By Vir B. Lumicao
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| Migrant workers can join Mission's online anniversary gala this Sunday, for only $30 |
The MFMW says it needs at least $200,000 a month to continue operating and maintain the level of assistance that it is extending to a growing number of clients.
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| PRESS FOR DETAILS |
The economic stagnation that stems from the prolonged coronavirus
crisis that began early last year is having an impact on possibly every
Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, general manager of the
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| PRESS FOR DETAILS |
Tellez said the number of workers who have sought help since
Covid-19 began has increased hugely. Last year alone, she said, around 2,000 stranded or displaced migrant workers sought help from
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| Tellez says the Mission helped some 2,000 migrant workers amid the pandemic |
They included workers who were summarily fired by employers;
those abandoned by bosses who had gone home to
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
“An additional 2,600 migrants sent inquiries through our center phones, emergency hotline number, and messages through email, website and social media accounts even after office hours,” MFMW said in an anniversary letter posted to supporters.
Tellez said on Apr 7 on “The SUN Interviews” online show that in the latter part of the Mission’s 40 years of service, an average of 1,000 migrant workers had sought their help. She reckoned that the number tabs on cases the NGO is currently handling are now in the 21,000 range.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Tellez said distressed workers approach the
“Those who our two shelters can’t accommodate we refer to
other shelters, or we send them to boarding houses that we rent for them,” said
the
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| Tellez with Erwiana, who was helped by the Mission to file cases vs her abusive employer |
“Sometimes we ask them if they need money for their expenses
and help them. We don’t say no to anyone,” said Tellez, who helped set up the
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There was another shelter at the time run by the Oblates of
Mary Immaculate, but it closed down after its house mother went to
As a young social worker in the
Three months after she submitted her report, she was asked
to move to
The displaced or stranded workers are apart from newly
arrived workers in mandatory 21-day hotel quarantine who appeal for food,
water, clothing and other basic needs they can’t obtain in isolation or couldn’t
afford to buy before flying to
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| Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong |
Tellez said its volunteers respond to SOS calls from those
in hotel quarantine, delivering packs of food and other stuff to them.
Sometimes, the
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| Mission staff assist workers left stranded when their flight to Manila was cancelled |
Tellez said Consul General Raly Tejada agreed to the idea
and a working committee that included the Consulate, the
Covid-19 has drastically increased the workload of the workers, such as ensuring higher household cleaning and hygiene requirements, as well as cooking for the family when dine-in was banned, and helping their wards in online learning at home.
As a result, more than 90% suffered from long working hours, with 7 out of 10 working 11 hours a day and 3 out of 10 working over 16 hours. Due to social restrictions, 1 out of 2 workers seeking help say they either don’t get regular rest days or work on that day, the MFMW said.
As the MFMW celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the organization said it would continue to help the workers fight for their basic rights, such as providing them decent accommodation, regular rest days, better treatment and to combat contract violations.
The NGO complements the struggle by educating and training volunteers via online seminars, who in turn extend the knowledge that they received to fellow workers, especially those who are in need.
Those who wish to donate directly may check this website:
Or you may use the Mission's QR Code here:
You may also transfer money to their TNG account:
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| BASAHIN ANG DETALYE |
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| PADALA NA! |
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