Labor groups hit GFMD for being 'non-binding'
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/20/2008 11:00 PM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
Major labor formations in the Philippines on Monday launched the Solidarity Action of Labor against GFMD (Global Forum on Migration and Development) or SALAG to respond to issues on migration and development.
“We envision SALAG to be the voice of Filipino workers—whether they are here in the country or working abroad. It is a platform that will strive to protect and defend the rights of our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers)—their right to decent work and pay; their right to organize into unions and associations; and their right to bargain and negotiate for better working conditions and pay,” SALAG said in a statement.
SALAG includes the Labor Alliance for Better Order and Reform (LABOR), the different government employee unions affiliated with the Public Services International, and the Solidarity of Union and Labor Organization for New Government (SULONG).
“Further, we envision SALAG to be a platform that will resist any attempts to curtail these rights in a bid to promote a development paradigm solely motivated by profit or so-called remittances. Consequently, SALAG is a direct action of labor against the biggest fraud by governments against migrant workers rights that is the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD),” said the group.
The GFMD is a consultative, non-binding and government-led process which will be attended by representatives from around 150 countries. It has become the venue to discuss issues related to migration and development.
The first GFMD took place in Brussels, Belgium in 2007. This year, the Philippines is host to the 2nd GFMD on October 27-30.
The group questioned the existence of the GFMD process, saying what governments can do is to implement the already existing ILO (International Labor Organization) and UN (United Nations) Conventions on human rights and workers rights.
'GFMD is non-binding'
“Its very nature—being a non-binding and voluntary process among governments—also makes it an improper venue to discuss migration and development issues as there are no mechanism in which to ensure that programs and policies are tied to a rights-based framework,” SALAG said.
SALAG believes that the GFMD is “merely a forum to advance the export of labor” meant to legitimize a remittance-driven development strategy instead of creating decent jobs in the country.
“The current financial meltdown gripping countries worldwide and its impact to workers proves how labor export policy can never be a sustainable development strategy,” said SALAG.
“And it highlights how our OFWs are at the mercy of any 'mood swing' in world markets. They will bear the brunt of the financial meltdown, and the first casualty will be the thousands of undocumented workers, for they are the easiest sector to dispel in the eyes of destination countries. Next in line are our domestic workers, construction workers, caregivers, teachers, nurses etc,” they said.
