaving Andhra Pradesh yearly for low-skilled
overseas jobs and the thousands of these migrants who are languishing in jail in
the Gulf countries for lack of proper documents.
Dual citizenship sought for UK-based Indian immigrants
Amit Kapadia, executive director of the HSMP Forum, an influential group
representing Indian migrants from Britain and other non-European Union
countries, has sent a petition to the Indian Prime Minister seeking the granting
of dual citizenship to overseas Indians. According to Kapadia, the cards issued
for the current categories – Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and People of
Indian Origin (PIO) – do not provide overseas Indians with the same level of
security and sense of belonging as Indian passports.
Visas-on-arrival for five countries mulled
Authorities are seriously considering the possibility of granting
visas-on-arrival privileges to visitors from Singapore, Japan, Finland, New
Zealand and Luxemburg. At present, only Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals are not
required visas to enter the country.
New visa regime proposed for project workers
A new visa regime, called Project Visa (P Visa), has been proposed by the Home
Ministry to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals hired to work on specific
projects in India, mostly infrastructure and those of a strategic nature. At
present, foreigners coming to India for work-related purposes avail of either
the business visa (B Visa) for skilled and high quality professionals or the
employment visa (E Visa) for less skilled workers. However, the Home Ministry
discovered last June that more than half of the foreign migrants hired for
projects, mostly Chinese nationals, were either unskilled or semi-skilled who
incorrectly used B visas to enter India. The government has since ordered these
workers to change their documents to E visas. Meanwhile, the visas of Russian
scientists and engineers working on strategic projects have been extended until
31 December, after which they have to convert their B visas to E visas. The Home
Ministry’s proposal for a new visa regime comes amid practical difficulties
faced by industries in complying with the visa change.
Drought in Bihar spurs outmigration
Thousands of Bihar residents have moved to other states, like Punjab, to save
their families from starvation as a result of the drought being experienced in
almost 25 of its districts, including its capital, Patna. More than 7,000
migrants from Bihar moved to the industrial town of Ludhiana despite the
heightened tension in the area. In 2008, a similar outflow of people from Bihar
to Punjab also took place on account of floods.
In related news, the Bihar government has announced the registration of all
migrant workers coming from the state as part of security measures. Officials
called on the hundreds and thousands of Bihar migrant workers to get their names
registered for the issuance of identity cards before leaving their village to
look for jobs in other states. The move comes after recent attacks on Bihar
migrant workers in Maharashtra, Assam and Punjab.
Rehabilitation package for IDPs in Assam
The Assam government in Northeast India announced a rehabilitation package
totaling Rs. 60-million for some 11,092 families of internally displaced persons
(IDPs). Under the package, each family would be given a grant of Rs. 50,000 and
a housing unit. The IDPs have been living in relief camps in lower Assam for
about a decade, after being forced out of their ancestral villages following the
Bodo-Muslim riots in 1993 and the Bodo-Adivasi ethnic clashes in 1996 and 1998.
Sources: Heather Timmons, “Expats Indians find it tough to return home,”
The Economic Times, 1 December 2009;
IANS, “India wants to diversify migration base from Gulf to Europe: Officials,”
The Economic Times, 1 December 2009;
Ravi Velloor, “Easier entry to India,”
Straits Times, 3 December 2009; IANS, “Employment package to cover Kashmiri
migrant youth,” 3 December 2009; PTI, “Indians falling prey to rogue agents
promising fake jobs,” Daily News &
Analysis, 6 December 2009; Ishani Duttagupta,
“Italy hot destination for Indian farmers,”
The Economic Times, 6 December 2009;
PTI, “32 Indians held for working illegally on London Olympics,”
Hindustan Times, 6 December 2009;
Vishwa Mohan, “Govt mulls new visa norms for project workers,”
The Times of India, 7 December 2009;
IANS, “Bihar to issue ID cards to migrant workers,” 8 December 2009; Aman Sood,
“Violence no deterrent, migrant inflow continues,”
Indian Express, 9 December 2009; PTI,
“UK tightens visa rules for Indian IT professionals,”
The Times of India, 9 December 2009;
Sandeep Dikshit, “Indians in Russia still awaiting work visa extensions,”
The Hindu, 10 December 2009; Sushanta
Talukdar, “Rehabilitation package for IDPs in Assam,”
The Hindu, 12 December 2009;
Ghazanfar Ali Khan, “India seeks minimum wages for its workers in Saudi Arabia,”
Arab News, 14 December 2009; PTI,
“Indian migrant in UK want dual citizenship,”
The Economic Times, 14 December 2009;
“Somali pirates hijack Indian dhow,”
People’s Daily Online, 14 December 2009; TNN, “Migration resource centre to
be set up in city,” The Times of India,
16 December 2009; T.K. Devasia, “Kerala tightens rules for maids going
abroad,” Khaleej Times, 23 December
2009
Govt urged to protect 3.5 million Nepali workers in India
Nepali Constituent Assembly member Hari Roka called on Kathmandu to look into
the plight of Nepali workers who are being exploited in various parts of India.
There are believed to be more than 3.5 million Nepalis currently working in
different sectors in India who are deprived of their legal rights and benefits.
Roka appealed to the government to include the protection of the rights and
welfare of Nepali workers in India in the national plans being formulated.
Source: “Govt draws flak for ignoring workers in India,”
Republica, 15 December 2009
Remittances up
Remittances sent home by overseas Pakistanis in the five-month period from July
to November 2009 totaled US$3.83 billion, indicating a monthly average of
US$766.52 million. This represents a 29.20 percent increase over the remittances
received during the same period in the last fiscal year. The rising trend in the
inflow of remittances is expected to continue following the launching of the
Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) aimed at spreading awareness about formal
channels and improving the delivery of remittances.
Millions of people still displaced in NWFP
The successive military offensives launched by government forces across several
districts in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) this year have resulted in
a new wave of displacement among Pakistanis in the region. Some 2.7 to 3.5
million IDPs fled from the NWFP starting February, but many of them have begun
to return home in early July as soon as the fighting had moved elsewhere. By
November, the UNHCR estimated that around 1.25 million Pakistanis remained
displaced.
Sources: “Millions of IDPs and returnees face continuing crisis,”
IDMC, 2 December 2009; “Remittances
rise over 29 percent in 5MFY10,” Daily
Times, 11 December 2009
Sri Lanka
(see also Australia)
Continuing struggle for war-displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan government has gradually been implementing a massive post-war
resettlement program for some 280,000 ethnic minority Tamils, most of whom were
displaced in the last phase of the 25-year war. As of 23 December, it has
resettled 127,352 people in their areas of origin while more than 140,000 are
still awaiting resettlement. Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights
Mahinda Samarasinghe expressed confidence that the government will achieve its
goal of resettling all the IDPs in their original villages by 31 January 2010.
However, there is a further need for the government to address the dire
conditions faced by those who have been resettled in their original home areas
due to a lack of basic services and infrastructure.
6M euros in aid for Sri Lanka refugees
The European Commission announced additional aid amounting to six million euros
(US$ 8.7 million) to help the tens of thousands of Sri Lankans who were forced
to flee from the fighting between government forces and Tamil fighters. Five
million euros are intended for humanitarian assistance to IDPs, returnees and
host families in Sri Lanka while the remaining one million will go towards aid
for Sri Lankan refugees living in camps in Tamil Nadu, India. The Commission has
expressed concern over the lack of security for IDPs, particularly vulnerable
groups such as female-headed households, single women returning alone to their
home villages and the disabled. EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Karel De Gucht
urged the Sri Lankan government to closely coordinate with international aid
agencies and donors to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance.
