respect the rights of migrant workers

In the last few weeks, we witnessed the bravery and determination of millions of migrant workers in the United States. In an unprecedented move, migrant workers and human rights advocates joined hands and marched in cities across America to oppose H.R. 4437, the immigration bill passed in the US House of Representatives in December 2005.

Last night, I was watching Fox News Channel (the most biased news organization ever!) and again tens of thousands of migrant workers marched in 26 cities all over the US to protest HR 4437. They walked out from work and schools. They were also able to paralyze businesses across America. Most of the protestors are Hispanics i.e., Mexicans, Guatemalan, El Salvadoran, etc. More than 60% of the 11 million undocumented workers in the US are Mexicans.

Meanwhile, in another part of the world the government of South Korea continues its crackdown against undocumented migrant workers resulting in one more death; this time of a young Indonesian worker. Two years ago, Malaysia's program to deport 'illegal workers' resulted in countless human rights violations such as the abuse of women migrant workers as well as illegal detention in squalid conditions.

Indeed, Labor Day 2006 arrives with a new hope and new threats to the millions of migrant workers worldwide. On one hand, there is a new found strength amidst difficult conditions; while on the other hand, there exist daunting challenges that continue to bring misery to the migrant workers and their families.

I salute the workers in America and support their call for a fair and just immigration reform. The American authorities should respect the rights of the migrant workers and recognize their contributions to its economy and society. America will not be as powerful as it is today if not for the millions of migrants who toiled in its farms and factories.

I also commend the 25 million migrant workers across Asia for their courage and steadfastness despite the appalling and terrible conditions they are living in. In exchange for a better future for their families, they endure hardships and abuses inflicted on them. It is now time that we provide migrant workers with the legal protection accorded other regular workers. As the UN High Commission for Human Rights said: "The right of the migrant workers which require protection include the whole gamut of human rights including civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights in particular and their rights as workers, right as women as a specific group (reproductive rights and right to be free from gender-based discrimination and violence)."

Governments around the world must cease from mounting crackdowns and arbitrary expulsion. Articles 22 and 56 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families address the issue of expulsion and arbitrary expulsion. Paragraph 1 of article 22 expressly prohibits measures of collective expulsion. An expulsion decision must be taken by the competent authority in accordance with law (art. 22, para. 2) and only for reasons defined in the national legislation of the State of employment (art. 56, para. 1). Paragraph 4 of article 22 requires that, except where a final decision has been pronounced by a judicial authority, "the person concerned shall have the right to submit the reason he or she should not be expelled and to have his or her case reviewed by the competent authority, unless compelling reasons of national security required otherwise".

For migrant workers all over, life is a constant struggle. Today, migrant workers may be in bondage but the time will come when they will escape from the clutches of repression and exploitation.