Rally to stop deportation of caregivers set Jan. 13

Rally to stop deportation of caregivers set Jan. 13

A national mobilization led by SIKLAB-Ontario will held on Friday, Jan. 13, 2006. Together with other Filipino community organizations across the country, we will rally to demand from Citizenship and Immigration Canada a moratorium on the deportation of live-in caregivers under the federal government’s Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP). SIKLAB members and supporters will be demonstrating between 4:00-5:00 pm in front of CIC Minister Joe Volpe’s campaign office on 1500 Avenue Road to speak out on the LCP that puts caregivers in a precarious situation. Speakers include representatives of SIKLAB, the Philippine Women Centre and other organizations from the Filipino community, as well as from the Canadian churches and other advocate organizations for migrants’ rights and welfare.

For more than 20 years, Canada has recruited foreign domestic workers to work here under what is now known as the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP). Instead of implementing a comprehensive national daycare program accessible to all Canadian women and their families, Canada chooses to recruit these women – 93% of whom are from the Philippines – to do domestic childcare and home-support work in a private residence. It is estimated that 90,000 Filipino women came to Canada through the LCP.

Despite their significant contributions to the Canadian economy, there are those who have been subjected to arbitrary and unjust deportations for failing to complete the 24 months of required live-in work within a three-year period under the LCP. After not being able to complete the 24 months, domestic workers may receive a departure/deportation order from the CIC even without any hearing or investigation into what really transpired and without looking into its possible circumstances. Many are hopelessly unable to pursue legal remedies to challenge their deportation ordeal as they face economic hurdles to accessing the justice system. Instead, many choose to voluntarily return to their country of origin, sometimes bringing with them their Canadian-born children.

There are a variety of valid and legitimate reasons why the 24 months of live-in work may not be completed. Some are not able to work due to pregnancy or illness; others are dismissed from their jobs because of the passing away of the elderly person in their care; or the financial circumstances of their employers may change at the middle of the employment contract.

Moreover, many domestic workers experience long delays in the processing of their working permits and other required papers, while others have difficulty in finding new job. While working under the LCP, domestic workers are offered little or no protection by the Canadian or Philippine government from abusive employers or unscrupulous employment agencies. Those who are unable to complete their 24-month live-in work experience the inevitable reality of constant fear and anxiety about their situation in Canada knowing that they may, sooner or later, face deportation.

It is time we put an end to this unfair and unjust treatment of migrant Filipino women here in Canada. As members of the most qualified yet lowest-paid community serving the Canadian society, we want to see specific and concrete action on our demand even as politicians churn out their promises during this election season.

We encourage all our allies and supporters to take the time to participate and join us in our struggle, and speak out against the maltreatment and exploitation suffered by Filipino women under the LCP.
Media coverage is requested. For further information, please contact us at 416-878-8772 or e-mail us at siklab_ontario@yahoo.ca.

(PRESS RELEASE)