47 Sri Lankan asylum seekers leave for Australia and Romania
Forty-seven Sri Lankan asylum seekers have left Tanjung, Pinang Bintan Island in
Indonesia on 29 December for resettlement in Romania and Australia. Sixteen of
them will be resettled in Romania while 31 would be resettled in Australia. The
Sri Lankans were among 78 ethnic Tamils rescued by Australian Customs officials
from a ship whose engine broke down in international waters off Indonesia in
October 2009. Fifteen other Tamils from the same ship had been resettled in
Canada and Australia earlier this month.
LTTE members among Tamil boat people: Anti-terrorism expert
Immigration and Refugee Board adjudicator in Canada, Lynda Mackie, ruled that
Singapore-based terrorism expert, Rohan Gunaratna, was “credible and
trustworthy.” Gunaratna, an adviser for the Canadian government on the issue of
Tamil migrants, has claimed that some of the 76 migrants who had arrived in
Canada on a boat nearly two months ago are members of the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who planned to move to Canada to raise funds and re-start a
separatist movement. Canada considers the LTTE as a terrorist organization.
Because of Mackie’s rulings, the Tamil migrants are expected to remain in
custody.
Remittances grew in 2007 and 2008
The remittances sent home by overseas Sri Lankans in 2008 totaled nearly US$2.6
billion. A 16 percent growth in migrant workers’ remittances was observed in
2007 and 2008.
Sources: B. Muralidhar Reddy, “70% displaced resettled: Colombo,”
The Hindu, 5 December 2009; “Canada
backs possibility of Tigers among boat people,”
Daily Mirror, 9 December 2009;
Manjari Peiris, “Sri Lanka has registered a healthy economic growth,”
Asian Tribune, 9 December 2009;
Dulshani Gunawardena, “US welcomes IDP resettlement,”
Daily News, 10 December 2009; “EU
gives six million euros to help Sri Lanka refugees,”
The Colombo Times, 17 December 2009;
“Commission provides six million Euros to support IDPs,”
Daily News Online, 17 December 2009;
“Asylum seekers leave Indonesia, says exec,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 20
December 2009; Shihar Aneez, “Over 140,000 people yet to be resettled:
War-displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka struggle to resume normal lives,”
Daily Times, 26 December 2009; “47
Sri Lankan leave for Australia, Romania,”
The Jakarta Post, 29 December 2009; “Sri Lankan refugee leave Indonesia:
official,” The China Post, 31
December 2009
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Indonesia
(see also Hong Kong)
Indonesia to ratify UN Convention on migrant workers’ rights
Law and Human Rights Ministry director general Harkristuti Harkrisnowo announced
Indonesia’s plan to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of
All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families in February next year. The
matter has been discussed with several ministries and preparations are underway
to make Indonesia a party to the UN convention.
198 migrant workers to be repatriated from Saudi Arabia
Indonesia is set to repatriate some 198 Indonesian migrant workers and nationals
who had experienced legal problems in Saudi Arabia. The state carrier, Garuda
Indonesia airlines, has scheduled the first flight to bring home the beleaguered
Indonesians on 10 December, while the second and the third flights will be on 20
and 30 December, respectively.
Migrant workers in Singapore air grievances
According to Indonesia’s Ambassador to Singapore a number of Indonesians
employed as domestic workers in Singapore are experiencing work-related
problems, including unpaid wages and abusive employers. Ambassador Wardana
revealed that at least 150 Indonesian migrant workers file complaints against
their employers daily. In 2008 alone, some 1,980 Indonesian workers encountered
problems with their employers. The diplomat said that the Citizen Service
Program, which the embassy started in 2007, has successfully settled the cases
of 290 migrant workers and assisted some 10,000 workers with their work contract
extensions in 2008.
Jakarta mulls new people smuggling laws
The Indonesian government is hoping to enact new human smuggling laws next year
that would impose penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for those convicted
of the crime. At present, Indonesia does not recognize human smuggling as a
crime. Hence, offenders are usually charged under other offences, like
immigration violations, which carry lighter penalties.
1,300 human trafficking cases uncovered in NTT
A group of legislators on labor affairs on a working visit to East Nusa Tenggara
(NTT) in the second week of December found over 1,300 cases of human trafficking
and urged law enforcers to take strict action against labor broker syndicates
responsible for the crime. Saifuddin of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party
also accused these syndicates of involvement in illegal dispatches of migrant
workers overseas.
Indonesia nabs people smugglers
Indonesia is set to file charges of human trafficking and other immigration
violations against a Pakistani man and four Indonesians suspected of assisting a
group of 47 Afghans to cross into northern Australia. The Afghans, including 40
men, two women and five children, were intercepted on eastern Lombok Island on
10 December before their planned departure for Australia. Over the past 12
months, Indonesian authorities, working closely with Australian Federal Police,
have prevented nearly 2000 asylum seekers from travelling to Australia.
Irregular migrant workers from Thailand and China
The Ambon Immigration office has accused PT Pusaka Benjina Resources (PBR), one
of the largest fishing firms in eastern Indonesia, of employing irregular
migrant workers from Thailand. Erzan Effendi, the head of Ambon Immigration
office, issued a statement on 19 December threatening to deport the workers on
the grounds that they falsified their citizenship documents. Effendi clarified
that the workers in question were not Thai nationals but had entered Indonesia
on Thai-issued immigration documents.
In another case, 20 Chinese nationals were arrested by Muara Enim Immigration
authorities in South Sumatra for immigration offences. The Chinese nationals,
who were working for PT Guohwa Energi Musi Makmur Indonesia, a construction
power plant in Gunung Raja village, were found to have no working permits. They
face a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment or deportation for immigration
law violations.
Sources: Stephen Fitzpatrick, “Jakarta plans to impose 10-year jail terms for
people-smuggling,” The Australian, 9
December 2009; Geoff Thompson, “Hopes Indonesia will pass new people smuggling
laws,” Australia Network News, 9
December 2009; “Govt to fly troubled migrant workers, citizens home from Saudi
Arabia,” The Jakarta Post, 10
December 2009; “Ministry dialogues for maids and employers,”
New Straits Times, 11 December 2009;
“Ministry scraps house-to-house maid checks,”
The Star, 11 December 2009; “Malaysia
agrees on rights for RI workers,” The
Jakarta Post, 12 December 2009; Candra Malik, “Indonesians suffer high level
of worker abuse in Singapore: Diplomat,”
The Jakarta Globe, 13 December 2009; “Indonesia to decide on ratifying UN
convention on migrant workers,” Xinhua
Net, 14 December 2009; Paul Maley, “Indonesia turns up heat on
people-smugglers,” The Australian, 15
December 2009; “Indonesia nabs people smugglers: police,”
The Sydney Morning Herald, 15
December 2009; “More than 1,300 human trafficking cases found in NTT,”
Antara News, 15 December 2009;
“Indonesian suffer high level of worker abuse in Singapore: Diplomat,”
The Jakarta Globe, 17 December 2009;
“Foreign fishing workers may be deported,”
The Jakarta Post, 21 December 2009;
“Immigration officers net 20 Chinese nationals,”
The Jakarta Post, 22 December 2009
Number of foreign workers in Malaysia down to 1.5M
The total number of foreign migrant workers throughout Malaysia has gone down
from two million last year to 1.5 million this year. The decline can be
attributed to economic factors and to the expiration of the work permits of some
workers, said Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam. Malaysia
continues to recruit migrant workers from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines,
China, India and Nepal but only for specific sectors like construction and
domestic work. However, it has retained the freeze on the recruitment of
Bangladeshi workers, which according to Prime Minister Najib Razak, was done to
protect them from exploitation by unscrupulous labor recruiters. However,
Malaysia may reconsider the hiring of Bangladeshi workers once the economy
improves.
Move to set up special department for foreign workers welcomed
The announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on 18 November
regarding the creation of a special department to deal specifically with foreign
workers in Malaysia was welcomed by the Federation of Malaysian Manufactures.
