| Jumat, 30 Oktober 2009 | |||
Jakarta, BNP2TKI (30/10) Kepala Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (BNP2TKI) Moh. Jumhur Hidayat mengaku berduka dan prihatin atas meninggalnya Raisem (36) binti Wardi TKI asal Sukra Indramayu, Jawa Barat, yang bekerja di Dubai, Uni Emirat Arab (UEA). BNP2TKI memberikan santunan uang kepada keluarga Raisem sebesar Rp 5 juta. BNP2TKI juga akan membiayai proses pemulangan jenazah dari Dubai hingga kampung halaman Raisem. Menurut Jumhur, persoalan TKI memang tidak mudah diselesaikan, masalah satu selesai muncul lagi persoalan baru. Banyaknya persoalan ini karena adanya mafia TKI yang memperdagangkan orang dengan logo Garuda. “Saya turut prihatin atas musibah yang menimpa Raisem, BNP2TKI akan segera mengurus dan membatu pemulangan jenazah Raisem dari Dubai. BNP2TKI juga memberikan santunan uang sebesar Rp 5 juta untuk Almarhum dan keluarga Raisem,” ujar Kepala BNP2TKI dihadapan keluarga korban dan Migrant Care, Kamis (29/10). Pemberian uang santuan dari BNP2TKI itu langsung diterima Taryani, ibu kandung Almarhumah. Sambung Jumhur, BNP2TKI akan bekerja sama dengan KBRI Dubai dan Depatemen Luar Negeri (Deplu) untuk memulangkan jenazah Raisem. “Ini tidak boleh dibiarkan, jenazah Raisem harus segera dipulangkan ke Indonesia. Masalah biaya pemulangan jenazah itu BNP2TKI tanggung, kita tidak mau menyulitkannya malah ingin mempermudahnya,” katanya. Menurut Benhard Nababan, perwakilan dari Migrant Care, Raisem bekerja sebagai Penata Laksana Rumah Tangga (PLRT) di Dubai. Almahumah meninggal dunia karena diduga terinveksi virus HIV Aids. “Raisem meninggal dunia 12 Juli 2009 lalu, sudah tiga bulan jenazahnya tidak bisa dipulangkan karena permasalahan dokumen dan passpor. Kami hanya menerima isi berita kematian Raisem dari surat yang dikirim oleh Deplu. Dalam isi beritanya Raisem meninggal karena HIV. Tapi ketika berangkat menjadi TKI Raisem tidak terinfeksi HIV,” kata Benhard. Taryani, ibu kandung Almarhumah mengaku bahagia bisa bertemu langsung dengan Kepala BNP2TKI. Ia berjanji akan menggunakan uang santunan dari BNP2TKI untuk tahlilan dan biaya anak-anak Raisem. Jenazah Raisem saat ini berada di Rumah Sakit Marhabat Dubai. Raisem bekerja di Dubai sejak tahun 2006, Almarhumah meninggalkan seorang suami dan tiga anak. (hp) Sumber: http://www.bnp2tki.go.id/content/view/1798/231/ | |||
Translate
10/30/2009
BNP2TKI Biayai Pemulangan Jenazah Raisem
7/15/2009
Pemilih Sabah Hanya 18,4 Persen
4/06/2009
TKI terlunta-lunta di Suriname
Senin, 06/04/2009 20:16:28 WIBOleh: Rahmayulis Saleh
Laki-laki asal Kertosono, Nganjuk, Jawa Timur, sekitar enam bulan lalu meninggalkan kampung halamannya. Negara tujuannya adalah Suriname, yang masih memakai bahasa Jawa dalam berkomunikasi sehari-hari. Nanang dan tiga orang temannya dari Yogyakarta, ditawari oleh seseorang bekerja di Suriname sebagai mekanik di sebuah pabrik motor.
"Menurut teman yang pernah bekerja di negara itu, gajinya lumayan. Selama lima tahun bekerja di sana, bisa membiayai hidup selamanya di kampung," ujarnya dari Bambu Apus, Jakarta, lewat telepon kepada Bisnis sore tadi.
Dalam waktu tidak lama, cerita Nanang, dia dan teman-temannya sepakat berangkat ke negeri tersebut. Modalnya hanya biaya untuk membuat paspor. Sementara tiket dan lainnya ditanggung oleh perusahaan yang menawarinya bekerja. Perusahaan itu adalah Kaminah Motor, di Distrik Wanica, Lily Gorp, Suriname.
