Migrant labor and human rights

Managing international labor migration in an increasingly global society has emerged as a paramount challenge of the 21st century. As migration flows continue to grow worldwide, Asia has become a key region that is both the source of as well as the home to the largest number of international migrants in the world according to UN statistics. However, in spite of the growing need for coordination among sending and receiving countries, the international conversation, particularly among civil society stakeholders, has not been sufficient. In light of these emerging trends, the Asia Social Integration Department at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) launched a new initiative to encourage networking between ASEAN countries and Japan to promote a more holistic discussion of migration issues and bring the voices of migrant workers, advocates, and academics to an international audience.

As part of this effort, SPF invited three migration and human rights experts from countries that send a large number of migrant workers to Japan – Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam – to meet with advocates, academics, and other stakeholders in Japan. The three participants were Mr. Daniel Awigra, program manager for ASEAN Advocacy with the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) in Indonesia; Ms. Cecile Pauline Sanglap Montenegro, president of Batis-AWARE (Association of Women in Action for Rights and Empowerment) in the Philippines; and Mr. Vu Ngoc Binh, senior advisor at the Institute for Population, Family and Children Studies (IPFCS) in Vietnam. Over the course of a week from the end of November to early December, the three participants attended a series of workshops and field visits in Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama, and Tokyo.

When discussing the inspiration behind this new initiative, Fumiko Okamoto, director and senior program officer for the Asia Social Integration Department at SPF, explained that her group was impressed with the advocacy work in ASEAN, but noticed a lack of coordination with Japanese NGOs working on similar issues. "If civil society in both sending countries and receiving countries understand the issues, we can collaborate with each other to improve the situation," said Ms. Okamoto, noting that SPF as a private foundation has the ability to connect these actors. Mariko Hayashi, program officer for the Asia Social Integration Department, also observed that often non-government actors in sending countries and receiving countries tend to focus only on their direct concerns without grasping the bigger picture. These countries "need to know what's happening before migrants come here, what happens to the families and communities left behind, and what happens after they go back" said Ms. Hayashi. "Migration is really continuous, so that's why we think there should be more of a network between the sending countries and receiving countries." With this visit as a first step, the program is poised to welcome participants from a variety of countries and possibly bring Japanese civil society stakeholders to ASEAN countries to deepen regional networks moving forward.

Throughout their time in Japan, the three participants attended meetings with various representatives from NGOs, universities, and other civil society actors. During these field visits, the participants had the opportunity to network with local groups while also getting a first-hand look at how organizations within Japanese society have supported multi-cultural integration at the local level.

In Osaka, the participants visited organizations including Hurights, a group established to promote human rights initiatives, and the Association for Toyonaka Multicultural Symbiosis (ATOMS), a group that supports migrant populations as part of a larger effort to increase internationalization at the local level. In Yokohama, the participants visited Icho Danchi, a public housing complex that is home to a large population of non-Japanese residents. There, they also met with the organizers of the so-called "multicultural studio," a support group that welcomes local foreign youth within the Icho Danchi complex. Following the visit to the multicultural studio, Awigra pointed out that the organizers are aiming "to educate society so that the burden doesn't all have to be on the migrant worker. The migrant worker has to prepare, to work, to leave their family, to learn their new culture, language, and legal system. But the society that is receiving them also has to learn how to accept diversity."

More generally, Awigra was also impressed by the level of advocacy and support provided by non-governmental organizations in Japan, saying that these projects are "basically done by the civil society in Japan. They have really done a very good job mainly to help newcomers and foreigners to come to Japan, giving them orientations about the Japanese language and culture, and supporting the women and children of migrant workers." Cecille also remarked that these field visits deepened her understanding of issues that could be used in her advocacy work in the Philippines. "I have so much to share back in the Philippines especially about the migrant issues, women, and JFC, or Japanese Filipino Children," said Cecille.

While in Tokyo, the three participants attended a panel workshop at SPF featuring representatives from the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan (SMJ). This Japanese advocacy group aims to publicize migration issues, increase the networking capacity of civil society in Japan, and offer policy recommendations to the Japanese government.