According to the group, it would be ideal if the special department would be set
up under the Human Resources Ministry, which is the primary agency responsible
for issues on employment legislation and human rights development in the
country. In a related development, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun
Hussein has proposed the expansion of the role of the Cabinet Committee on
Foreign Workers to include the monitoring of document processing not only for
foreign workers but also for students, diplomats, tourists and professionals.
He explained that the expanded committee was necessary since the issues
pertaining to irregular migrant workers and overstaying students cut across
several ministries and agencies.
KL optimistic over lifting of deployment ban on Indonesian domestic workers
Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced the setting up of a joint
task force with Indonesia to look into the complaints of Indonesian migrant
domestic workers in Malaysia and facilitate the resolution of court cases
involving charges of abuse and non-payment of wages. The first priority of the
task force, according to the minister, would be to resolve the cases of some 140
domestic workers and six children who are currently residing in a shelter inside
the Indonesian Embassy compound. The creation of this task force is among the
three new points contained in a memorandum of understanding set to be signed by
the two countries. The other two points are allowing Indonesian migrant workers
to keep their own passports and the granting them one day off a week. Hussein
expressed confidence that the ban on the deployment of Indonesian domestic
workers to Malaysia, which Jakarta ordered in June, would soon be lifted.
In related development, the Labor Department’s proposal to conduct
house-to-house visits to check on the welfare of domestic workers in Malaysia
has been scrapped. Instead, a special dialogue between employers and their
migrant domestic workers would be held every six months at the Human Resource
Ministry to enhance understanding of both parties’ rights and responsibilities.
Amnesty for irregular migrant workers sought
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) appealed to the government on 6
December to declare an amnesty to facilitate the voluntary departure of an
estimated 2.1 million irregular foreign migrant workers from the country. During
the last amnesty period from 1 July 2004 to February 2005, a total of 230,000
such workers were able to leave the country. Ordinarily, migrant workers with
expired visas who want to return home would have to pay a huge amount on
penalties and the processing of their papers. However, under an amnesty, migrant
workers do not have to pay for anything since the cost of repatriation would be
shouldered by their country of origin.
Police nab 93 irregular migrants; repatriation of Thai migrants
Some 93 irregular migrant workers were arrested by immigration authorities
following raids conducted in several factories at two industrial areas in
Peninsular Malaysia on 3 December. Among those arrested for working without
permits or possession of expired travel documents were 46 Bangladeshis, along
with nationals from Burma, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal and India. Six employers
were likewise arrested on charges of harboring irregular migrants.
Meanwhile, the government is set to repatriate some 500 (one report cited only
210) irregular Thai migrants on 15 December. Those facing repatriation includes
Thai workers who came to Malaysia without securing work permits and female
victims of human trafficking syndicates who had been sold into prostitution.
Between 2007 and 2009, the Malaysian government had spent RM30.2 million to
repatriate 153,729 foreign nationals who had violated immigration laws.
According to Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop, the government
also spent about RM30 a day per detainee held at the immigration detention
depot. This amount includes daily management costs but does not cover the cost
of medicines.
Ex- Immigration director facing bribery charges
Former Immigration director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don is facing corruption
charges in connection with the entry of thousands of Bangladeshi workers into
the country last year. Wahid, 57, was accused of accepting a RM60,000 bribe on
10 July 2008 to expedite the work visas of 4,337 Bangladeshi workers in June and
July last year.
A witness testified in court that the former director-general had approved close
to 3,000 visas for Bangladeshi workers within a two-month period.
Protection center for human trafficking victims in Sabah
As part of efforts to combat human trafficking and provide temporary shelter to
victims, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development through its
Department of Women Development, in cooperation with the Sabah police, have set
up a Protection Center for Victims of Human Trafficking in Kota Kinabalu. The
center began operations in July 2009. Deputy Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun,
who visited the center recently, met with 17 victims rescued by the police. The
women, believed to be in their thirties, come from the Philippines, Indonesia,
Cambodia and Vietnam. They will be sent back home once the police have completed
their investigations. There are two other protection centers in Kuala Lumpur,
one for women and the other for children, and plans are underway to set a few
more in Sarawak and other states.
173 arrested in 2009 for human trafficking
After authorities began enforcing the Anti-trafficking in Person Act 2007 last
February 2009, a total of 173 people were arrested this year on charges of
involvement in human trafficking activities. Sixteen of those arrested had been
charged in court. On 11 December, the police rescued 12 Filipino women from a
trafficking syndicate following a tip-off from the Philippine Embassy. The
women, who were between 19 and 31 years old, had allegedly been promised jobs
but instead they were held in a house in Jalan Imbi ready to be sold to
prostitution agents. Earlier, the police had also apprehended a 58-year old
woman believed to be involved in the same syndicate.
270 trafficking victims repatriated
Immigration deputy director-general Datuk Raja Mohd Raja announced that since
August this year some 270 foreigners held at the immigration detention depot at
the Kuala Lumpur International Airport had been released and repatriated. The
foreigners, including 71 women, were victims of human trafficking and were held
at the temporary shelter to protect them from threats and further exploitation
by the syndicates and their agents.
UNHCR grants refugee status to 11,000 Burmese in Malaysia
The UNHCR has granted refugee status to some 11,000 Burmese refugees in Malaysia
in 2009. Among those recognized by the UN agency were from the Chin, Mon,
Kachin, Shan and other Burmese ethnic groups, who are now eligible for
resettlement in third countries. Arakans were not among those recognized by the
UNHCR this year.
Over 5,000 refugees have turned into beggars
More than 5,000 foreign migrants, who were given refugee status by the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have gathered in Butterworth on the
northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia to become beggars. The refugees, mostly
from Burma, often used children beggars to easily gain public sympathy.
Since refugees are not allowed to work in the country, many of them
resort to begging. Foreign beggars,
mostly from China, Thailand, Burma, Pakistan and India, earn more than
white-collared workers but some are believed to have links to “bogus beggar”
syndicates.
Britain to impose visa requirements on Malaysians
Immigration director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman disclosed the possibility
that the British government may require visas for Malaysians traveling to the UK
starting 2011. According to Othman, British officials have expressed concern
over the large number of Malaysians in the UK who have overstayed their visas.
Moreover, a repatriation program initiated by Britain for some 20,000 Malaysian
overstayers had not been well-received.
Fewer foreigners seeking second home in Malaysia
Over the last three years, the number of people who successfully availed of the
‘Malaysia My Second Home Program’ has dropped by half from a high of 2,600 in
2006. The program had hoped to attract wealthy foreigners to live and invest in
Malaysia. The investment bank, Citigroup, suggested that Malaysia may be losing
its appeal as a haven for wealthy foreigners and retirees. However, Tourism
chairman Victor Wee disputed this, saying that authorities reviewing the
applications had simply become more discriminating.
Sources: “1.5 Million foreign Workers In Malaysia,”
Benama, 1 December 2009; “Malaysia,
Indonesia set up task force to resolve maid woes,”
Borneo Bulletin, 2 December 2009;
Lawi Weng, “UN in Malaysia grants more Burmese refugee status,”
Malaysiakini, 3 December 2009;
Mustafa Mansur, “Foreign workers dept a step in right direction,”
Malaysiakini, 3 December 2009; “Wahid
approved 4,337 Bangladeshi workers’ entry court told,”
The Star, 4 December 2009; “270 human
trafficking victims sent back home,” The
Star Online, 4 December 2009; “Fewer seeking second home in Malaysia,”
The
Malaysia Insider, 5 December 2009; “93 illegals held in two raids,”
New Straits times, 5 December 2009;
“Committee needed to oversee entry of non-Malaysians, says Hishammuddin,”
The Star, 5 December 2009; “MTUC: Let
illegals go under amnesty,” News Straits
Times, 7 December 2009; “Overstayers may cause visa ruling,”
New Straits Times, 11 December 2009;
“Govt spent RM30.2m to deport 153,729,”
New Straits Times, 11 December
2009; P. Vijan, “Malaysia may reconsider hiring Bangladeshi workers if economy
improves,” Bernama, 12 December 2009;
“Malaysia to repatriate illegal Thai workers,”
Asia One, 13 December 2009; “Don’t be
duped by agents, foreigners told,”The
Star, 14 December 2009; Mohd Farhaan Shah, “14 held for leaving M’sia
illegally,” The Star, 13 December
2009; “Malaysia sending back 210 Thai workers,”
The Nation, 15 December 2009; Beh
Yuen Hui, Izatun Shari and A Raman, “5,000 refugees now beggars in Penang,”
The Star, 17 December 2009; “MTUC
asks the government to declare amnesty for foreign workers,”
Bernama, 7 December 2009; “17 human
trafficking victims in Sabah centre,”
Daily Express, 20 December 2009; “Cops nab 173 for human trafficking this
year,” The Star Online, 31 December
2009
Philippines
(see also Hong Kong,
UAE, Other Pacific)
Deployment up in 2009 despite global crisis
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) revealed that the
deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2009 increased by 11.7 percent
to reach 1,284,133 as of November this year despite the global financial crisis.