Nanang berangkat ke Suriname dengan visa turis. Sehari setelah sampai di negeri itu, diapun langsung bekerja. Membongkar mesin motor bukan hal baru baginya. Sebab, dia sebelumnya sudah lama bekerja di bengkel motor, dan sudah mengerti tentang mesin kendaraan roda dua itu.
Setelah dua bulan bekerja, kata Nanang, dia belum tahu apa dan bagaimana statusnya. Berapa besaran gaji yang diterimanya, haknya apa saja, termasuk upah lembur, dan perjanjian lainnya secara administratif. Selain itu juga belum diantarkan ke kantor Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia (KBRI) Suriname untuk melaporkan bahwa dia bekerja di negeri itu.
"Ketika masalah ini kami bicarakan dengan pimpinan Kaminah Motor, eh kami malah diusir dengan alasan tidak memiliki visa kerja. Gaji selama dua bulan tidak dibayar, dan barang-barang milik pribadi tidak boleh dibawa, malahan disuruh ganti rugi membayar tiket sekitar US$2.500," tuturnya.
Di pabrik itu, katanya, ada 11 orang warga Indonesia yang tengah bekerja. Semuanya diusir. Mereka melapor ke KBRI dan ditampung disana.
"Seminggu setelah tinggal di KBRI, kami difasilitasi bertemu dengan bos. Dan tiga orang teman kembali bekerja di pabrik itu. Namun, delapan orang lainnya termasuk saya, tidak mau. Sebab, isi perjanjian kontraknya tidak jelas, termasuk jam kerja, gaji, dan lainnya. Kebanyakan isinya merugikan pekerja," ujar Nanang lulusan SMA yang sempat kuliah perhotelan di sebuah universitas di Bali.
Walhasil Nanang dan teman-temannya pun terkatung-katung di KBRI. Kasus mereka sempat diberitakan oleh media setempat, mengenai buruh migran yang terkena PHK sepihak. Namun kasusnya tidak selesai-selesai. Dia ingin gajinya dibayarkan dan hak-haknya diberikan oleh perusahaan. Tak terasa empat bulan Nanang ditampung di KBRI.
"Selama itu tidak ada tanda-tanda kasusnya akan selesai. Akhirnya atas bantuan International Organization for Migration (IOM), saya dan teman-teman difasilitasi untuk pulang ke Indonesia," lanjutnya.
Sekarang mereka ditampung di Bambu Apus, milik Dinas Sosial, Departemen Sosial. Sekarang masalahnya, kata Nanang, dia ingin cepat-cepat pulang ke Nganjuk berkumpul dengan isteri dan keluarganya. Namun belum ada tanda-tanda dari pemerintah untuk memulangkannya.
"Sampai sekarang pejabat Depsos tidak ada yang datang. Ya, kami menunggu saja di sini, tidak jelas," ungkapnya.
Pemerintah lamban
Sementara itu, Koordinator Tim Advokasi Migrant Care, Benhard Nababan menilai pemerintah terkesan lamban dalam menangani kasus TKI dari Suriname tersebut.
"Rencananya kami akan bertemu mereka di Bambu Apus, seharusnya kasus seperti ini bisa cepat diselesaikan pemerintah, terutama KBRI, Departemen Tenaga Kerja dan Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (BNP2TKI),"
"Ketika para pekerja tersebut masih berada di penampungan KBRI Suriname semestinya dipertemukan dengan pihak-pihak terkait, jadi pembayaran gaji dan hak-hak lainnya bisa diselesaikan dengan segera" ujar Benhard kepada Bisnis
Mereka dipulangkan ke Indonesia sejak seminggu yang lalu tapi belum diperbolehkan pulang ke kampung halaman karena harus menunggu prosedur lainnya,
Migrant Care akan membantu para pekerja tersebut mendapatkan hak-hak yang belum dipenuhi pengusaha tempatnya mereka bekerja. "Mudah-mudahan bisa diselesaikan dengan baik," ujar Benhard.
