Taiwan: I want my day off!!

出自Taipedia

原文：FoolFitz

翻譯：nairobi

On International Human Rights Day, the dogfighting of dual-party politics still occupied the front pages in Taiwan's mass media. The politicians consume the term of "democracy" and "freedom" for own political odds, and they indeed have little respect to basic rights of underprivileged communities. GVO Taiwan would cover some important human right issues and firstly we bring you the story of biannual rally of migrant workers in Taiwan.

photo by RCAN

humblest appeal

Last 15 years, Southeast Asian migrant workers have become an important manpower in many Taiwan labour-intensive industries. These works may jeopardize their health, safety and even life, nevertheless, their rights are paid little attention because of double oppression as aliens and marginalized labour in Taiwan society.

photo by RCAN

Migrants Empowerment Network in Taiwan (MENT) initiated a rally of migrant workers to fight for their own right on December 9 ,the eve of International Human Rights Day. The rally drummed up migrants workers from Philippine, Thailand, Indonesia , Vietnam and some local NGOs. The route crossed the high street Taipei and participants shouted out their appeal for basic right-- I want my day off!, to bring the notice to passers-by. They ask Taiwanese to aware that there is still a group of people forced to work long hours and no break in this "modernized" society.

migrant worker's street performance, photo by bad mouth

There are 160000 migrant worker serve in domestic sector like nursing and caretaking. However, they are excluded from Labor Standards Act, a basic labour protection law in Taiwan and they don't have any right for holidays nor extra payment for overtime work. Chen Show-Lien and FoolFitz, the volunteers of TIWA, share some stories of two run-away migrant workers. They are exploited by their employers without any lawful shield. Miss Chen further disclosed the migrant workers' contribution to Taiwan underprivileged families :

因為被排除於勞基法的適用範圍，外籍家庭類勞工沒有任何法令的保護，來到台灣只能碰運氣，運氣好的遇到好僱主，運氣不好只能在惡劣的勞動條件中，為了生存而奮鬥。台灣人對這些來台工作的外勞，常常用：「她們都是來賺台灣的錢」帶過。這句話掩蓋了太多的東西，她們來台灣其實撐起了兩個家庭，一個是她們母國的原生家庭；一個是僱用她們的台灣家庭。如果不是她們願意以極低的薪資，負擔起全年無休的照顧工作，彌補了台灣社會福利漏洞，替台灣人照顧臥病在床、行動不便的家人，讓他們能出去工作養家，不知道有多少弱勢家庭會垮掉。在一次訪談中，一位聘請家庭看護工的僱主告訴我，如果不是有外勞幫她，她會帶著她的母親一起去自殺。

Without any protection, the migrant caretakers only rely on individual luckiness to work in Taiwan. Most Taiwanese just simply regard migrant worker as money seekers and little notice their struggle and inhumane working conditions. In fact , migrant caretakers have shoulder double burdens-- one is economic income for their home countries, and another is employers' families in Taiwan. They take care of people in needed , so other family members can generate income for a living. Once in a conversation, an employer told me from the bottom of her heart : She will kill her elderly mother and herself if they were not assisted by migrant caretaker.

New immigrants and gender/sexuality Rights NGO also support migrants workers. photo by vc2401

Taiwan authority nevertheless leave all home caring responsibilities of the elderly and handicapped to the families and migrant caretakers alone. MOI offers "Respite Care" to families which need some break from the long-term home care. But this respite service is not including families with migrant caretakers. Migrant workers thus unlikely have break and relax from work. MENT demands MOI to amend the regulation of home care and draws five suggestions:

• migrant workers in home-care industry should be protected by labour laws.
• abolish private agency for migrant employment, apply direct nation to nation contract
• migrant workers have right to transfer work freely
• cancel the limitation of working years
• respect their rights to organize union

photo by coolloud

Two employers on wheelchair joined the rally to show their support and appreciation to migrant workers. Together with their migrant employees, they sang a popular song as a family on the stage.

photo by RCAN

放影片 http://www.coolloud.org.tw/node/12915

Benla posted his thought:

坐在輪椅上的是兩位身體不方便的朋友，他們是雇主，但，支持移工們要有休假的權利。我不曉得有多少台灣的朋友會有同樣的想法，但，我相信許多僱主可能並不知道規範家庭看護工的法令並不合理，因為，僱主自己對勞動法令恐怕也是相當陌生。

我想告訴移工朋友：謝謝你們，要感謝的，並不是因為妳們幫忙分擔了台灣許許多多的家庭負擔，或者，成了台灣經濟奇蹟的另一群無名英雄，而是，你們讓我們看清了自己，看清了自己的傲慢與不足，因為你們，讓我們反省，讓我們成長。

感謝，我們還在學習，我們會更努力。

On wheelchair are two employeers, they came here to show their support. I am not sure how many Taiwanese would share the same views as theirs. I guess many employeers do not really be familiar with the labour regulations and have no idea how unreasonable the working conditions are indeed.

All I want to say is: Thank you, these nameless migrant heros and heroines. I thank your not for your sharing on home-caring burden nor your contribution to Taiwan's economic miracle. I thank you as a mirror to reflect our arrogance and insufficiency. You bring us the impluse for introspection and improvement.

Thank you, we will solidify together and work harder.

everybody cosigned on the long narrow strip, photo by RCAN and coolloud