There was a general increase in rehires, with land-based workers posting a 19
percent increase, from 559,809 in 2008 to 666,158 in 2009. Among sea-based
workers there was a gain of 22.5 percent among rehires, from 242,749 in 2008 to
297,467 this year. However, the number of new hires in 2009 went down by 7.6
percent due to lower job orders. Middle East countries continue to be the top
destination of OFWs, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As of October 2009,
the number of workers sent to Saudi Arabia totaled 251,888 while 160,242 were
deployed to the UAE, 75,742 to Qatar and 38,729 to Kuwait.
Remittances up in 2009
Remittances rose by 6.7 percent in October to reach $1.53 billion. According to
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the highest monthly remittance level on record so
far. The inflow of OFW remittances is traditionally higher in the fourth quarter
of the year due to expenses for children’s tuition in the second semester and
because of the Christmas holidays. In addition, overseas Filipinos this year
also sent more money to their families whose properties were damaged by strong
typhoons that hit the country in September and October. Similarly, the Trade
Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) noted that in the first nine months of
2009, remittances from overseas Filipino seafarers reached a record high of
$2.501 billion, which is 4.51 percent higher than the $2.393 billion they sent
home during the same period last year. TUCP attributed this to the rise in the
enlistment of Filipino seafarers by ship owners in Europe and Asia.
The BSP signed an agreement on 2 December with the Association of Bank
Remittance Officers, Inc. (ABROI) and other bank associations that would reduce
the fees on fund transfers from OFWs. Under the agreement, banks handling OFW
remittances may use the BSP’s Philippine Payments and Settlements Systems
(PhilPaSS) to transfer the remittance to the beneficiaries’ accounts in other
banks. PhilPaSS would act as a local clearing house for the settlement of
remittances for credit to other banks. The system will reduce the charge for
bank-to-bank remittance transfers to P50 per transaction effective either
February or March 2010.
Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has another view of remittance
inflows. ADB predicts a stagnation of remittance flows to the Philippines. The
severe economic problems that hit Dubai are expected to affect the flow of
migrant workers to Asia over the next few years. The UAE is the Philippines’
sixth top source of remittances and accounts for about seven percent of total
remittances. The ADB said that the absence of a dramatic decline in remittance
flows to the Philippines points to the resiliency of remittances and suggests
the possibility of recovery within the next few years. It warns receiving
countries, however, not to impose restrictions that may impede the adjustment
process, such as taxes on remittance flows, mandatory remittance schemes or
fixed exchange rate policies.
More OFW families are saving, investing: BSP survey
A BSP survey of 524 families conducted by the revealed that 44.8 percent of
respondents dependent on OFW remittances in the fourth quarter of 2009 set aside
a portion of the money for savings. The corresponding ratio in the first quarter
of 2007 was only 7.2 percent. Moreover, the number of families that used part of
their remittances for investments rose from 2.3 percent in the first quarter of
2007 to 7.6 percent in the last quarter of 2009. According to the BSP, families
relying on OFW remittances are learning to save or invest due to concerns that
the global financial crisis might result in the displacement or loss of jobs by
Filipino workers abroad.
OFWs still subject to discrimination
According to Ellene Sana, executive director of the Center for Migrant Advocacy
(CMA), particularly women workers, continue to face discriminatory practices
abroad despite policy reforms implemented by the Philippine government. In Hong
Kong, for example, all migrant workers except domestic workers, are eligible for
residency status after seven years residence. Moreover, domestic workers
terminated from their jobs are given only two weeks to look for new employers;
otherwise they have to leave the territory. In the Gulf countries, female OFWs
are still deprived of rest days and visitation privileges. Their movements are
also restricted since their passports are held by employers. Sana added that the
limited number of personnel at labor offices abroad and the lack of resources
undermine the government’s efforts to improve the plight of Filipino migrant
workers.
Filipina caregiver wins lawsuit against recruiter in Canada
A Small Claims Court in Toronto, Canada ruled in favor of Filipino caregiver,
Marivic Perlas Rivera, in a civil suit she filed against a recruitment agency
for failing to provide her with legitimate employment. The judge ordered Winston
James and his wife, Lory Felipe, of the Winlorfely Caregiver Providers to pay
Rivera damages amounting to over C$10,000. The lawsuit is seen as a turning
point in the campaign against unscrupulous recruiters who bring foreign
caregivers to Canada for promised jobs that turn out to be non-existent.
Job prospects in 2010 for OFWs; labor exporters cautious about job prospects
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque announced on 27 December the availability of
thousands of jobs for Filipino professionals in Australia in 2010. He is set to
sign a memorandum of agreement with Southern Australia in January that would
open the door for highly skilled Filipino workers. An earlier report by the
labor department revealed that Australia is expected to hire up to 300,000
Filipino workers over the next three to five years.
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority is currently recruiting some 300 male medical
workers from the Philippines, including 200 nurses and paramedics and 100
doctors. All applications and inquiries regarding this job offer should be
coursed through the Philippines Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) since this
is a government-to-government arrangement.
Dr. Fely Marilyn Lorenzo of the University of the Philippines Institute of
Health Policy and Development revealed that the Philippines faces stiff
competition from India, China and other countries as alternative sources of
nurses. She said some foreign employers have started looking elsewhere for
nurses since Filipinos are less likely to agree to work for long hours, unlike
those from Indonesia and Bangladesh. However, she noted that Filipino nurses
remain as the most desired among international employers because of their
technical edge over nurses from other countries.
Recruitment agencies called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to refrain from
issuing statements speculating on the possible hike in remittances from new job
opportunities that are not yet open to OFWs. The Federated Association of
Manpower Exporters (FAME) warned the BSP that its repeated announcements
regarding new markets for Filipino workers in New Zealand, Canada and Guam only
serve to feed illegal recruiters with information they can use to lure
jobseekers. According to FAME, there are no new job orders yet for Guam since
the hiring for the construction of a new US military base there is not likely to
start by July 2010. FAME also said that
Australia, New Zealand and Canada have stopped issuing new job orders because of
the ongoing recession in these three countries.
1 in 4 OFWs below 30 years old
According to a report from the National Statistics Office (NSO) based on 2008
data, 25 percent of all OFWs are below 30 years old. The NSO also revealed that
female migrant workers tend to be younger compared to their male counterparts.
Among female OFWs, some 28.8 percent belonged to the age group, 25 to 29, while
20.3 percent were aged 30 to 34. For male OFWs, the distribution across age
groups – 25 to 29, 30 to 34 and 45 years and over – was more even. Overall,
one-third worked abroad as laborers and unskilled workers, including domestic
workers, cleaners and manufacturing workers.
