Latest Issue: March-April 2012

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In True Service to Migrant
Workers in HK for 31 years

or more than 30 years, the Mission has been a haven of HOPE, of REST, of COMFORT and of
SUPPORT to thousands of migrant workers who temporarily call Hong Kong home. To have achieved all these has required dedication and commitment, passion and strength of its staff and volunteers.." Dr. Lakshimi (Daniel) Jacota

This testimonial is part of the message for the 31st anniversary of the MFMW by Dr. Lakshimi Jacota who has a close affinity with the Mission for Migrant Workers. She said to have seen the institution grow from "an idea to a fact" in the early 1980's, a time when the number of migrant workers was increasing in Hong Kong. Today, the figure of migrants has exponentially grown and so too has the number of clients being attended to by the Mission.

To migrant workers and all those concerned with their struggle, Easter Sunday 2012 on Chater Road was a celebration of progress and hope for things to come. For this year marks the 31st anniversary of the Mission For Migrant Worker's (MFMW) existence. And in the world of migrant rights group, that is a landmark achievement.

The banner behind the stage read, "Cultural Festival on Sex Discrimination Ordinance" because the Equal Opportunities Commission's sponsored project with MFMW. In her speech of the event, MFMW director Cynthia Tellez spoke on the importance of the Sexual Discrimination Ordinance (SDO). "99% of Mission clients are women", Cynthia said, and cases involving sexual abuse doubled last year. The Sex Discrimination Ordinance intends to protect all workers from sexual harassment and discrimination based on sex, marital status and pregnancy. Educating migrant workers for them to fight against sexual discrimination is enormously important and one of the main purposes of this year's anniversary.

Booths were set up on both sides of Chater Road offering counseling, food, and information about a number of migrant organizations in Hong Kong. Among them were the MOVERS or Mission Volunteers, the Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (ATKI), the association of Indonesian Migrant workers, GABRIELA, a progressive alliance of Filipino women's organizations, and the Equal Opportunities Commission who also helped sponsor the event.

On the main stage, there were a number of cultural performances interspersed with speeches about the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and congratulatory wishes for the MFMW. The Indonesian migrant group ATKI did a number of performances as well as the congratulatory International Dance Group, the Peacemaking Team of Kowloon Union Church, Association of Sri Lankans (ASL), and Junior Association of Migrants. Women from the Bethune House put on a short play (directed by MFMW volunteer Alexandra) about abuse domestic helpers face at the hands of their employees. The celebration ended with an amazing live band of Filipino performers singing pop songs from the past and present.

Migrant workers who attended the celebration had just praises for the MFMW. A woman named Abigail who just dropped by to observe spoke on how the Mission helped rescue her friend from an agency that was detaining her and demanding three months of her salary. An Indonesian woman, Martin spoke about how "lucky" migrant workers are to have the mission because nobody looks out for them. "I don't even know what we would do without the Mission." In Martin's case, the Mission helped her file a case for her to receive unpaid salaries and benefits. She is staying at the Bethune House until her case comes up in May which she commends as well. Dr. Winston Ching, the chaplain of the St. John's College of the University of Hong Kong stated in their message for the 31st year of the Mission, "It is a bittersweet celebration as it is an indication of the continuing need to provide advocacy, legal and social services to domestic workers in Hong Kong". And indeed, it is. For as long as there is infringement on migrant worker's rights, the Mission will continue to exist and be of genuine service to them.

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