The “International Day for the Remembrance for the Slave Trade and its Abolition” (August 23, 2007) serves as a reminder to the global community of the roots of oppression in the forms of forced labour and denial of the inherent human dignity of individuals and communities.
Shamefully however, while we remember this horrific past we call for a denunciation of situations of slavery like conditions and forced labour that continue to exist in the world today.
Migrant Forum Asia urges the recognition of suffering and death of millions of migrants due to slavery like conditions and to acknowledge the inhumane treatment accorded to migrant workers in vulnerable situations. In the highly competitive global market economy of today there is a critical link between slavery like conditions, forced labour, migration and trafficking flows.
Very often many migrant workers are confined to their quarters, not given any off days, denied their wages and forced to work long hours. Migrant workers are subjected to abusive treatment such as; canings, sexual assault, beatings and verbal insults on a daily basis. Migrant workers wishing to go abroad are subject to exorbitant fees, abused by recruitment agencies, are subjected to xenophobic profiling and negatively stigmatized. The denial of core rights (i.e.; adequate food, shelter, education, healthcare) is inexcusable. Many migrants face unnecessary restrictions on their movements within host countries and face increased vulnerability and exploitation in practices by employers who withhold their passports. In some situations they are forced to live in conditions of squalor and are subjected to threats of detention and deportation.
It is unacceptable that “ancient, barbaric practices of slavery and feudal bondage are not declining under the impact of national and international legislation and government action, but are still disturbingly alive.” (ILO, 2001). .
In 1998, The International Labor Organization (ILO) created the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, to oblige member states to eliminate forced labor and to acknowledge that human dignity should not be sacrificed for economic progress and “development” initiatives. The mistreatment of migrants can be traced through history and continues to abound due to diverse socio-economic factors including; trade policies, economic development, globalization and corruption.
According to Anti-Slavery International, “Millions of men, women and children around the world are forced to lead lives as slaves. Although this exploitation is often not called slavery, the conditions are the same. People are sold like objects, forced to work for little or no pay and are at the mercy of their 'employers'. The number of migrants in irregular situations continues to rise and is fuelled by the growth of informal forms of employment, shortages of workers for dirty, demeaning and dangerous jobs. MFA is in solidarity with anti-slavery movements and campaigns against situations where slave-like conditions are imposed on workers irrespective of status. Egregious human rights violations and exploitive labor practices must be stopped!
Recommendations;
-Social Audits to monitor working conditions and ensure ethical labor practices
-Solidarity with international anti-slavery movements and awareness
-The right to freedom of association and the right to organize
(ILO convention no. 87)
-Regularization/amnesty for migrant workers in undocumented states
-Ensure the right to due processes, transparency of procedures and official
accountability.
-Eliminate exorbitant fees demanded by recruitment agencies
-Instill anti-racism initiatives and campaign for the ethical treatment of migrant
Workers.
Migrant Forum Asia
59-B Malumanay St, Teachers Village West
Quezon City, 1104
Phillippines
Tel no: 632-4331292 Fax: 632-4331292
E-mail: mfa@pacific.net.hk
Website: www.mfasia.org