Partial lifting of deployment ban to Lebanon mulled
The Department of Labor and Employment is currently considering the proposal of
Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to partially lift the three-year-old ban
on the deployment of Filipino workers to Lebanon. However, Labor Secretary
Marianito Roque clarified that if ever the ban would be lifted, it will only
apply to hotel and restaurant workers. The deployment ban on domestic workers
will stay until the Philippine and Lebanese governments can reach a mutual
agreement that would ensure the welfare of Filipino household service workers.
Fewer Filipino domestic workers in Taiwan
The rise in the fees being charged by brokers of Filipino domestic workers to
Taiwanese employers has reduced the employment of Taiwan-based Filipino
household service workers and caregivers by one-third. From a high of 60,000 in
the last five years, it is now down to 20,000, according to the Manila Economic
and Cultural Office (MECO).
MECO director of labor affairs Reydeluz Conferido shared that 2,000 of the 5,000
Filipino workers earlier displaced in Taiwan due to the global financial crisis,
have since been reinstated. The positive trend can be attributed to the stimulus
package initiated by the Taiwanese government and the recovery of the
electronics industry. MECO’s data show that there are now 70,537 Filipino
workers in Taiwan, of whom 46,972 are employed in the manufacturing sector.
16 seafarers abducted, 17 released
Sixteen Filipino seafarers aboard the Greek-flagged vessel, MV Maran Centaurus,
were abducted on 29 November by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The latest
pirate attack brings the count of Filipino seafarers held captive to 70. A few
days later, on 3 December, Somali pirates released the vessel, MV Charelle,
ending the six-month captivity of three Filipino seafarers. Fourteen other
Filipino seafarers were released by Somali pirates on 18 December. According to
the Department of Foreign Affairs the Filipinos are “all in good health” and
their repatriation is now being arranged.
The Labor Department is preparing emergency financial assistance and
psycho-social counseling and support services for the abducted seafarers and
their families. It also plans to require Filipino seafarers to undergo
anti-piracy training to enable them to deal with and avoid piracy situations. As
of 18 December, there are 53 Filipino seafarers and four vessels still being
held by Somali pirates.
Meanwhile, three of 15 Filipino seafarers aboard the Greek cargo ship, M/V Aegan
Wind, died after their vessel caught fire off the Venezuelan coast on 25
December. Three other Filipino
sailors remain missing and two others suffered minor burns while trying to put
out the fire.
Rising cases of trafficking of Filipinos in the UAE
Philippine Consul-General in Dubai Benito B. Valeriano expressed alarm over the
rising cases of human trafficking of Filipinos in the UAE in the last two years.
He said the diplomatic missions in Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Tel Aviv are
facing a similar problem. Meanwhile, the Task Force on Human Trafficking is
currently investigating the case of 27 human trafficking victims who have taken
refuge at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Deira, Dubai. Some of
the repatriated victims have given their statements to Philippine authorities in
Manila identifying their recruiters and the agents responsible for forcing them
into prostitution in Dubai.
OFW repatriation from the Middle East
Eighty OFWs repatriated from Kuwait and Jordan are set to arrive in the
Philippines on 1 January. Among the returnees are 30 OFWs from Kuwait, and 50
are from Jordan. The Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan settled the deployment
costs and the overstaying penalties imposed on the domestic workers to allow
them to be repatriated. The transportation costs for the mass repatriation of
the OFWs were shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Ten Filipino children born out of wedlock to OFWs in Kuwait arrived in the
Philippines on 4 December accompanied by staff from the Philippine Embassy. The
children, aged from four months to four years, were sent home to prevent the
deportation of their parents from Kuwait on grounds of immorality.
According to the OFW advocacy group, Migrante, some 89 OFWs are stranded in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after they stopped working for their employer, the Annasban
Group of Companies, on 12 October in protest over labor malpractices.
However, Annasban is demanding that each of the 89 OFWs pays the company
an amount ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 Saudi Riyals representing deployment
costs. The Riyadh-based POLO is negotiating with Annasban to clear the case of
the Filipino workers so they can be repatriated. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, some
265 stranded overseas Filipino workers are also awaiting repatriation. The
workers are currently staying at a safe house run by the Philippine Consulate
General. OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon assured the families of the
stranded OFWs that the workers will be flown home as soon as they get the
necessary exit clearances from the host government.
Some 144 Filipino workers detained in Lebanon for immigration-related violations
have been released after Philippine officials settled the workers’ immigration
fees, employers’ deployment costs and other charges. They are scheduled to
arrive in Manila in two batches, with the first one, consisting of 45 adults and
three children, arriving on 28 December. The second batch, made up of 105
adults, is expected to arrive home the following day.
The DFA told the workers to file a case against their recruiters for
violating the ban on the deployment of workers to Lebanon. The DFA has also
arranged for the repatriation of 29 other OFWs, 25 from Jeddah and four from
Damascus. They are expected to arrive in the Philippines on 26 December.
Meanwhile, 12 Filipino seafarers who survived the sinking of the Panamanian
vessel, Dany F II, off the waters of Lebanon arrived in the Philippines on 25
December.
OFWs in jail, death row
The OFW advocacy group, Migrante, has called on the DFA to provide regular
updates on the cases of Filipino workers abroad who are facing the death
penalty. According to the group, 23 OFWs are currently on death row, 20 of them
in Saudi Arabia, but little is known about their cases. Since 2001, six OFWs had
been beheaded in Saudi Arabia, while 14 cases of OFWs on death row had been
commuted. According to the DFA, it is closely monitoring the cases of 85
Filipinos working in China, Malaysia and Middle East countries who had been
meted the death penalty. Fifty of them are in mainland China, Macao and Hong
Kong facing drug trafficking charges; 10 are in Malaysia also on drug-related
offenses; while the remaining 15 are in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.
At least 1,000 Filipinos are being held in various detention centers abroad on
immigration-related violations.
183 Filipinos held in China for drug trafficking
Some 183 Filipinos, mostly women, are detained in China on charges of illegal
drug trafficking. Since 2007, 48 Filipinos have been meted the death penalty
while 26 were sentenced to life imprisonment for bringing illegal drugs into
China. Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Cataumber Brady called on Filipinos
to shun offers from drug syndicates to act as couriers of illegal drugs to China
or elsewhere. Some of those arrested claimed that the drugs had been given to
them by people who befriended them in transit or in another country. These
“friends” allegedly gave them plane tickets and pocket money for travel to Hong
Kong, Macau or mainland China and promised to pay them US$500 or more after the
drugs are delivered to a contact person at their destination.
Intensified screening of Saudi-bound OFWs sought
The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Manila recently issued an advisory to clinics
authorized to conduct medical exams for Filipino workers bound for Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait and Oman. Clinics are asked to strictly follow the medical protocols
imposed by Gulf countries in order to prevent the entry of infectious diseases,
particularly HIV/AIDS. The move came amid reports from the Department of Health
about the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases in the Philippines, with some 629
new cases identified in the first ten months of 2009.
OFWs avail of licensure exams
A total of 1,205 OFWs in the Middle East took licensure examinations for
engineers, architects, accountants and master electricians administered by the
Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in Jeddah and Alkhobar in
Saudi Arabia on 27-29 November and in Doha, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, UAE on 2-4
December. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered PRC this year to make
the giving of licensure exams to OFWs a regular program, particularly in
countries with a huge OFW population.
Filipinos migrating to marry foreign nationals
Data from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) reveal that more Filipinos
are leaving for abroad every year in order to get married. In 1989, there were
some 7,819 Filipino fiancés of foreign nationals who left the country. This
figure rose to 21,100 in 2005 and in 2007, it reached 23,927. Majority of the
333,672 Filipinos who married foreign nationals between 1989 and 2007 are women
from the National Capital Region and Central Luzon. The CFO reported further
that 20 percent of the Filipinos admitted meeting their future spouses over the
Internet.
