OFWs as Partners in Nation Building - Australia
Maria Barredo
Catholic Multicultural Pastoral Service Archdiocese of Adelaide - Australia
Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to speak at this conference.
Before I start, can I just say how impressed I am of the quality of discussion so far, and the honesty with which the topics were expressed? The issues and recommendations that came up from the workshops yesterday made me review my presentation for you this morning. I hope I will not be repeating much of what has been discussed at length and instead give you some new information.
My brief report aims to give an overview of the demographic of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Australia and their contributions toward nation building of the Philippines. From the outset, I would like to say that I have not conducted a definitive study of the actual number of OFWs in Australia or of their contributions both material and non-material. Nor to my knowledge, was there such a study available. This is perhaps a project for the future.
We have been talking about how migration, in its various forms, has become a major strategy actively promoted by the Philippine government in the name of development, and in response to its poor economic conditions and the nation’s high unemployment rate. Although promoted by the Marcos government as a temporary measure, export of labor is now well established as a national employment policy.
The Philippine government has lauded the OFWs as our modern day heroes, and I agree wholeheartedly with that description. The government has also referred to OFWs as key contributors to the building of our nation. That made me ask the question, especially in the course of writing this paper - what sort of nation are we building? How could one envisage a nation developing, and into what, if emigration of its people becomes a major part of its national economic strategy? And as we’ve heard the laments of many OFWs, especially of women migrant workers, working overseas is fraught with hardships and danger, with much social implications that might not be so obvious now but will have a greater effect on our society later on. What sort of future, are we looking forward to?
I believe that nation building is about socioeconomic distribution, and yes, it is about reduction of poverty. It is about social justice for its people. But definitely, nation building, as one author says, is more than economic development. It is a conscious construction of a national identity. And a national identity is about an articulated vision of a nation, as a people with consensus values.
I think I will leave it at that.
Demographic Composition
According to the ABS 2001, the total number of Philippine-born migrants in Australia is 123,000, representing a 32 percent increase from the 1996 Census (92,000 of which are Philippine-born or 128,100 including those born in Australia with at least one Philippine-born parent).
However, if we are talking about total labor exports to Australia, Bohning (1998) has given an estimate for mid 1997 of 1.9 million Filipinos (including the permanent settlers).
History of Filipino Migration in Australia
Filipinos were known to have come to Australia as early as 1835 especially in the Northern Territory, as pearl divers, and in late 1900’s in Queensland to work in the sugar plantations. Some even intermarried with the Aborigines of Australia. The Filipino migration to Australia stopped momentarily with the advent of White Australia Policy (from 1901-till early 70’s). Changes in Australia’s immigration policy in 1973 opened the door to Filipino migrants. Around this time, Australia actively recruited for skilled laborers and professionals, particularly for the much needed teachers and nurses. I think, it is significant to mention here that back then, Australia had the policy of permanent migration to address its shortfall of skills and lack of people. The government at the time recognized that Australia needed the immigrants not only for their skills but in order to increase its population (“populate or perish”). Thousands of skilled and professional Filipinos responded to Australia’s invitation. They were offered permanent residency straight away, and they were encouraged to take up Australian citizenship after the necessary period of two years residency.
According to Chris Cunneen and Julie Stubbs (Gender, ‘Race’ and International Relations: Violence Against Filipino Women in Australia, 1997:4), the policy of internationalization of labor has sustained and entrenched an international order in which women from developing countries are themselves ‘traded’ as workers or wives. They argue that migration for marriage reflects an international economic ordering similar to that identified in the context of migration for domestic services. This statement is relevant if we consider that migration from the Philippines to Australia is significantly gender biased towards women particularly starting from the 1980’s. For example, of 47,692 Filipinos in a 1991 census, 70 percent were Filipino women sponsored as fiancées or spouses of men who are Australian residents. (You must have heard of mail-order brides, and the number of homicides, and domestic violence affecting our women). This is why, I passionately believe that it is only appropriate to acknowledge also the many Filipino women who immigrated to Australia especially in the 1980’s under Spouse or Fiancée Visa, as OFWs, for I believe, they have given greater sacrifices, including for some, their own lives, in the hope of giving their family back home, a better life. (I was pleased to hear Ms Aquino’s talk and the discussion yesterday, about the growing feminization of migration and the gender-based violence against migrant women). I am a Deputy Chair of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia and its national convener for women’s issues. I am also a member of the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission and the convener of its women’s advisory committees, which advise the SA government regarding issues affecting migrant women. So women’s issues are very dear to my heart.
Currently, in common with most of the industrialized world, Australia faces the challenges of slow population growth, low and declining birth rates, and a rapidly ageing population. As a result of prolonged periods of low fertility, the outflow of young people and the so-called baby boomers moving towards retirement age, Australia faces the prospect of future labor shortages and a labor supply that is unable to meet the demands of the economy. Several strategies have been put in place to attract highly skilled and professional migrants to target areas of low population growth such as South Australia. The State government of South Australia for example, is actively promoting the state as a place to work and settle. A new department called “Population Unit” was established just to address the issue of population and how to attract people to SA to settle and live. Another department, “Immigration SA,” established a few years ago, works with recruitment companies, industry groups and regional bodies to ensure expatriates and other potential migrants have access to information about job and career opportunities in Australia.
