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Appendix 1 OPENING REMARKS
I wish to take this opportunity to welcome all of you to this important workshop on "Responding to the Needs of Migrant Workers in Asia". This workshop is organised by the Christian Conference of Asia-Urban Rural Mission in association with Asia Alliance of YMCAs and Asian Migrant Centre. The purpose is to do an in-depth study on the whole question of migrant workers in Asia today. In 1990, CCA-URM carried out a workshop on Labour Migration in Asia to survey the situation of migrant workers in Asia. In 1991, another workshop was organized giving special attention to the plight of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong. This year will be the third consecutive year in our efforts to respond to the needs of migrant workers. The first part of the Workshop this time will focus on fishworkers in Asia. This will be followed by an overall presentation on the theme. The second-half of the workshop will concentrate on formulating concrete proposals to rally the support of ecumenical partners to pursue migrant workers issues more seriously. We hope that at the end of the workshop we will be able to identify more clearly the problems and prospects of migrant workers in Asia. It is a fact that the number of Asians leaving their home countries for better opportunities and economic prosperity is becoming a common trend in recent years. Although the choice to do so is self-imposed and done at their own risk, they have no control over the serious problems which many migrant workers inevitably face. Migration is not a new phenomenon in Asia. This particular trend contributes to the social mobility of developing countries to newly developed or developed countries in Asia. It creates new conflict situations between existing work forces and migrant workers. Furthermore, the difference in the nature of work, in wages, in the terms of work and working conditions are creating large gaps among the skilled workers, semi-skilled workers and unskilled workers. Therefore, the whole social pattern of their life is being effected by the migration policies which are initiated by either government or non-government sectors who treat migrant workers as human capital only. It is really sad but true that human beings are being regarded as human capital in order that a certain degree of development or better production mechanism may be achieved. However, another major problem is that the status of migrant workers depends on their contracts. Their personal security depends on whether they have been issued proper documents or partial or falsified documents and proper work permits or whether they have overstayed. What they require is access to legal assistance and protection, personal counselling, public campaigning, solidarity networking, wider publicity to enhance their status as migrants. These will be important tasks for all of us to work on. We all know that the main intention for migration is because people seek better lives for themselves and their households. For most migrant workers, decisions to leave home and work abroad would mean personal sacrifices and separation from their families. They will also suffer exploitation by foreign employers, socio-cultural estrangement, frustration with the legal systems, total isolation from the living environment. All these factors further contribute to the uncertainty of life faced by migrant workers. Fortunately, we have with us very able resource persons who will shed more light on how we can respond to their needs. Thereafter, we hope that as members of the Christian community we might more courageously respond to the plight of migrant workers in our various contexts. It is imperative that we treat migrant issues as a priority in our mission task. Once again, I wish to stress that migrant workers concerns is one of the important programme areas of the CCA-URM. As such, we feel the need to work conscientiously for the rights of migrant workers and for their protection. We would greatly appreciate your contribution towards this workshop as together we strengthen our solidarity and move forward with the marginalized sectors of in our regions. As Jesus has taught in the parable on the final judgment, in the context of responding to the needy, "...whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!". (Matt. 25:40) May this biblical passage serve as an appropriate reminder to us as we work together with migrant workers in Asia today.
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