Sources: “16 Pinoy seamen abducted off Somalia,”
Malaya, 2 December 2009; “OFWs in
Canada, Japan hike remittances,” Manila
Bulletin, 2 December 2009; Dyan Ruiz, “First caregiver court victory hailed:
Caregivers fighting back in court,”
ABS-CBN News, 2 December 2009; Mayen Jaymalin, “More Pinoy going abroad to
find partner,” The Philippine Star, 2
December 2009; “BSP: Banks to lower fee for remittances in 2010,”
Visayan Daily Star, 3 December 2009;
Ronald Concha, “1,205 OFWs in Mideast take special licensure exam,”
GMA News, 3 December 2009; “3
Filipino seafarers freed, 67 remain in Somalia,”
GMA News, 5 December 2009; “RP nurses
face stiff competition from foreign counterparts,”
Manila Bulletin, 5 December 2009;
Michelle Remo, “Remittances coming in strong,”
Philippines Daily Inquirer, 6
December 2009; “10 illegitimate Filipino kids repatriated from Kuwait,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 6 December
2009; “Saudi hospital needs 300 male OFWs – labor chief,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 6 December
2009; “Says TUPC: Filipino sailors remit record US$2.5B in 9 months,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 9 December
2009; “Dole addresses sea-faring piracy impact,”
The Daily Tribune, 11 December 2009;
“Saudi gov’t to Manila clinics: Intensify tests and screening of Pinoy workers,”
The Daily Tribune, 11 December 2009;
“OFWs remain vulnerable to discrimination, rights violation,”
GMA News, 12 December 2009; Jerome
Aning, “Regular update on OFWs on death row sought,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 13
December 2009; “Trafficking of Pinoy to UAE alarms RP officials,”
GMA News, 13 December 2009; Lily B.
Libo-on, “Philippines investigates human trafficking cases,”
Khaleej Times, 13 December 2009;
“Fees cut number of Pinoy domestic help in Taiwan,”
GMA News, 14 December 2009; Bernie
Cahiles-Magkilat, “Brighter OFW prospects in Taiwan seen,”
Manila Bulletin, 14 December 2009;
Jerome Aning, “BSP warned on raising OFW hopes,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 14
December 2009; Elaine R. Alanguilan, “Meco starts focus on high value jobs in
Taiwan,”
Manila Standard Today, 15 December
2009; “More OFW households save, invest,”
Malaya, 15 December 2009; “OWWA vows to help stranded overseas workers,”
Manila Bulletin, 16 December 2009;
Lily B. Libo-on and Amira Agarib, “Marked rise in cases involving Filipinos,
says diplomat,” Khaleej Times, 13
December 2009; “Somali pirates release 14 Filipino seafarers – DFA,”
GMA News TV, 18 December 2009;
Bernice Camille Bauzon, “Deployment of OFWs up by 11.7% in 2009,”
The Manila Times, 18 December 2009;
“Pinoys still fall prey to drug mule syndicates in China,”
GMA News TV, 19 December 2009; “183
Filipinos in China jails for illegal drugs,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 20
December 2009; Darwin Amojelar, “Remittances seen to stagnate,”
Manila Times, 21 December 2009;
Gerard M, Naval, “Lifting OFW ban on Lebanon studied,”
Malaya, 22 December 2009; “Lebanese
government frees 144 jailed Filipino workers,”
Manila Times, 25 December 2009; “RP
survivors of Lebanon sinking arrive home,”
GMA News TV, 25 December 2009; “DFA
repatriates 185 OFWs from Middle East,”
ABS-CBN News, 25 December 2009; Gilberto Felongco, “Manila arranges for
repatriation of workers,” Gulf News,
27 December 2009; “Australia to hire thousands of OFWs,”
GMA News TV, 27 December 2009;
Michaela del Callar, “Three Pinoy sailors killed in Greek cargo ship blaze,”
The Daily Tribune, 28 December 2009;
“Thousand of jobs await skilled Pinoys workers in Australia,”
Philippine Headline News Online, 28
December 2009; “Australia jobs in offing,”
Malaya, 28 December 2009; Maricel
Burgonio, “BSP discourages offshore remittance tie-ups,”
Manila Times, 28 December 2009; “45
maltreated OFWs arrive from Lebanon,”
ABS-CBN News, 29 December 2009; Kris Alingod, “Ambassador tells Filipinos
from Lebanon to file complaints against recruiters,”
All Headline News, 30 December 2009;
Estrella Torres, “DFA monitoring cases of 85 death-row Filipinos,”
Business Mirror, 30 December 2009;
Estrella Torres, “Fake work permits send 1,000 OFWs to detention,”
Business Mirror, 30 December 2009;
“80 runaway OFWs from Kuwait, Jordan to return on Jan. 1,”
ABS-CBN News, 30 December 2009;
Madel Sabater, “RP maintains strong migrant presence abroad,”
Manila Bulletin, 30 December 2009;
“Philippines stands by ban on working in Lebanon,”
The Daily Star, 30 December 2009;
Dennis Carcamo, “Help OFWs eligible for royal pardon in Saudi,”
ABS-CBN News, 30 December 2009;
Michaela del Callar, “Ban on OFW deployment in Lebanon still on – DFA,”
Tribune, 30 December 2009; “265
stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia await repatriation-Migrante,”
Philippine Star, 31 December 2009;
“DFA urges duped OFWs to sue recruiters,”
Manila Times, 31 December 2009; “60
runaways from Jordan coming home for the New Year,”
GMA News TV, 31 December 2009; “OFWs
recount Lebanon ordeal, shares hope,” GMA
News TV, 31 December 2009; “183 Pinoys in China’s jail for drug
trafficking,” Philippine Daily Inquirer,
31 December 2009
Singapore
(see also Indonesia)
Foreign workers are one-third of Singapore’s workforce
Over the last few years, Singapore has been experiencing a rapid economic growth
powered by a substantial increase in its labor force. However, according to
Citigroup economist Kit Wei Zheng, it is still unclear if the growth made
possible by the import of a huge number of foreign migrant workers is a
sustainable strategy for Singapore. As of 2008, foreign workers comprised
one-third of the country’s three-million work force. However, according to a
report issued by the Asia Competitiveness Institute, the actual productivity of
Singaporean labor has gone down.
More foreign workers wanted for certain sectors
According to a survey conducted by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce
last November, the manufacturing and construction industries want the government
to raise their foreign worker quota. Currently, foreign workers already account
for 70 percent of the work force in these two sectors. According to them, locals
are not interested in construction and manufacturing jobs because of irregular
working hours, low wages and remote work locations.
English proficiency, a must in three industries
Minister of State for Manpower and Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan announced on
2 December that new foreign workers seeking jobs in three industries where
English-speaking is essential must pass an English language proficiency test
before they can get work permits. The new requirement, which will take effect
starting the third quarter of 2010, is for foreign workers in the hotel, retail
and food-and-beverage industries, where regular interaction with customers is
expected.
Recruiters urged to change agency practices
At a news conference to commemorate the UN Human Rights Day and the
International Migrants’ Day this month, advocacy groups called on recruitment
agencies to reduce the cost of coming to Singapore by foreign domestic workers.
According to NGOs, many foreign domestic workers in Singapore go without pay for
six to ten months to pay off the huge amount being charged by agents. Agencies
often deduct from the workers’ salaries the full S$2,500 to S$3,000 paid by
employers to hire a domestic worker.
