Excerpts from Migrante International Statement
of January 6, 2014
 |
| (Photograb from the Peoples Global Camp video Peoples Global Camp Bali, Indonesia) |
Migrante Internationa Chair
Garry Martinez commented that Conejos’ recent appointment as chair of the WTO
PrepCom on Trade Facilitation spells the Philippines’ more persistent
commitment to intensify its labor export policy at the expense of the rights
and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), with Cornejo’s exemplary
slave-trading skill is undoubtedly the reason why he was appointed to the post.
His track record in serving overseas Filipino workers during his term as OUMWA
Usec. was marked by numerous complaints from OFWs in distress. In fact, it was
the same track record that prevented him from winning the Deputy Director
General post for the International Organization Migration (IOM) in 2010, Martinez
said that Conejos vied for the IOM position at the same time that Migrante
International submitted its shadow report on the plight and conditions of
Filipino migrant workers and the situation of Philippine migration to the
United Nations. In the report, the group criticized Conejos’ leadership and the
Philippine government’s onerous labor export program.
Conejos
was re-assigned by Pres. BS Aquino as undersecretary of the OUMWA when he took
office in 2010. It was also Pres. Aquino who deployed Conejos to Geneva as
Permanent Representative to the WTO. Pres. Aquino also conferred the Order of
Lakandula to Conejos, the highest honors given by the government for officials
in diplomatic positions.
Conejo’s “anti-migrant” and “rabidly pro-labor export characteristics
that would make him perfect for the WTO post and detrimental to the already
sorry plight of overseas Filipino workers all over the world. These are also
the reasons why he continues to enjoy the confidence and full backing of Pres.
BS Aquino.”
Watch
videos:
People’s
Camp Bali, Indonesia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uyfu6Z4qPg
According
to Migrante International, the
Filipino migrant workers are opposed to trade facilitation pacts within the
WTO, becauseL:
-
WTO worsens forced migration of Filipino workers;
-
WTO promotes the Philippines’ anti-migrant labor export policy;
- WTO
tolerates human trafficking and coddles state-sponsored human trafficking;
- WTO
“opens” labor markets but restricts migrants’ rights and mobility, and;
- There
are alternatives to the WTO.
With
Conejos’ recent appointment, OFWs now have more reason to call for the junking
of the WTO.
To learn more clict link http://migranteinternational.org/?p=3439
No comments:
Post a Comment