Trade Union Initiatives for Promoting Migrant Workers in Asia Pong-Sul Ahn Sr. Specialist on Workers’ Activities ILO DWT, Bangkok

ILO Policies on Migration2 Objectives of trade union actions To promote decent work, by securing the rights of migrant workers and harnessing the benefits of migration in both source and destination countries To strengthen the capacity of trade unions though organising

ILO Policies on Migration3 Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions (FADWU) Established on 21 November 2010, with the membership of 6,443. Constituted by six domestic workers, such as: 1. Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, with the membership of Hong Kong Domestic Workers General Union, with 991 members 3. Filipino Domestic Helpers General Union, Hong Kong, with 1050 members 4. Union of Nepalese Domestic Workers in Hong Kong, affiliating 1081 persons 5. Overseas Domestic Workers’ Union – HK, unionizing 1175 workers 6. Thai Migrant Workers’ Union Hong Kong, with 1188 members

ILO Policies on Migration4 The founding congress

ILO Policies on Migration5 The action plan of the FADWU,

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10 Solidarity event at the founding congress

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ILO Policies on Migration14 The Executive Committee

ILO Policies on Migration15 The delegates and international guests

ILO Policies on Migration16 Challenges facing FADWU Communication gap among the six unions due to language barriers Low paid membership Union members’ high expectation for more direct benefits increasing individual grievances but no full-time expert. Lack of coordination among the six unions due to different interests by nationality

ILO Policies on Migration17 GEFONT Support Groups A Migrant Committee set up in 2004, with four members A key activity of the Migrant Committee is to establish “Gefont- Support Groups” with Nepali Migrant Workers in different countries The GEFONT Support Groups established in countries such as Korea, Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Hong Kong, and India The Support Groups’ activities, aiming at - promoting safe migration from human trafficking and cheating - improving the skills and working technique of Nepali workers - organizing and mobilize Nepali workers globally. - networking host country workers and Nepali workers

ILO Policies on Migration18 Regional Institutions working for Safe Migration Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) Regional Migrant Workers Network, Secretariat in Manila: campaigns, regional advocacy, training, capacity building. Asian Migrant Centre (MFA) - Secretariat Mekong Migrant Network Regional migrant research network, centred in Hong Kong: produces Asian Migrant Yearbook. Asian Forum on Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia, FA) Regional human rights and development network, Secretariat in Bangkok. Asia-Pacific Workers Solidarity Link (APWSL) Regional independent union network, with coordinator based in Bangkok; supporting worker and union solidarity campaigns. Asia Pacific Women, Labour and Development (APWLD) Regional Network secretariat in Chiang Mai: Research on gender issues, advocacy, capacity building. Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility in Asia (CARAM Asia) Regional network secretariat in Kuala Lumpur: Research, advocacy, community based interventions. ILO AP-MagNet AP-MagNet is an ILO-sponsored Asia Pacific Multi- Stakeholder on-line forum on migration and anti-human trafficking. It is for professionals and practitioners.

ILO Policies on Migration19 1. Lets prevent from violation, i.e. from trafficking, exploitation and harassment Pre-departure - awareness-raising training for potential migrant workers on labour rights - public awareness-raising through the media, leaflets, etc At work in destination countries - help-desk services - networking them through cultural events, vocational training 2. Lets organise migrant workers - A rights-based approach on labour migration - Unionisation - Advocacy training on labour rights - creating noise against the violation of labour rights - regular intervention with recruiting agencies Concluding: Key trade Union Actions

ILO Policies on Migration20 3. Lets build a network among all stakeholders - in order to establish a protective regime - a network between trade unions at home countries and migrant workers - a network between trade unions and wider stakeholders - a network between trade unions in sending countries and trade unions in receiving countries

ILO Policies on Migration21 Useful regional Institutions working on Migration Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) Regional Migrant Workers Network, Secretariat in Manila: campaigns, regional advocacy, training, capacity building. Asian Migrant Centre (MFA) - Secretariat Mekong Migrant Network Regional migrant research network, centred in Hong Kong: produces Asian Migrant Yearbook. Asian Forum on Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia, FA) Regional human rights and development network, Secretariat in Bangkok. Asia-Pacific Workers Solidarity Link (APWSL) Regional independent union network, with coordinator based in Bangkok; supporting worker and union solidarity campaigns. Asia Pacific Women, Labour and Development (APWLD) Regional Network secretariat in Chiang Mai: Research on gender issues, advocacy, capacity building. Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility in Asia (CARAM Asia) Regional network secretariat in Kuala Lumpur: Research, advocacy, community based interventions. ILO AP-MagNet AP-MagNet is an ILO-sponsored Asia Pacific Multi- Stakeholder on-line forum on migration and anti-human trafficking. It is for professionals and practitioners.

ILO Policies on Migration22 THANK YOU