Sources: Fiona Chan, “Decline productivity here a problem,”
Asia One, 2 December 2009; Cheryl
Lim, “Foreign workers’ English boost,”
Asia One, 3 December 2009; “Foreign domestic workers pay more to come to
S’pore despite regulations,” Channel New
Asia, 6 December 2009; S. Ramesh, “SCCCI survey cites difficulties in hiring
workers for certain sectors,” Channel
News Asia, 8 December 2009
Thailand
(see also North Korea,
Malaysia)
Over 4000 Hmong asylum seekers repatriated
Thailand repatriated over 4,000 ethnic Hmong to Laos on 28-29 December despite
criticism from the international community. The US expressed fear that the Hmong
returnees could face persecution from the Laotian government while the European
Union said it was ‘deeply dismayed’ over the forcible deportations. The UNHCR
accused Thailand of breaching international laws when it forced the Hmong
refugees back to Laos. However, the Thai government claimed that most of the
ethnic Hmong were economic migrants who entered Thailand without the necessary
permits and thus were ineligible for refugee status.
Welfare fund for migrant workers pushed
NGO representatives and labor activists have called on the government to start a
new welfare fund for foreign migrant workers who incurred work-related injuries
or disabilities in Thailand. The group proposed to start the scheme by
collecting contributions from employers. According to Wandee Sribua-iam, a
migrant worker leader in Samut Sakhon, several employers discover belatedly that
they cannot afford the expenses for work-related incidents involving migrant
workers who end up injured, disabled or killed.
Sources: “New fund sought for migrant workers,”
Bangkok Post, 20 December 2009;
“Thailand starts deporting Hmong to Laos,”
Khaleej Times, 28 December 2009;
“Says official: Thailand begins operation to deport Hmongs,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 28
December 2009; “Repatriation of Hmong from camp in N. Thailand to Laos going on
smoothly: Thai PM,” People’s Daily
Online, 28 December 2009; “Thailand begins operation to deport Hmong: army,”
Sydney Morning Herald, 28 December
2009; “Troops raid camp, 4, 371 deported,”
Today, 29 December 2009; “Kicked
out!,” The Standard, 29 December
2009; Sukree Sukplang and Prapan Chankaew, “Thai move to kick out thousands of
asylum-seekers angers West,” The Daily
Star, 29 December 2009; “Thai troops deport 4,000 Hmongs to Laos,”
Khaleej Times, 30 December 2009; “UN
says Thailand breaches law deporting Hmong refugees,”
The Manila Times, 30 December 2009’
“Hmong saga: Thais breached law, says UN,”
Today, 30 December 2009
Poor showing for labor-export scheme
The innovative labor-export program, aimed at reducing the poverty rate in the
country’s poorest districts, has shown poor results this year. The program,
introduced on 29 April, has managed to send only 300 workers for overseas
employment out of the 2,400 workers who registered for the scheme. It also falls
short of the government’s goal to send 5,000 workers abroad this year.
Inadequate promotion and communication, lack of cooperation among local
authorities and complicated procedures have been blamed for the poor results of
the labor export scheme.
3,000 undocumented foreign workers found in HCM City
Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City authorities have detected nearly 3,000 undocumented
foreign workers following an examination of the employment records of some 3,733
companies. This year, the department conducted some 800 labor inspections,
mostly of big and well-known companies, with the cooperation of the police.
Labor inspectors said that companies found violating the law blamed their lapse
on the complicated formalities of securing work permits for their foreign
workers. However, according to the HCM City Department of Labor, War Invalids
and Social Affairs, it takes only seven days to process the work permits of
foreign workers who have all the necessary documents. To date, the department
has granted work permits to 12, 412 foreigners. At present, there are some
16,811 foreign migrant workers employed in the city.
Police busts human trafficking ring
The police in the southern province of Tay Ninh uncovered a human trafficking
syndicate and arrested four people on charges of trafficking 400 women to
Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea under the guise of providing
matchmaking services. The four, including suspected ring leader, Nguyen Ngoc
Yen, were arrested while trying to get three women to board a plane at the Tan
Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Seized from Nguyen Ngoc Yen’s home was a
book listing the names of some 1,055 trafficked women. The police was able to
identify 233 of the women who were mostly from Cuu Long province in the Mekong
Delta region.
Sources: “City firms violate expat Labor laws,”
Viet Nam News, 4 December 2009;
“Problems plague labour export plan for disadvantaged workers,”
Viet Nam News, 7 December 2009;
“Marriage brokers charged with human trafficking,”
Vietnam Net, 18 December 2009; “Four
to be prosecuted for trafficking 400 women,”
Today, 19 December 2009; “Nearly 3000
Illegal foreign workers in HCM City,”
Vietnam Net, 21 December 2009
PACIFIC
Australia
(see also Philippines,
New Zealand)
10 unauthorized boat arrivals intercepted in December
Australian border officials have intercepted a total of 61 unauthorized boat
arrivals this year involving more than 2,500 people. For the month of December
alone, they intercepted some 10 boats carrying more than 300 suspected asylum
seekers, all of whom were taken to Christmas Island to undergo security,
identity and health checks and to establish the reason for their travel. The
recent surge in unauthorized boat arrivals has caused overcrowding in the
immigration detention facilities in Christmas Island, forcing authorities to set
up tents for additional accommodations. The island’s detention facility has a
capacity of 1,400. This situation has prompted Australian authorities to
transport 30 young Afghan asylum seekers to a secured facility in Melbourne
where they will await the assessment of their cases for protection by the
immigration officers. Their relocation to the mainland has ignited a debate over
the Australian government’s commitment to offshore processing. Opposition
immigration spokesperson Scott Morrison called on the government to seek an
alternative to off-shore processing if the facilities on Christmas Island prove
to be insufficient.
$30-M package to Christmas Island
The Shire of Christmas Island has sent the Rudd government a 21-point request,
including an exit strategy for asylum seekers held in the tiny territory.
The move comes amid concerns over the mounting pressure Australia’s
offshore detention program has on local residents. The Shire document also
raised the issue about the impact of the presence of some 300 detention workers
from mainland Australia who have nothing in common with the local population,
composed mainly of Chinese and Malays. In response, the Rudd government
announced a A$50 million- fund package to help improve the island’s
infrastructure and services. The Australian government has also granted the
island some A$11.3 million to provide a fiber optic network for the territory.
UNHCR grants refugee status to 78 Tamils rescued by Oceanic Viking
The UNHCR has completed its assessment of the 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers
rescued in October by the customs vessel, the Oceanic Viking, and designated all
of them as genuine refugees. This is the first step towards their resettlement
to a third country. Both New Zealand and Sweden have refused to take in any of
the Tamil asylum seekers but Romania accepted 16 and Australia has taken in 31.
Fifteen other Tamils from the same boat were also accepted for resettlement in
Canada and Australia earlier this month.
The 78 were picked up by the Australian customs vessel when their boat’s engine
broke down in international waters near Indonesia last October. The asylum
seekers were first brought to the Indonesian island of Bintan, but they refused
to leave the vessel. They stayed aboard the Viking for almost a month.
Digital scan for asylum seekers in Melbourne, Sydney
Immigration Minister Chris Evans announced a new voluntary scheme for protection
visa applicants in Sydney and Melbourne in an effort to improve border security.
Under the scheme, asylum seekers in these two state capitals would be asked to
submit to a digital scan of their faces and fingerprints. For the next six
months, participation in the scheme would be purely voluntary and confined to
Melbourne and Sydney. However, the scheme may be expanded to the rest of the
country and be made compulsory at the end of the pilot program. Refugee and
privacy advocates have expressed opposition to the scheme.
Australians have positive attitude to immigration: Survey
The latest Mapping Social Cohesion Survey of 3,500 respondents found that
attitude towards immigrants remained positive even during the economic downturn.
Only 37 percent of Australians found the current migration intake to be too
high. However, the findings suggest a potential for ethnic tensions in
economically disadvantaged areas that have a high immigrant concentration if the
economy worsens and unemployment rates rose significantly.
Immigration boosts Australia’s population
The Bureau of Statistics reports that the number of permanent and long term
migrants coming to Australia has reached more than 500,000 a year. It estimates
that in the one-year period ending in June 2009, the country’s population
increased by 443,139 people, two-thirds of whom come from net overseas migration
totaling 285,347 in the same period.
