Statement
Ugnayan ng Manggagawang Migrante
Tungo sa Pag-unlad (UMANGAT)
07/03/2014
Reference Wennie Flores +39 3291757805
Hundred years past when thousands of working women marched the
streets in New York, following the tragic death of women workers in a garment
factory that was burned down…little has been changed, women continue to march
and call for genuine women liberation particularly in Philippines.
The worsening socio-economic condition of the Filipino people,
aggravated by high cost of living, low wages, scarcity of basic social services
and concrete programs on housing, health, education, unregulated price increase
of oil and basic commodities school tuition fees hike, the recent unjustifiable
increase of Meralco bill …women and children suffered most.
Recently, Carina Apparel was closed and caused to illegal layoff
of 3,600 worker mostly women. The privatization of public utilities and
services like hospitalization is a concrete move on government anti-people and
anti-women and pro-capitalists. The privatization of Fabella Center deprived
the less privileges pregnant women to avail free medical care, hence unborn babies
health are at risk.
This situation forced the broadest number of women to live home,
to migrate and seek a better source of living regardless of the hardships and
hazardous jobs abroad.
Perhaps for many, migration is the realization of their dream
life, but unfortunately, it is a false hope for a great number of women. Some
were even subjected to humiliation, cruelty and worse even rape.
Against a women’s will, to be separated from love ones and
families, many of them, courageously bear the loneliness, long hours of work
and at times physical pains and illnesses just to send money home.
It is Indeed painful to women who are forced to babysit and rear
other children abroad rather than their own. Much more, we take good care the
olds in foreign lands for a living, and yet we cannot even offer our arms and
shoulders to lean on by getting older or ailing parents who gave their life to
us.
It is a great crime being deprived of our very own children and
families because our government cannot guarantee a better living for his
people.
It is condemnable for a government that unsatisfied with his
people being exported daily, still uses overseas worker and migrant women as
milking cows by unjustifiable and exuberant fees and regulations.
As long as greedy foreign capitalists, landlords and political
dynasties dominates the government ruling as the root of poverty, the poor will
become more poorer, and the women and children will remain as marginalized and
exploited. Let us rise, unite and raise up our voice…..enough
exploitation….end violence and discrimination!
Long live Women of March 8!
Forward women to victory and genuine liberation!
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