Several representatives from SMJ gave presentations covering the current state of migration policy in Japan and the history of the organization's advocacy efforts. "Even now, the Japanese government has not yet recognized an immigration policy, and for 30 years there hasn't been any change or movement in policy development," said Makiko Ando, Deputy Secretary-General of SMJ. She also noted that approximately 2.6 million non-Japanese citizens already live in Japan and some participate in the workforce without adequate support from the government.

As the three program participants travelled in Japan, the Japanese Diet was also engaged in a contentious debate over whether to ease visa restrictions in certain industries to allow more than 300,000 additional foreign workers into Japan over the next five years to fill gaps in the labor force, particularly in low-skilled industries. In response to the policy debate, Awigra asserted that the Japanese government should create a comprehensive evaluation system for existing practices and work toward non-discriminatory and non-exploitative policies.

"If Japan's government really wants to maintain its development or maintain sustainability as a developed country it has to change the treatment to those who are working and who develop society. It will divine the image of Japanese migration policy in the future," said Awigra. He also commented that labor-sending countries, including Indonesia, must improve employment conditions domestically so that workers will not be forced to seek opportunities abroad.

Cecille's response to the immigration debate was tied to her continuing connection with Japan's labor system through her husband, who currently works as a software engineer in Kobe. "He doesn't have the same issues as the intern workers, but his salary is still not the same as Japanese workers, so there's still discrimination," said Cecille. "I hope the government will create a law that will help not only the business sector and the country, but also help these workers," said Cecille, emphasizing that people should be given the freedom to decide when and how to return to their country of origin.

Binh approached the issue from the perspective of Vietnam as a country that sends workers overseas and must address its own policies. "Vietnamese migrant workers when they travel abroad could not bring their children or families with them, which is unfair," said Binh, noting that Japan's laws permit certain high-skilled workers to bring family members to the country. "I will discuss this with my colleagues in the ministry, to discuss this further so that the families of migrant workers can go with them to work outside of the country," said Binh.

As the trip came to a close, the participants reflected on the ways that the experience would inform their work moving forward. Awigra took a holistic view, noting the interconnected nature of sending and receiving countries. "I think this program gave me more understanding that there is no single country that can live by themselves. They have to be in collaboration with others and treat others equally with their own citizens," said Awigra. "Hopefully this visit can open up a space and network among civil society, non-civil society, and also connect those of us coming from sending countries with the civil society and those who are working in Japan."

Awigra also remarked that SPF, as a private foundation, has the flexibility to pursue initiatives beyond the scope of current government actions and supplement the capacity of civil society to build connections among stakeholders. "The Sasakawa Peace Foundation is an independent organization that can mingle with the parliament, NGOs, government officials, and I think it's something that civil society doesn't have enough capacity to do," said Awigra.

On the other hand, Binh initially expressed surprise that SPF is involved in human rights education and promotion. However, at the conclusion of the trip he appreciated the merit of these dialogues, saying that SPF could have "more of a role in exchanges between ASEAN countries and Japan, and also assist with better understanding and better promotion from the Japanese side." In the future, Binh expressed his interest in continuing to network with colleagues in ASEAN countries as well as with NGOs and other stakeholders in Vietnam. In particular, he discussed his plan to share the information gathered during the trip with his connections in the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), which is expected to conduct discussions on revising labor migration policies. "This information will be very relevant to the people who are in charge of labor migration, especially the Japan program," said Binh.

When looking back on the trip, Cecille stressed the value of learning more about the use of foreign students as migrant workers as well as the current conditions of migrant women and children in Japan to expand the advocacy work of Batis AWARE. "Although my organization is already doing so much awareness and action on the issues of women and children, I think BATIS should level-up also, not only to focus on the issues but also to help the other migrant workers who are coming here recently in Japan," said Cecille. She also pointed to the importance of exchange trips to bring people together to discuss policy and governance strategies, particularly those targeting minority communities.

Cecille concluded by reflecting on the opportunity to work with a diverse panel of experts from countries around Asia. "I'm so grateful for my group right now. Of all the people who are doing so many things to change the world, it is the three of us who are here now at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation," said Cecille. "Sometimes if you're a volunteer you get tired. But you can't stop if you're doing this because this is for the good of the people, so we need to push further."

Related Link:
Article about Cecille written by Awigra after their joint visit to Japan:
https://magdalene.co/news-2009-asian-women-migrant-workers-offers-food-to-cure-homesickness-in-kobe-restaurant.html