Mommy Mely (left), an OFW in Hong Kong since the late 70’s, continues to actively participate in the various campaigns of OFWs. Here, she waves high the flag of GABRIELA.

While celebrating the Chinese New Year, about 200 members of GABRIELA Women’s Party – Hong Kong Chapter hold a snake rally around Central where many OFWs converge every Sunday.

Rema Cunanan (left), chairperson of the United Pangasinan in HK and vice chairperson of GWP-HK speaks on the burning issue of the POEA guidelines.

The rally signals the start of GABRIELA’s campaign among OFWs and their families for the coming elections.

Dirty tricks to diqualify Gabriela, Bayan Muna and Anakpawis partylists

► Scheme to disqualify Gabriela: Liza Maza's memo to Comelec

► Maza calls on COMELEC to remain non partisan in the wake of Malacanang’s bid to disqualify Gabriela

► Batasan 5 marks anniversary at Comelec with initial victory vs. disqualification case

► Bayan Muna answer to Bayudang

► Bayan Muna answer to Felipe

► Arroyo's fraud and violence to mar 2007 elections

► PCPR: Church group calls for probe on US’ hand on issue of political killings; dares US government: Stop US support for Philippine military

► PCPR: A Lenten Reflection and Call to Action

► Bayan Muna rejects Kenney's "crocodile tears"; Washington asked to stop military aid to Manila

GABRIELA Women’s Party dominated the stretch of Chater raod in Central last Feb 25 as GWP-HK chapter and allied organizations intensified the campaign against the new POEA guidelines as well encouraged as OFWs to vote in the coming elections.

<< Post-Valentine Program of Binalonan (Pangasinan) Migrant Workers Organization

Information campaign

on the Permanent People’s Tribunal Second Session on the Philippines (PPT2)

Feb. 25, 2007

The “Stop the Killings” photo exhibit draws the attention even of non-Filipinos who took interest on the issue of intensifying human rights violations in the Philippines.

Debby Chan of the HK Christian Council assists in informing local Chinese people of the PPT2 and the human rights situation in the Philippines. Debby was a member of the HK Fact-Finding Mission organized by HKCAHRPP and the STK campaign network that visited the Philippines in July 2006.

The continuing fight against the new POEA guidelines

Press Release
01 March 2007

For reference: Cynthia Tellez, Chairperson
Tel. No.: 97409406

Fees for training and assessment, _added cross to OFWs_
Full implementation of guidelines meet more protests from HK OFWs

_The new round of fees that the POEA guidelines entail is but another cross that Filipino migrant workers are forced to carry._

This is the declaration of Cynthia Tellez, chairperson of the Hong Kong chapter of GABRIELA Women_s Partylist, as around 30 Filipino domestic helpers stage a picket protest today at the Philippine Consulate General to mark the implementation of the new POEA guidelines on the deployment of domestic workers.

The action coincides with the global protests being led by GABRIELA and MIGRANTE in the Philippines today.

_When it comes to collection, the Philippine government will move heaven and earth regardless of how much it burdens overseas Filipino workers,_ she adds.

About one month after protests heat up in Hong Kong , Philippines and other countries with large numbers of Filipino domestic workers, the POEA and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) have refused to answer the challenge of migrant organizations for the government to come up with services and protection schemes that do not have fees for OFWs.

_Instead, what we get is a pile of cover ups and media barrage of POEA Administrator Baldoz and DoLE Secretary Brion that try to divert the issue from its real essence of added charges to OFWs,_ Tellez remarks.

With the implementation of the guidelines now full blast, Tellez predicts of a flood of OFWs who will be paying more than what they are already shelling out to get employed abroad.

_The cash register of the government and unscrupulous private agencies will surely go in overdrive as more and more OFWs get victimized by this scheme that is a mockery of services and protection,_ she says.

According to her, the refusal of the government to back down on the guidelines and lay down free protection programs for OFWs, shall galvanize more migrant workers and their families into action.

_The real face of the government that is solely interested in how much money it can squeeze out of the OFWs gets exposed in every migrant worker that is victimized by the new guidelines. Indignation and protests are bound to intensify under such a situation,_ Tellez declares.

With the elections also coming, GABRIELA says that the POEA guidelines shall be one of the concrete agenda of OFWs.

_Any candidate that will support this unjust proposal shall earn the ire of migrant workers and can consider his or her political career in serious peril,_ she warns.

On March 4, GABRIELA is set to lead, together with the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE- HK), a march of Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong as part of the International Day of Action against the POEA guidelines as well as the commemoration of the International Working Women_s Day.

_The government is badly mistaken if it thinks that protests will die down as this day commences. On the contrary, they should expect more intense actions as more OFWs experience the burden of this unjust policy,_ Tellez concludes.#

► Protest actions of OFWs open Women’s Month

► Fees for training and assessment - added cross to OFWs