The Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (MFMW) is a migrant-serving institution established in Hong Kong on 3 March 1981. It is an ecumenical institution assisting migrant workers who are in distress. Concomitantly, the Mission works and supports efforts for the recognition and respect for the rights and well-being of migrant workers and articulates this within the larger community.

The Mission is the product of a concerted church commitment and response to the growing problems of Filipino migrants, predominantly domestic helpers in Hong Kong. The Mission was established through the coordination of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and some formations in Hong Kong then, namely, the Resource Centre for Philippine Concerns, the Holy Carpenter Church (Anglican) and an Ad Hoc Committee of religious and lay persons from the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Hong Kong.

It focuses its efforts on Crisis Intervention And Prevention Through Migrant Empowerment (CIPME).

The Mission understands the phenomenon of the "migrant in crisis" not only by the rise of human rights violations, physical and sexual abuse, and unfair labor laws and practices but also by the sheer vulnerability and potential distress that comes with the very nature of being a migrant worker. Once migrant workers are forced to leave their families because of unemployment and poverty, they are already in a state of need. Once they are employed in 3D - "dirty, difficult and dangerous" - jobs, the potential for crisis situations is ever present. And with the apparent neglect of governments of sending countries and the insensitivity of host governments, the "constant state of crisis" of the migrant becomes magnified.

Crisis intervention addresses the immediate and urgent needs of the "migrant in crisis". It arises from the Christian spirit of love, charity, mercy and hope like that of the Good Samaritan of old. But beyond direct assistance to the needy, the Mission is committed to strategically lessen the vulnerability of the migrant worker. Thus, crisis prevention is also an imperative.

In the work of crisis management, the Mission believes in the centrality of migrant empowerment. We are committed to "help migrant workers to help themselves". We are convinced of the strength, vibrancy and capability of the migrant workers and their movement. Through their own awareness-raising, organizational building and positive action, emergencies would be addressed, crisis situations would be abated and abuses checked. In this, our support to them is unconditional.

Thus our services are migrant-centered and empowerment oriented.

Through CIPME programs, the Mission hopes to fulfill its mission and vision:

"We dream of a society where families are not torn apart by the need to survive. We dream of, and will actively work for, a homeland where all can live decently and with dignity.

Programs and Services

The Mission, through its active interaction and contact with the Filipino migrant community in Hong Kong has developed and defined its work.

Pastoral, Social Welfare and Legal Assistance (PSWLA) - DIRECT ASSISTANCE

• Counseling and Legal assistance

Emergency Assistance

Refuge for displaced and distressed women migrants

Pastoral Care

Hospital and Prison Visitation

Through PSWLA, the mission aims to alleviate the sufferings of the victimized migrants and to help reduce the incidence of problems facing the migrant workers.

Education, Training, Organizing Support Programs and Campaigns (ETOC) -

Movement Building, Consciousness Raising And Solidarity

Know Your Rights" Seminars for the Newly-arrived migrant workers

Advance Para-legal training for organizations

Organizing Support and Networking

Organizational Management Training Seminars

Women’s Encounter Program

Campaigns and Advocacy

Support Programs for Migrants of Other Nationalities

Volunteer Training Program

Through its education, training and organizing support programs, the Mission aims:

to put the problems confronting migrant workers in their proper perspectives, helping the migrant worker to cope, understand and be part of the larger reality confronting migration;

to increase the awareness of Filipino overseas workers of their situation, their rights and responsibilities, and their options for improving their living and working conditions;

to increase the number, effectiveness and growth of self propelling organizations of Filipinos that would truly represent migrant workers rights and interests.

Documentation, Research and Information Dissemination (DRID) - Advocacy

• Monthly "Migrant Focus" newsletter

Quarterly magazine

Research and Databank

Web-page

Advocacy

The Mission is able to gather relevant info on trends and conditions for its awareness building work and for action planning; events, activities and decisions for effective program implementation and management. With these various activities, the mission is able to accomplish its aim of increasing the quantity and quality of data and relevant information related to overseas Filipinos, and the subsequent publication, popularization and dissemination of timely information.

Special Projects

In solidarity with the disadvantaged sectors of Philippine society, the MFMW has been joining hands with the Filipino community in Hong Kong, local groups and organizations in launching fund-raising campaigns to benefit civic projects and worthy causes in the Philippines. As important as the material and financial assistance generated in such campaigns is the educational component aimed at keeping migrant workers abreast of developments at home.

Administration

Rules, polices, and standard operating procedures are determined and approved by the Mission Board. The Mission Staff implement them.

The Mission Board meets every quarter of the year and is composed of representatives from different churches, Filipino organizations and groups.

The staff meets every Friday to identify immediate problem situations, update of developments, monitoring and case supervision.

Each of the fulltime staff "carries three hats" as head of one programme and lending support to other different Mission programmes. Part-time staffs are given definite tasks in the fulfillment of the planned duties and responsibilities. Roles are defined especially for the regular and the not-so-regular volunteers who come to assist the full-time staff especially in attendance to individuals coming for assistance.

Finances

Funds are raised from foreign and local donors as well as from the Filipino community. Annual fund-raising campaigns are held to augment the limited funds the Mission is able to raise annually. Funds received are tax deductible. Official receipts are issued for this purpose.

The Mission has assisted the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK), the first ever alliance of migrant workers organizations in Hong Kong, since its establishment in 1985.

The Mission was instrumental in setting up Bethune House, a temporary shelter that can accommodate displaced Filipino and non-Filipino migrant workers.

As well, it was instrumental in setting-up the Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrant Filipinos (APMMF), another migrant-serving institution that focuses its work on Filipino migrant workers in the Middle East, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Mission also works closely with migrants of other nationalities (Indonesian, Thai, Nepali, Sri Lankan, Indian) through the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) in Hongkong. It extends services to them and encourages interns in order for them to have a practical knowledge of the Mission’s work including organizing.