Sita Widyawati, Kasudit Bantuan Sosial Korban Tindak Kekerasan Depsos menuturkan sebenarnya kasus Nanang cs adalah trafficking karena diserahkan oleh IOM. Departemen Luar Negeri pun mengindentifikasi bahwa mereka adalah korban trafficking.
"Kami dari Depsos hanya dititipi oleh IOM dan Deplu, untuk membantu menghilangkan trauma, dan memulihkan secara psikososial," ujarnya kepada Bisnis. Para korban tersebut, katanya, untuk sementara di tampung di Rumah Perlindungan Trauma Center Bambu Apus, milik Depsos. Masalah kepulangan mereka ke kampung halaman masing-masing, tergantung bagaimana hasil dari penggalian informasi dan pemulihan psiko sosial mereka.
"Kalau tidak ada masalah apa-apa, bisa secepatnya dipulangkan. Kalau masih di Jawa dengan bus Damri, kalau di luar Jawa dengan kapal Pelni," tambah Sita. Dia menuturkan biasanya seseorang berada di rumah penampungan Bambu Apus sekitar satu minggu, kecuali yang menderita sakit berat, harus dirawat dulu.
Namun, kalau semuanya lancar, dalam tiga hari juga bisa pergi. Untuk menganani para korban tersebut, kata Sita, Depsos menyediakan tenaga ahli dari psikolog dan pekerja sosial. “Mereka yang akan membantu para korban, dan melaporkan hasilnya kepada kami. Setelah itu baru diatasi bersama, bagaimana tindakan selanjutnya," ujarnya. (tw)
Sumber: http://www.bisnis.com/umum/sosial/1id111695.html
3/17/2009
Concerted Petition of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Civilians and Worker Observers: "Ratify Immediately the 1990 Migrant Convention"
11/26/2008
Segera Ratifikasi Konvensi PBB tentang Perlindungan Buruh Migran
Benhard Nababan, aktivis organisasi advokasi buruh migran, Migrant Care, menilai produk kebijakan pemerintah SBY-JK menyangkut perlindungan dan kesejahteraan buruh migran, tidak pernah melibatkan organisasi buruh migran. Dia menilai Inpres No 3/2006 maupun UU No 39/2004 cacat dan tak punya legitimasi. "Maka jangan heran bila seluruh regulasi tersebut pada kenyataannya jauh dari harapan buruh migran, baik dalam hal perlindungan maupun kesejahteraan," tandas Benhard dalam keterangan pers kepada Suara Merdeka CyberNews, Rabu (26/11).
Menurut dia, seluruh regulasi yang ada, maupun berbagai langkah untuk melakukan amandemen atas UU 39/2004, selama tidak melibatkan organisasi massa BMI hanya akan menguntungkan pemerintah dan PJTKI.
Atas dasar hal itu, lanjut Benhard, maka BMI menuntut Pemerintah RI untuk segera meratifikasi Konvensi Internasional yang melindungi buruh migran yakni Konvensi Internasional Perlindungan Hak Seluruh Pekerja Migran dan Anggota Keluarganya (International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families) 1990 dan Beberapa Konvensi ILO terkait seperti Konvensi ILO 143 tentang Pekerja Migran (1975), Konvensi ILO No 97 tentang Migrasi demi Pekerjaan (ILO Convention No 97 Concerning Migration for Migration Employment) yang direvisi tahun 1949 dan Konvensi No 181 tentang Agen Tenaga Kerja Swasta (Convention No 181 Concerning Private Employment Agencies) yang disahkan tahun 1997.
BMI juga menuntut pemerintah untuk segera menyusun dan menjalankan mekanisme yang memastikan jaminan perlindungan BMI sejak perekrutan hingga kepulangan menyangkut: tersosialisasinya seluruh hak-hak normatif bagi calon buruh migran, perlindungan dan penanganan bantuan hukum yang memadai bagi BMI yang mengalami masalah di negeri tujuan, monitoring reguler yang berperan aktif dalam mengatasi seluruh persoalan yang dialami oleh BMI, dan menindak tegas seluruh PJTKI yang melakukan pelanggaran atas hak-hak BMI dan menghukum dengan ganjaran setimpal.
