Labor group asks Taiwan government to ensure safety and job security of Filipino workers

A Philippine labor group, on Wednesday, called on the Taiwanese government to ensure the safety and job security of thousands of Filipinos working in Taiwan.

In a picket held at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Makati City, the Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines) likewise appealed to the Taiwanese people to refrain from using violence against Filipino workers who have nothing to do with the current diplomatic row between the two countries over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman off the Balintang channel last May 9.

“We appeal to both the Taiwanese and Philippine governments to solve their diplomatic row not at the expense of our OFWs. Pending the result of investigations and the satisfaction of Taiwan’s demand for justice for fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, the safety and job security of Filipino workers in Taiwan must also be ensured as they face actual physical violence and threats of job loss,” stated Partido ng Manggagawa spokesperson Wilson Fortaleza.

Fortaleza said President Ma Ying-jeou’s order to freeze the hiring of Filipinos and a veiled threat of expulsion against the 87,000 OFWs currently working in Taiwan are both unfair and unjust.

“As workers, we are likewise interested in seeing justice served finally to fellow worker Hung and we won’t condone failure or inaction on the part of the Philippine government. But the quest of justice for Mr. Hung should not lead to unjust actions of fury against thousands of Filipinos in Taiwan,” said Fortaleza.

The labor party reiterated that migrant workers and their families are protected by international conventions (International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families) as migrants’ rights are human rights.

Migrants have the right to equal protection, non-discrimination, to work in safe working conditions and to be protected against unjust dismissal.

PRESS RELEASE
Partido ng Manggagawa
22 May 2013
Contact: Wilson Fortaleza
09053732185

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