Australia is desperate for highly skilled migrants, and has developed several visa categories to attract the right people. I have with me two CDs showing some of these schemes in South Australia. So if you’re interested I invite you to have a look later on and I’m willing to answer some of your questions regarding migrating to Australia. Do I sound now like a recruitment agency?
We are at present seeing an increasing number of Filipino nurses coming to Australia, and South Australia in particular, as temporary skilled migrants. However, the trend seems to be that these nurses already came from other countries such as Ireland, Canada and the UK before being recruited to Australia. With their coming from the countries mentioned above, they have been exposed to a similar working environment as in Australia and it is hoped that their adjustment would be smoother, and settlement in their new environment would be quicker.
Difficulties of New Migrants:
• Lack of recognition of overseas qualifications
We, at the state and national levels, have been lobbying to review the government’s policy regarding this; however there are times when it is not only the government, but also the professional bodies that are making it more difficult.
• Underemployment
• Discrimination and prejudices
• Language and cultural barrier
This is a matter of negotiating with the system.
Best practice:
- Migrant Resource Centre
- Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
- Women’s Information Service/Women’s DV services
- Community Settlement Services Program
- Business /Skill Migration Program (assisted accommodation for the first three months)
- Ethnic/ Multicultural Councils
- Ethnic Schools
- Cultural/religious expressions encouraged
- Various advocacy groups
Contributions
The 2002 Survey by the Philippines government of overseas Filipino workers states that Australia has a total of 16,000 OFWs yielding US$ 1,000,820 total remittances. No doubt, this survey would be strictly adhering to the definition of OFWs.
• Education and cultural exchange-groups sponsoring young people for cultural exchange; groups sponsoring our Filipino talents/entertainers - for special functions or sports activities, there are perhaps over 200 Filipino groupings and associations in Australia
• Religious groups like - Couples for Christ etc.- with housing projects, e.g., –Gawad Kalinga in various states
• Economic contributions and remittances - a number of businesses sending balikbayan boxes; a number of fundraising activities by various groups whenever natural disasters occur
• Business and skills exchange
• Expatriates going back to the Philippines to give free lectures to some of our universities, e.g., Dr. Dante Juanta and Amy Bartjes
• Good Ambassadors for the Philippines - most of us are very conscious of our heritage and would like to show the best of who we are; Foreign Aid programs by the Australian government are linked to good relationship because of Filipinos as ambassadors for the Philippines.
• Others - medical surgical projects, e.g., gathering of used medical instruments.
Recommendations
I had started giving my two penny’s worth of recommendations but when I was reading them last night, I thought all good recommendations were already given yesterday.
• Establish a broad strategic alliance between the Philippines and Australia, particularly in business;
• Improve the economic situation in the Philippines to stop brain drain and to make the living conditions attractive for retirees and the balikbayans;
• Encourage and maintain a bi-cultural identity and connection as well as improve cultural exchange;
• Establish pathways for skills to come back to the Philippines.
However, I observe Philippines society’s consumerism encouraged by the dollar income. What we consume, however, are products of other countries: Japan, USA, Korea, Taiwan, etc., so in fact we are helping the economy of other countries not ours.
I also observe the cash economy system which does not encourage the use of banks or savings. I’m not an economist but I think it would be helpful if people actually use the banking system. I think there is a lack of trust and confidence in our service system that makes us lag behind the rest of developed countries. (For example, I think I came ill prepared because I am always worried about my cash flow. I am not used to having big amounts of money in my handbag.)
I think one of the recommendations should be community education.
Conclusion
An international migrant worker is defined by the 1990 United Nations International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families as “a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national.” I would argue that Filipinos seeking to work or live abroad in the hope of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones back home, are all to be considered international migrant workers irrespective of their residency status. Most of the Filipino emigrants in Australia have chosen to take up residency because of Australian immigration policy and programs. Those from other countries would have chosen the security of permanent residency and citizenship if given a chance. What is a common experience to all Filipino emigrants is the fact that all would be sending remittances back home and would be helping their families financially one way or another.
Filipinos in Australia or for that matter, anywhere in the world act as ambassadors for the Philippines. You could not find a more nationalistic group of people when they are outside their country.
There is no doubt that the conference would yield a number of recommendations to address the many issues that confront OFWs.
However, I would like to leave you with some words from UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan. He said this in his report to the UN General Assembly in September 2003 on the implementation of the UN Millennium Declaration, which I think is appropriate for this conference.
“Human rights are universal principles, but, inspiring as those principles are, none implement themselves. Good governance, effective institution, adequate material resources and international support are usually what make the difference between noble inspirations and effective realizations.”
References
http://www.filipino.com.au/categ/migration/philmigupdatehtm
Philippine Migration to Australia
2000 Update on Philippines-Austalia Bilateral Realtions. Prepared by Embassy of the Philipines, Canberra
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