"Kami menuntut kepada pemerintah untuk menghentikan berbagai biaya lebih penempatan; beban ganda dari pemerintahan yang tidak mampu menyediakan lapangan pekerjaan, sekaligus bekerja sebagai buruh migrant yang harus membayar biaya penempatan dengan komponen biaya yang sangat memeras BMI," tegasnya.
Dia mendesak pemerintah untuk mengevaluasi keberadaan Terminal Khusus TKI (Terminal 3 yang sekarang disebut Gedung Pencatatan Kepulangan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia/GPK TKI) melalui Konsultasi Publik dengan Serikat dan NGO Buruh Migran Indonesia. (Imam M Djuki /CN05)
10/30/2008
4/10/2008
Sidang Trafficking PRT Darniati Digelar di PN Jaktim
Anis Hidayah Wahyu Susilo
Executive Director Policy Analyst
(081578722874) (08129307964)
Kontak lebih lanjut: Benhard Nababan (081387358359)
(mbs)
4/07/2006
Capacity Building on Human Rights and Migrant Workers in the Asia-Pacific Region-A Training Program for Advocates
DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM
AFFILIATED WITH THE FACULTY OF LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH
A training program for peoples of the Asia-Pacific region
PROGRAM BROCHURE
Capacity Building on Human Rights and Migrant Workers in the Asia-Pacific
Region – A Training Program for Advocates
7 th – 11 th April, 2006, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Held in partnership with Migrant Forum Asia (MFA), Malaysian Trade Union
Congress (MTUC), ALIRAN, Pusat KOMAS and Messrs Charles Hector
Participant Biographies
1. Bhim Bahadur Baniya (Male)
Far East Overseas Nepalese Association (FEONA)
HONG KONG
Bhim Bahadur is Vice Chairman of FEONA, and an executive member of the Hong Kong Integrated Nepalese Society (HINS). FEONA is committed to improving the livelihoods of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, including Indian, Nepalese, Pakistani and Bangladeshi minority groups. Through the DTP training, he hopes to gain a better knowledge of migrant workers rights and to learn about the most effective approaches for assisting those whose rights are violated or threatened.
2. Amarjargal
Davjayev (Female) Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD) MONGOLIA
As Program Coordinator of the Human Trafficking Project for the Centre for Human Rights and Development, Amarjargal works to raise awareness of human trafficking, and works to identify and address deficiencies in the legal framework on trafficking. She trains legal groups, such as judges and prosecutors, as well as at risk groups including students. Amarjargal has had experience in media advocacy, having been responsible for a weekly human rights program on the Mongolian National Radio as well as the organisation of a weekly television program on human rights.
With an increasing number of Mongolian migrant workers being targeted for human trafficking, Amarjargal hopes that DTP training will enable her to develop a training manual on migrant worker issues. She hopes to establish partnerships with the destination countries of Mongolian migrants in order to develop safe migrant programs.
3. Karen Gomez Dumpit (Female)
Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) PHILIPPINES
Karen is Director of the Government Linkages Office for the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines. In this capacity, she oversees the Commission’s monitoring activities – reviewing the compliance of government with international treaty obligations, and making recommendations to improve the government’s adherence to these commitments.
The rights of migrant workers are particularly relevant to Karen’s international diplomacy role, through which she is responsible for appealing to foreign governments for clemency in cases of Filipino migrants sentenced to death abroad. Other migrant workers’ rights initiatives of the Commission include promoting legislation to safeguard migrant workers voting rights in Filipino elections and to preserve dual citizenship.
4. Mohammad Miftah Farid (Male)
Indonesian Migrant Workers Trade Union (SBMI) INDONESIA
As Chairperson of SBMI, Mohammad is responsible for managing the union’s entire operational framework. He represents the organisation in national advocacy programs for migrant rights, and is active in developing networks with other NGOs at the national and international level. His role includes coordinating the monitoring activities of SBMI regarding migrant deportation from Malaysia and other receiving countries.
Mohammad has been involved in numerous training courses, including Community Organising Training (conducted by KOPBUMI); Paralegal Training (KOPBUMI); Counsellor Training (ICMC); Migrant Human Rights Violation Documentation Training (MFA); and Migrant Human Rights and Advocacy Training (MFA). He hopes that the DTP program will strengthen his union advocacy capacity at the regional and international level, and also provide an opportunity for networking and the sharing of experiences.
