Migrant workers’ organization holds dance for a cause

Migrant workers’ organization holds dance for a cause

TORONTO –The Filipino Migrant Workers’ Movement (FMWM) is holding a fundraising dance on September 26, 2009 at the Holy Rosary Parish Gymnasium on 354 St. Clair Ave. West to support the activities and programs of the Crispin B. Beltran Resource Center (CBBRC).

The Crispin B. Beltran Resource Center (CBBRC) was founded to perpetuate the legacy of Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran – a trade union fighter, a mass leader and an activist parliamentarian. His fight for social justice and equity, his deep commitment to genuine public service and accountability in governance, and his warm internationalist spirit inspired people from all walks of life to contribute their share in efforts to achieve basic social change and a genuine and lasting peace for all.

The last nine years – facts and figures on the Filipino workers

From 2001-2008, the average unemployment rate in the Philippines was 11.2%. With the increase in the number of unemployed and underemployed totalling 2.5 million in the first quarter of this year alone, the current number of unemployed and underemployed shot up to 10.8 million.

Even as 1.5 million new jobs were created in 2008, 1.3 million of these were part time, poorly earning, and contractual jobs. Jobs created under the “self-employed” category totalled 803,000.

The current administration boasts of generating 1.6 million jobs every year. According to the National Statistics Office, however, the actual number generated from 2004-05 was 700 thousand; from 2005-06, it was 648 thousand; and from 2006-07, it was 599 thousand. Still the 146,000 jobs created this year alone earn below minimum wage. Consider the following:

• NCR minimum wage, 2001: P252; NCR daily cost of living, 2001: P509; Disparity: P257

• Current NCR minimum wage: P382; Current NCR daily cost of living: P922; Disparity: P540

• Average price of diesel per litre, 2001: P13; Current average price of diesel, 2008: P44

• Average price of regular milled rice per kilo, 2000: P17; Current average price of regular milled rice: P30.

What is worse is the continuing spate of killings perpetrated on those who work for fundamental change to the current socio-economic and political arrangement. Since 2001, 91 leaders of workers’ organizations have been killed. The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights has documented cases of trade union and human rights violations involving 68,289 individuals.

Long live the legacy of Ka Bel!

It is against this backdrop that the CBBRC was established. It rightly honours the memory of a true people’s leader and working class hero while serving to promote, uphold and defend the workers’ rights and welfare in a time of global economic and political crises. Its programs include labour rights education, legal defense, various forms of civic action and social services, livelihood projects and skills training, and international solidarity.

True to the principles that Ka Bel lived by, the FMWM builds solidarity and draws support for the struggle of the working people and all other kababayans in the Philippines, as well as Filipino migrants in Canada and in other parts of the world.

Support the fundraiser

Dubbed as Say Mo Bayan Ko… You Think We Can’t Dance, this dance for a cause is open to all people of all ages. For information how to purchase tickets, please call Cathy Carpio at 416-418-4503.
Or email FMWM at fmw.movement@yahoo.ca.

(PRESS RELEASE)