Global forum in Manila to discuss impact of financial crisis on migrants
by CARMELA FONBUENA, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 10/14/2008 11:07 PM
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The second Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) that will be held in Manila on October 29-30 will facilitate discussion among world leaders on the impact of the US-led global financial crisis on migrants.
GFMD chairman Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak that he has instructed his team to incorporate in the various sessions of the forum discussions on the impact of financial crisis.
Among those expected to attend the forum are United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan, labor and migration officials from the various UN member-countries, and representatives of over 200 migration-related civil society groups.
“It’s almost providential that the Philippines became chair of the forum at a time of this global financial crisis. It is a good opportunity. This would be the first forum, right after the happening of the global financial crisis, wherein world leaders would be able to address the problem. It is perfect timing because our theme is protection. It falls directly under the theme. I want the forum to be relevant to what’s happening now,” Conejos said in an interview.
The second GFMD will revolve around the theme “Protecting and Empowering Migrants for Development.” It is a sequel to the first forum held in Brussels , Belgium in 2007, where discussions revolved around the economic benefits of migration.
Focus on person, not money
"In Manila , we will not focus on the money. We'll focus on the person itself…. We are going to shine the spotlight on the human face of migration," Conejos said.
Conejos’s team started preparing for the forum in April 2007. The global financial crisis broke out in mid-September.
“At the global forum, I’d like each of the session to also try to put in this concept: What is the safety net that they can provide for the workers? I want this mainstreamed in the discussions. What is the effect of this? What are we going to do? The forum has to be relevant to what’s happening now,” he added.
One possible assistance the destination countries may do to help is to give the Philippines time to absorb back Filipino migrants in our labor markers.
“Perhaps there might be a need to lay off people, but perhaps they should not just dump it with one go. We would be hard up to absorb the capacity. It could be a gradual, orderly retirement of some of our workers," he said.
Assurances needed
The call to include the impact of the global financial crisis was also made by Blas F. Ople (BFO) Policy Center head Susan Ople.
“As host of the 2008 GFMD, the Philippines is in a position to infuse the discussions about migration with pressing global financial realities that threaten workers around the world,” she said.
Ople said assurances are needed from destination countries that they will respect work contracts and that migrant workers will be shielded from exploitation and abuse as foreign employers feel the pinch of a looming world financial meltdown.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) earlier estimated that at least 50,000 Filipino migrant workers may be affected by the financial crisis.
The BFO Policy Center and Training Institute is part of the Philippine delegation composed of 30 non-government organizations that will take part in the civil society days of the GFMD.
Represenatives of two hundred other civil society groups from other countries are also expected to attend the GFMD. —With a report from Maria Aleta Nieva