5. Aminarsih Fatah (Female)
Darul Arqam, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) SINGAPORE
As a program coordinator for Darul Arqam and office manager for TWC2, Aminarsih Fatah facilitates monthly training programs for domestic workers, liaises with embassies and other relevant groups, and attends to distress calls from domestic workers. She has also planned annual programs for a domestic workers support group and helped coordinate International Migrant’s Day 2005 activities in Singapore.
Aminarsih hopes to gain significant knowledge on migrant workers’ rights while developing a greater understanding of advocacy work. A particular objective of hers is to build an extensive network with other NGOs in the Asia-Pacific region to enable the development of more effective training programs.
6. Lionel Fernando (Male)
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
SRI LANKA
Lionel is Chairman of the Disaster Relief Monitoring Unit (DRMU) of the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission. The DRMU is an auxiliary body established two weeks after the tsunami disaster in January 2005 to monitor all tsunami related reconstruction in the country and report on the human rights implications of the reconstruction effort.
From 1999-2001, Lionel was Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working closely with the Foreign Employment Bureau of Sri Lanka to promote the rights of Sri Lanka migrant workers. His work was specifically concerned with ensuring appropriate remuneration for migrant workers, and protecting their physical integrity through anti-violence campaigns. Lionel has also served as Ambassador in Malaysia (1997-1999) and the Netherlands (2001-2004).
7. Ji-Eun Hwang (Female)
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK)
KOREA
Ji-Eun is an investigator for Human Rights Rectification Team III for the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. The team is responsible for defending the rights of migrant workers in detention and protective facilities. Many of these cases concern illegal stays, overdue wages and asylum seeking for economic and religious reasons. Ji-Eun hopes that the DTP training will help her to understand the vulnerable situation of migrant workers, and also enable her to develop the most appropriate policies to combat the problem. She is specifically interested in the functioning of the ICRMW and ILO conventions, and how they can be implemented to better protect foreign workers within Korea.
8. Bridget Lew (Female)
Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) SINGAPORE
As President of HOME, Bridget is responsible for overseeing the provision of services to migrant workers suffering from exploitative working and living conditions in Singapore. These services include advocacy, welfare and education. HOME operates two shelters for displaced workers, providing a necessary place of refuge for vulnerable men and women.
In her day to day work, Bridget undertakes a variety of roles from answering helpline calls to communicating with the authorities, media personnel and other NGOs. In addition to advocating the rights of migrant workers, she supervises the operations of both HOME shelters and trains co-workers in case work. Bridget has an honours degree in Arts: Political Science and History, and has completed several training courses on labour laws, business administration and management.
9. Braema Mathiaparanam (Female)
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC 2) SINGAPORE
Braema is President of Transient Workers Count Too and AWARE, both of which are advocacy based groups with a strong emphasis on research activities. Through TWC2, an organisation founded by Braema, she planned a nine-month campaign concentrating on Foreign Domestic Workers matters. The campaign involved work with photographers, artists, schools, embassies, policy makers, academics and agencies. In 2005 she formed a task force to organise an International Migrants Day with the theme of local and foreign communities bonding and respecting one another.
Braema hopes to learn from other participants about what programs and tactics are most successful. She is keen to strengthen her understanding of diplomatic tools, and to develop effective regional and international advocacy networks.
10. Win Maung Moe Swe (Male)
Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association (YCOWA) THAILAND
Wing Maung Moe Swe works as head of Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association (YCOWA) a group that works to improve the working and living conditions of both documented and undocumented Burmese migrant workers in Thailand. The association strives to achieve these goals through organising, educating and facilitating legal defence. As head of the association, Wing Maung regularly works with migrant workers and holds workshops and group discussions with them to educate them about their rights. He works closely with trade unions, human rights organisations, and other interested parties. He has also reported on migrant issues to Burmese media, such as the Democratic Voice of Burma and has been involved with MAP, the Migrant Assistance Program. Wing Maung is also a committee member for ANM (Action Network of Migrants) which is comprised of nine Thai NGOs all working to improve the status of migrant workers in Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Thailand.
11. Parimala Moses (Female)
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)
MALAYSIA
Parimala is the Project Officer for the MTUC/ILO Action Programme for Migrant Domestic Workers in Malaysia. In addition to providing training and ground level support for migrant workers, Parimala consults with embassy officials of Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and Indonesia. She is currently involved in the establishment of a Domestic Workers Association, which will focus on lobbying for a fair and standard employment contract, minimum wage and standardised work week.
