Asian Domestic Workers' Assembly

17-18 June 2007; Manila, Philippines

Migrant Forum in Asia, together with the Coalition for Migrants Rights (CMR), Asian Migrant Centre (AMC), Alliance of Progressive Labour (APL) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), coorganized the Asian Domestic Workers Assembly (ADWA) on 17-18 June 2007 in Manila, Philippines.

INTRODUCTION

The ADWA was envisioned to be a forum and general gathering of migrant domestic workers’ (MDW) organizations, unions, associations, leaders and representatives in Asia, together with allied trade unions/labour groups, NGOs, advocates and support groups.

The main objective of the Assembly was to discuss, analyse, strategize, plan, coordinate and jointly act on national, regional and global issues, agendas and positions of MDWs in Asia. The Assembly will discuss what kind of alliance, network or action mechanism is needed by MDWs in order for them to collaborate and represent themselves more effectively.

The general guiding framework of the Assembly was the promotion of human rights, welfare and interests of MDWs in Asia. In paticular, the Assembly used the following guiding principles:

• "Domestic Work is Work" - promotion of MDWs' laour and trade union rights; affirmation of decent work and equal pay for equal work principles; recognition and proper valuation of domestic work as work;
• "Women's Work is Work" - promotion of women's rights and gender justice principles; recognition and proper valuation of women migrants' wok, including household labour;
• "Migrants' rights are human rights" - promotion of basic and universal human rights principles, particularly migrants' and domestic workers' human rights, in line with international standards and instruments;
• Right to Development principles; social and economic justice, paticipation and empowerment of MDWs.

For decades, MDWs have been suffering from persistent abuses, violence and violations of their rights, due to their more vulnerable and exploited situation. Several countries are introducing policy reforms affecting MDWs,yet these changes fall far short of the reforms needed to combat widespread abuse, much less remove the systematic vulnerabilities and discrimination/marginalization of MDWs.

Given the dynamic policy climae, it is imperative that domestic workers' groups be united and strategic when advocating for better proections and accountability from governments. Building upon the experiences of recent years, the ADWA provided a space for migrant domestic workers and allies to identify campaign priorities, share stategies,and deelop an action plan for 2007 and 2008.

The Global Forum on Migration and Development scheduled in July 2007 in Brussels will be another oppotunity to shape international dialogue on MDWs, especially because the MDW groups from the global regions (Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa) have agreed in 2006 to convene a global meeting of MDW groups as one of the civil society events in Brussels.

CONCEPT NOTE AND PROGRAMME

STATEMENT OF UNITY

PANEL PRESENTATIONS

PANEL 1: OVERVIEW OF ASIAN MIGRATION AND DOMESTIC WORKERS' SITUATION

1. Filipino Migrant Domestic Workers: An Overview, Ellene A. Sana, Center for Migrants Advocacy (CMA)
2. Foreign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong SARS, Sumiati, Coalition for Migrants Rights (CMR)
3. Dignity of Labor and Dignity of Person: A Foreign Domestic Worker’s Perspective, Bridget Lew, Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (H.O.M.E.)
4. Migrant Women Workers in Jordan: The Cases of Runaways, Friends of Women Workers Association

PANEL 2: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES IN ADDRESSING MDW ISSUES: HUMAN AND LABOUR RIGHTS, GENDER AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, EMPOWERMENT

1. Labour Rights For Domestic Workers: Combating Exploitation and Abuse, Lotte Kejser, International Labour Organization (ILO) Jakarta
2. Gender and Social Justice Principles: The Gendered Terrain of Labour Migration Policies in Asia, Rachel Conejos for Dr. Jean D'Cunha, UNIFEM Bangkok
3. Presentation to the Asian Migrant Domestic Workers’ Assembly, Josua Mata, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)

PANEL 3: BUILDING MDW ALLIANCES AND SOLIDARITIES

1. Migrants’ Regional and Global Alliances, Maria Angela ‘Mayan’ Villalba, Migrants Rights International /
   Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation

More Photos