Transcript ROLE OF MIGRANT WORKERS FRONT AND

THE ROLE OF
MIGRANT WORKERS’
FRONT
AND
THE CHALLENGES
FACING
K. Velayudam
President,
AS RIGHTS
BASED
National Trade Union Federation (NTUF),
Sri Lanka.
ORGANIZATION
National Trade Union Federation
NTUF
 Established in 2004.
 Member organizations.
 Membership.
 Affiliations
 Special features of the Constitution
Decent Work
Campaign
Trade Union
Demonstration
Our Women in
International
Forum
Founding
Congress
Background
 Globalization and liberalization of the economy;
Positive –
Expansion of the economy,
opportunities & scopes
Negative –
Growth
& expansion of informal economy,
Increased individualism & Reduced unionization.
Enlarged inequalities among rich vs. poor and urban
vs. rural & plantation people.
Background…
 Thus,
the poverty
Ø lack of employment opportunities
Ø the growing demands of the families;
Ø the needs and aspirations
Ø (On
children’s education, housing, modern
household equipment and high cost of living)
Ø
Push underprivileged, less educated and poor to
migrate from rural to urban & overseas as unskilled
workers.
, 9% of the GDP
In 2010, 15% of the
workforce, 1.8 million are
cross boarder migrants and
they earn 9% of the GDP,
4.1 $. billion
Migrant workers
mostly …
• women domestic
workers.
• unskilled workers
• not enjoy any of decent
work conditions.
• Subject to many human
right violations
• treated as modern
slaves,
almost all unskilled migrant workers from Asia
and other countries face the same situation.
Challenges.
 Non availability of appropriate and comprehensive
laws and regulations to cover the rights.
 Thus, no job security and social security.
 Lack of institutional arrangements to regulate and
intervene.
 Lack of commitment from the duty bearers
Challenges
…
 Applicable data/ info are not available.
 Difficult to reach out in migrant workers.
 No provisions as TU registration
 TU leadership behavior
 Created negative attitudes towards TU.
NTUF Work
 In 2011 the NTUF facilitated the establishment of
Migrant Workers front – MWF.
 Collecting
data
and
information
regarding
domestic workers.
 Mobilizing
and organizing Migrant Workers/
Domestic Workers.
NTUF Work…
 Visiting Migrant Workers families and motivating
the rights of MW.
 Strengthen coordination mechanisms between the
NTUF and the TU linked with the MoU.
 Network
between
Employment
Agents,
the
grassroots level functionaries and Migrant Workers
established.
NTUF Work…
 Advocacy and sensitization of state authorities is
being initiated.
Join
campaign
is initiated with
among
ITUC
affiliated Trade
Unions and civil
society
organizations to ratify C 189.
NTUF Work…
Support services... (Pre-departure Training)
 Educate the Migrant workers on
Ø present legal condition
Ø Awareness raising on foreign employment regulation
Ø Role
of Bureau of Foreign Employment
and
Employment Agencies
Ø Create awareness on work environment, culture,
language and etc. of destination countries
Ø Cash management and profitable investment
NTUF Work…
 Work with foreign employment Bureau
to
eliminate unlawful practices.
 Link and network with other service providers,
(i.e. Banks to arrange money transfers and savings
accounts.)
NTUF Work…
Support services... (After departure or in service )
 Help desks to attend the day to day needs,
i.e. grievances
and coordinate with other
stakeholders.
 Expand welfare activities for family members of
Migrant Workers.
NTUF Work…
 Coordinate and network with TU in receiving
countries (based on the MoU supported by ITUC)
 Coordinate with the Embassies, other CSO or
Human Rights Commissions/ Agencies
applicable.
as
NTUF Work…
Support services... (After return or post service )
 Guide them on viable options to start or improve
alternate livelihoods
 Linking them with existing TU (NOSE) or self-
help groups or promoting them to be in other
social groups to enable them to articulate their
rights and services.
To be continued….
Thank You Very Much