A particular focus of Parimala’s work is coordinating the efforts of the government and the MTUC to help alleviate the problems faced by migrant workers. She is responsible for interacting with the Ministry of Human Resources and Immigration on a regular basis, so that MTUC concerns and ideas can be incorporated into government policy, and so that MTUC is able to achieve its objectives with government support. Through her work and training programs in the United States and Indonesia, Parimala has developed an extensive knowledge of the role played by trade unions, NGOs and CSOs in resolving migrant worker issues.
12. Sukemi Muhammad (Female)
National Network of Community Development of Indonesian Migrant Workers and their Families (JARNAS PEKABUMI) INDONESIA
As Program Officer for YLPMD (a member organisation of JARNAS PEKABUMI), Sukemi assists returnee migrants and their families. She is responsible for planning and facilitating capacity building training programs such as paralegal courses, migrant saving alternative investment training (MSAI), gender training, and pre-departure training for migrant workers. Sukemi is involved in local, national and regional advocacy programs. Working within the Indonesian NGO network, she collaborates with organisations such as KOPBUMI and MFA.
A particular focus of her work is the mobilising and unionising of migrant workers in receiving countries. Through the training she hopes to develop her knowledge of the ICRMW and how it may be utilised to better defend migrant worker rights. Sukemi is also keen to learn from other participants about effective advocacy and lobbying techniques, and to share her own experiences in this area.
13. Benhard Nababan (Male)
Centre for Indonesian Migrant Workers (CIMW) INDONESIA
Benhard Nababan works for the legal staff at the Centre for Indonesian Migrant Workers. His job involves providing legal assistance for migrant workers whose rights have been violated, as well as counselling migrant workers. He also facilitates meetings and discussions for factory workers to increase their knowledge and awareness. He hopes to share his experiences at DTP training, as well as learn from others and form a network for the protection of migrant workers.
14. Anna Liza Navarro (Female)
Centre for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
PHILIPPINES
Anna Liza Navarro works as a Case and Documentation Officer for the Centre for Migrant Advocacy’s Direct Assistance to Migrants in Distress Program. This involves taking in cases of migrants in distress, monitoring the status of cases, and reviewing the actions of government agencies concerned. She undertakes several additional roles within the centre, including Office Administrator and Bookkeeper.
Anna Liza hopes that DTP training will allow her to develop relationships with other migrant advocates so that they may exchange experiences and learn from each other’s work. She anticipates that the training will help her to discern how best to handle each migrant worker case that she encounters, so that she can effectively serve the interests of foreign workers and their families.
15. Nining Nining (Female)
Migrant CARE INDONESIA
Nining Nining works as a staff coordinator for the Advocacy division of Migrant CARE. As staff coordinator, she advocates extensively for migrant workers, works to develop a national network on migrant workers issues, and holds regular meetings in the context of empowering this vulnerable group. Along with an Advocacy Team, Nining has developed both short and long term strategies for migrant worker advocacy. In the short term, they aim to resolve issues such as unpaid wages or arbitrary discharge. Their long-term strategies include advocating those laws that would better protect the interests of migrant workers, as discussed by the Indonesian Legislative Assembly. One of their major successes in this respect was the approval of the Protection Law for Migrant Workers by the Indonesian Assembly in 2004.
Currently Nining is supporting the ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Family (ICRMW). Nining believes DTP training will give her an important forum to understand the international human rights framework, and will strengthen her organisation’s network with other migrant workers’ rights groups.
16. Masud Parvez (Male)
Welfare Association of Repatriated Bangladeshi Employees (WARBE) BANGLADESH
Masud is the Vice Chairman for the Central Executive Committee of WARBE, where he is responsible for assisting repatriated migrant workers and their families at the grass roots level. He organises pre-departure awareness programs for migrant workers, and participates in seminars and workshops on migrant rights issues. He has campaigned extensively against the abusive and exploitative recruitment processes employed in destination countries.
As a founding member of WARBE, Masud has significant experience in the field. He has undergone training on the English Language Potential for Migrant Workers, a program jointly organised by the bureau of Manpower Employment & Training (BMET) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). His future plans in this area include advocating for the implementation of rights based policies for the migrants of Bangladesh.