China tops biggest source of immigration
China has emerged as the leading source of migrants to Australia in the
four-month period until the end of October 2009. For the first time, Chinese
migration, totaling 6,350 has eclipsed the permanent or long-term arrivals from
New Zealand (4,740) and Britain (5,800), traditionally the biggest sources of
migrants to Australia. The latest migration figures showed declines of 28
percent and 47 percent in the number of migrants over the year from the UK and
New Zealand, respectively.
Targeted skilled migration program pushed
According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s publication,
Emigration 2008-09, some 81,018
Australian residents permanently left the country during the year. Most of those
leaving are young skilled workers in the ages of 25 to 44. New Zealand, the UK,
the US, Hong Kong and Singapore are among the primary countries of destination.
The report pushed for the continued implementation of Australia’s targeted
skilled migration program to meet the labor demand in areas such as healthcare,
engineering and information technology.
More Australians moving to NZ
Recent newspaper reports revealed that migration from Australia to New Zealand
has doubled in the past decade. In the one-year period ending in June 2009,
reports showed that some 14,352 Australians moved to New Zealand. Most of them
are young, skilled workers attracted to the short-term trade opportunities in
New Zealand. This figure is higher than the 14,160 people who made the move in
the previous year and double the 7,468 who migrated in 1998-99.
Sources: Jeff Turnbull, “Australia ‘world champions of diversity,’”
The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 December
2009; Tim Colebatch, “Migration numbers at record high,”
The Age, 4 December 2009; “Another
asylum boat intercepted,” ABC News, 4
December 2009; “ID crackdown on asylum seekers living in Melbourne and Sydney,”
Herald Sun, 5 December 2009; Peter
Martin, “China now biggest source of migrants,”
The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 December
2009; Samantha Maiden, “Boat carrying
53 asylum-seekers intercepted off Christmas Island,”
The Australian, 10 December 2009;
“Reports highlights need to maintain Australia’s skilled migrant program,”
Australia Visa Bureau, 10 December
2009; Paul Maley and Michael McKenna, “Sweden refuses to resettle Viking
Tamils,” The Australian, 11 December
2009; Karlis Salna, “Asylum seekers being forced into tents,”
The Sydney Morning Herald, 11
December 2009; “Asylum seeker boat eludes surveillance,”
The Sydney Morning Herald, 11
December 2009; Tamara Mclean, “Aussie ‘seeing light’ by moving to NZ,”
The Sydney Morning Herald, 14
December 2009; Ari Sharp, “Asylum seeker move to Darwin attacked,”
The Age, 15 December 2009; Paul Maley,
“Latest asylum boat arrival pushes Christmas Island to the brink,”
The Australian, 16 December 2009;
Paul Maley and Debbie Guest, “78 Sri Lankans rescued from Oceanic Viking granted
refugee status,” The Australian, 16
December 2009; Jonathan Pearlman, “Christmas Island to get $50m package,”
The Sydney Morning Herald, 16
December 2009; Tom Allard, “Forgotten asylum seekers left in squalor,”
The Age, 18 December 2009; “Asylum
seekers leave Indonesia,” Sydney Morning
Herald, 20 December 2009; “Australian authorities relocate asylum-seekers,”
People’s Daily Online, 23 December
2009; “Ari Sharp and Daniel Flitton, “Offshore processing policy ‘unchanged’,”
Sydney Morning Herald, 24 December
2009; “Navy intercepts asylum seeker boat,”
Sydney Morning Herald;
“Australian navy intercepts boats of asylum seekers,”
People’s Daily Online, 27 December
2009; “Australian opposition rejects calls to take asylum seekers,”
People’s Daily Online, 28 December
2009; “Another ‘asylum seeker’ boat arrives,”
Sydney Morning Herald, 29 December
2009; Crystal Ja and Melissa Iaria, “Indonesia
seeks ‘deal’ on asylum seekers,” Sydney
Morning Herald, 29 December 2009; “Indonesia seeking asylum seeker deal,”
The Age, 30 December 2009; AAP,
“Third suspected asylum boat intercepted,”
Sydney Morning Herald, 30 December
2009; “Australia to decide after UN assesses claims in refugee stand-off:
Minister,” People’s Daily Online, 30
December 2009
New Zealand
(see also Australia)
Increase in net migration
Statistics New Zealand reported a net gain in the country’s population of 20,000
permanent and long-term migrants in the last 12 months to November 2009. The
decline in the number of departures from New Zealand contributed significantly
to the increase in the annual net migration. The net permanent and long-term
outflow to Australia was estimated at 19,500, down from the 35,300 reported in
the same period last year.
Sources: “Biggest influx of migrants since 2004,”
New Zealand Herald, 21 December 2009;
“New Zealand’s net migrant inflow surges,”
Business Wire, 21 December 2009;
“Stay-at-home push population up,” New
Zealand Herald, 22 December 2009
CNMI alien workers urged to apply for non-immigrant work classification
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has called on all foreign migrant
workers and employers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
to start applying for non-immigrant work classification under the US Immigration
and Nationality Act. Professional workers may apply for an H visa while workers
on inter-company transfers may seek L visas that would also enable them to leave
and re-enter the CNMI freely. The call was made after the commonwealth’s
immigration system came under federal control starting 28 November 2009.
Aliens in CNMI asked to register with Ombudsman
The Office of the Federal Ombudsman of the CNMI has announced the registration
of all aliens living in the commonwealth from 14 to 29 December 2009. The move
is pursuant to the federalization law which requires the US Department of the
Interior to report the total number of aliens living in the commonwealth to the
American Congress. Under the said law, the US Department of the Interior is also
asked to forward to the US Congress its recommendations regarding the long-term
status of aliens living in the CNMI as of 28 November 2009, the date when the
commonwealth’s immigration system fell under federal control. As of 15 December
more than 10,000 alien workers have registered with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, Dekada Movement counsel Stephen Woodruff cautioned alien workers who
do not have ‘umbrella permits’ not to register with the Ombudsman because they
risk being targeted for deportation by US immigration authorities.
Foreign workers file lawsuit vs. Labor Department
The Federal Ombudsman’s Office has helped more than 10 Filipino and Chinese
migrant workers to file separate lawsuits against the CNMI Department of Labor
in the last two weeks of November. In their petition, the foreign workers had
asked the Superior Court to nullify the Labor Secretary’s order denying their
request for an extension period to transfer to new employers. The petitioners
also asked the Court’s intervention to allow them to transfer to new employers.
An earlier ruling by Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman allowed alien
workers with pending labor cases to obtain two-year transition conditional
permits or “umbrella permits.”
Labor Department to assist overstayers to return home
The CNMI Department of Labor announced that it will assist overstaying foreign
migrant workers who want to voluntarily return home to claim their repatriation
tickets. Foreigners who entered the CNMI as 240K foreign workers are entitled to
repatriation tickets which may be claimed from their last employer on record.
Sources: Ferdie de la Torre, “Labor Ombudsman assists over 10 workers file
lawsuits against Labor,” Saipan Tribune,
1 December 2009; Haidee Eugenio, “AHS Urges workers employers: Apply for H,
L, other work visas now,” Saipan
Tribunes, 1 December 2009; Ferdie de la Torre, “Labor will assist who wont
to claim repatriation tickets,” Saipan
Tribune, 5 December 2009;
Ferdie
de la Torre, “Ombudsman to count alien workers,”
Saipan Tribune, 11 December 2009;
Ferdie de la Torre, “Brown: over 10,000 foreign workers already registered,”
Saipan Tribune, 16 December 2009
|
Editors |
Fabio Baggio and Maruja Asis |
|
Researchers |
Isabelle Beauclerq, Katherine Toribio, Leonila Domingo and John Paul
Asis |
|
Citation |
Asian Migration News,
1-31 December 2009 |
|
Past Issues |
|
|
Correspondence |
Scalabrini Migration Center
|