Mr. Tos Q. Añonuevo
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)
Program Coordinator
First of all, I would like to congratulate the Philippine Migrant Rights Watch (PMRW) for organizing and hosting this pioneering effort to convene a conference with the theme “Shaping the Future of Filipino Labor Migration.” We can see that this meeting is widely represented by the various stakeholders in migration and labor issues both from civil society and trade unions as well as from the government and multilateral agencies. Your presence here underscores the importance of this activity and the topic itself. I am impressed by with the sharp focus of your workshop recommendations and although it might be a cliché already but let me just remind everyone that the success of planning and recommendations is based on its actual impact and outcome. Thus, the key word today is follow-up.
Another important goal from this meeting is the challenge of global solidarity. While migration is a strong national concern, it must be emphasized that it is international in nature, context, and implications. Therefore, solidarity on migrant labor issues should definitely be solidarity beyond the Filipinos. Maybe the succeeding conference can be more inclusive by adapting the theme “Shaping the Future of Labor Migration” which at the same time should tackle the political-economy of the phenomenon as corporate-led globalization and the dominance of market logic define the movement of labor across borders.
Issues such as poverty and uneven development, racial and gender discrimination, disregard for labor and social standards, brawn and brain drain, cultural tolerance, and even the so-called “war on terror” are shaping the mobility of workers. Thus the challenges of workers protection and regulating migration take a more international character and imperative. At the same time its social costs and developmental questions put in front the issue of social justice and equitable economic strategy at the national level.
In this backdrop, so much work has to be done. The set of recommendations presented earlier compels us to work on the issues and actions according to our own capacity, mandates and priorities. But we have to remember as well that a single voice is stronger. I do hope that a model for trade unions-NGO-OFs partnership evolves from this conference to follow-up on our advocacies at the national and international levels. Such cooperation and solidarity can also be our own contribution to the now more than ever global struggle for workers rights – wherever our sisters and brothers are.
Again, thank you everyone and I wish you all the best in your individual and collective endeavors.
Mabuhay ang Manggagawang Pilipino! |