17. Andy Perez (Male)
Filipino Domestic Helpers General Union-Hong Kong (FDHGU) HONG KONG
Andy Perez works as a Domestic Helper and Sport Coordinator for the Filipino Domestic Helpers General Union. As Sport Coordinator, he trains union members in a variety of sporting activities, with a goal of capacity and team building. He also assists with the union’s advocacy campaigns and mobilization programs regarding the rights of migrant workers.
Andy has completed several training programs, including courses on leadership and team building, trade unionism, Migrant Savings and Alternative Investments, gender and health, and migrants’ rights. By increasing his awareness of migrant worker issues, Andy expects that the DTP training will improve his capacity to interact with and assist union members. Through sharing his training knowledge with the union, he hopes that the rights of Filipino Domestic Helpers will be more effectively advocated.
18. Nurul Qoiriah (Female)
Asian Migrant Centre (AMC)
HONG KONG
As a Program Officer for the AMC, Nurul’s key roles include the organising and unionising of migrant workers, as well as developing and facilitating capacity building training programs for the leaders of migrant organisations. The content of these courses include: migrant human rights and advocacy; health and gender; migrant savings; and reintegration. She equips directors of grass roots organisations from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Indonesia, with the knowledge and skills to assist migrant workers in the region.
Nurul is also involved in other advocacy and lobbying activities undertaken by the AMC. Other courses which she has participated in include the International Human Rights Training Program, conducted by the Canadian Human Rights Foundation (2005), and the Human Rights Education Program, hosted by the Indonesian Human Rights Commission in Jakarta (1998).
19. Kalpana Rijal (Female)
All Nepal Women’s Association (ANWA)
NEPAL
As Central Secretary of the All Nepal Women’s Association, Kalpana Rijal is involved with program planning, lobbying, advocacy and counselling. Migrant workers’ rights have become increasingly important to ANWA with the growing number of Nepalese migrant workers.
Kalpana has a Masters in Sociology and post-graduate degree in Women’s Studies. She has completed training courses on leadership, fund raising, organisational management, and migrant rights at national, regional and international levels. She hopes that training on migrant rights will increase her organisation’s capacity to deal with this issue, and will increase her lobbying and advocacy skills.
20. Roshan Shajehan (Male)
Oxfam – GB
SRI LANKA
Having worked for the National Human Rights Commission from 2003-2005, Roshan is now a project officer for gender and protection with Oxfam - GB, Sri Lanka. In particular, his work involves developing strategies to help achieve gender equality throughout the country. He plays a key role in the Gender Development Network, an association of Sri Lankan NGOs, community based organisations and other grass roots partners aimed at gender mainstreaming.
21. Byung-Kon Shin (Male)
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) KOREA
Byung-Kon Shin is an investigator for the National Human Rights Commission of Korea’s Racial Discrimination Team. He conducts investigations into cases of racial discrimination, including those based on grounds of national or ethnic origin, or skin colour. His work is therefore concerned with a large number of migrant workers with limited means of protection.
He hopes that DTP training will provide him with a solid understanding of the ICRMW and other relevant international standards, so that he can enhance the work of his newly established department. Specifically, Byung-Kon hopes to encourage the NHRCK to recommend government adoption of the ICRMW.
22. Nalini Singh (Female)
Asia Pacific Forum for Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
THAILAND
Since June 2005, Nalini Singh has served as a Programme Officer for the Labour and Migration Programme with the Asia Pacific Forum for Women, Law and Development. The APWLD is committed to enabling women to use law as an instrument of social change for equality, justice and development, and it has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
A central feature of the Labour and Migration Programme is its task force, which plans and implements advocacy work and campaign actions. In recent years the program has implemented various activities to address the concerns of female migrant workers. One major undertaking of the programme was a Tripartite Conference, which aimed at bringing together trade unionists, women’s groups and migrant worker advocates in host countries. The task force continuously works in coordination with UN agencies, such as UNCHR and UNSR, to protect the rights of women migrant workers.
23. Pranom (Bee) Somwong (Female)
MAP Foundation / Action Network for Migrants
THAILAND
Pranom is the Act Against Abuse project coordinator for the MAP Foundation of Thailand, where she helps provide migrant workers with access to the legal justice system. Through her work with MAP she has assisted migrant workers suffering from exploitation and abuse. In addition to securing compensation for these workers, she has been involved in improving their living conditions and securing control of their work-permit documentation.
In 2006, MAP and Action Network for Migrants are developing a capacity realisation workshop, and a series of campaigns for CBO and NGO networks. Pranom will be a central coordinator in this program which will focus on the production of a manual to assist migrant workers in Thailand to access their rights. Through her assistance of migrant workers at the grass roots level, and in the promotion of the 2006 program, Pranom is dedicated to raising public awareness of the ICRMW.
24. Subiyanti (Female)
Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (IMWU) HONG KONG
After joining the IMWU in 2001, Subiyanti spent several years contributing to the ongoing development of the union. She was elected to the Executive Committee in 2005, and now holds the position of Union Secretary. In this role, Subiyanti is responsible for documenting all migrant worker cases reported to the office, working with the education committee to develop and facilitate training programs, and assisting in IMWU’s campaigning and lobbying activities.
In its campaigns, the IMWU has targeted several migrant worker issues in Hong Kong, including excessive employment agency fees, underpayment of workers, and violations of worker contracts. A key objective of the union is lobbying the government on the ratification of the ICRMW, a process in which Subiyanti is directly involved.
25. Mohammed Tipu Sultan (Male)
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
BANGLADESH
For the past twelve years, Mohammed has worked as Co-ordinator for the Investigation Unit of Ain o Salish Kendra, a human rights and legal aid organisation based in Bangladesh. His department investigates cases of human rights violations, routinely visiting police stations, hospitals and courts to identify problem situations. He is responsible for coordinating daily investigative activities, and ensuring that each case is managed correctly. His role also entails follow-up lobbying and campaign activities with NGOs and government officials where necessary.
Mohammed has participated in several training programs around South East Asia. These have included a “Training of Trainers in Human Rights” held by South Asian Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR) in Dhaka, Bangladesh; a workshop on “Human Rights Education” sponsored by the Asian South Public Bureau of Adult Education (ASPBAE) in New Dehli, India; and a workshop on the “Structural Adjustment Programme and its effects on labour movement” organised by ASPBAE and GEFONT in Kathmandu, Nepal.
26. Sylvia (Gigi) Torres (Female)
Alliance of Progressive Labour (APL) / Asian Migrant Centre (AMC)
HONG KONG
Sylvia is currently helping to build social unionism among Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong. She is involved in the operations of three organisations – the Labour Education and Research Network (LEARN), APL, and AMC, all of whom share the common goal of resolving migrant worker issues. Her work involves organising, educating and training workers, including members of the Filipino Domestic Helpers General Union, and mobilising them into advocacy campaigns. These campaigns have included dialogue with the Labour and Immigration Departments of Hong Kong concerning migrant labour and human rights issues.
In addition to her work in Hong Kong, Sylvia has also spent time addressing human rights issues in the Philippines. She has worked as an administrative officer of a foundation for Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao, Philippines, which focused on the education and mobilisation of indigenous peoples in their struggle for rights to land and self determination. Through LEARN, Sylvia has provided assistance to workers in both the formal and informal labour sectors, particularly poor and exploited women in urban areas.
27. Joachim Xavier (Male)
Penang Office for Human Development (POHD) MALAYSIA
As the Human Development Officer for POHD, Joachim is responsible for the operations of the Catholic Church Ministry with Migrant Workers of the Penang Diocese (State of Penang, Perak and Kedah). This involves both organising the provision of services to migrant workers (legal aid, medical aid, welfare), and the recruitment and training of volunteer workers.
In 2003 Joachim established the Migrant Workers Support Centre (MWSC), a support service that assists migrant workers experiencing a variety of problems. While overseeing the centre’s activities, he also helps to resolve the many labour disputes that arise between migrant workers and their employers or agencies, assisting workers through the Malaysian legal system or labour agencies.
28. Senarath Yapa (Male)
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) SRI LANKA
Senarath is the Accounting Manager for the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. In addition to his financial role with SLBFE, Senarath is involved in the regulation and promotion of the foreign employment industry. He is responsible for training unskilled migrant women in order to reduce their exploitation as domestic workers.