THE GENERAL SECRETARY & HEAD OF EDUCATION IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIGRANT LABOUR GENERAL WORKERS’ UNION INTERNATIONAL (MLGWUI)
ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS’ DAY
In line with the United Nations’ Conventions on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Global Compact on Migration for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, ECOWAS and other Regional Economic Communities’ Treaties/Protocols, Freedom of Association among other instruments, Labour Act of Ghana and the National Migration Policy of Ghana, the Migrant Labour General Workers’ Union International (MLGWUI) with her education department Finnish-French Migrant Resource Centre deems it necessary to send her Global Greetings to all Migrant Workers, Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Members of their Families as well as Diasporans and diplomatic missions in both Ghana and abroad.
The Theme of 2021 International Migrants’ Day is “Harnessing Potential of Human Mobility”
MLGWUI is humbly repeating her appeal to the UN and ILO to try to hold the 2022 International Migrants Day in Ghana.
Shall we remain A Minute Silence wherever we are in memory of beloved Migrant Workers and Members of their Families who lost their lives by Corona Virus and/on natural death during their 2021 labour migration and regional integration.
Dear Comrade Migrant Workers, “Dignified Life for Migrant Workers” signified today and the hope is found itself with our perseverance. As we are all aware, the significance of the 18TH DECEMBER as a Day declared by the UN for Migrant Workers and Members of their Families to observe it with organised activities; lighting Candles in paying tributes to suffered, suffering and death of dear ones who lost their live, and express their concerns in their current situation in labour migration and regional integration in cities and communities during the commemoration day.
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and the International Labour Organisation which highlights the significance of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families Migrant Workers’ Convention specifically guarantees the right of the Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.
In commemoration of the 2021 International Migrants’ Day, Migrant Labour General Workers’ Union International uses the occasion to campaign and encourage all Stakeholders; states parties, trade union organisations, employers’ organisations, civil society organisations and migrant workers and members of their families to take part of this year global initiative.
Dear Comrades/Friends and public, there were around 281 million international migrants in 2020, according to the World Migration Report 2022 released by International Organisation for Migration. Available data reflect an overall increase in remittances in recent decades, from $702 billion in 2020. Despite predictions of a large decline in international remittances due to COVID-19, 2020 saw only a slight drop (2.4%) from the 2019 global total.
So this data show the importance of Migrant Workers in international labour migration, economy and development.
It is surprise to note that (Im)migrant (Workers) contribute immensely to public finance in fiscal contribution. So government spends less per capita on Immigrants than on native-born individuals.
Occupational Safety and Health is Migrant Workers’ priority at work. I therefore advice all Migrant Workers to avoid what one subscribes as 996 working hour system which refers to working from 9:00 am to 9:00 p.m. six days a week which has become a common practice adopted by financial companies etc. Extended working hours undoubtedly cut the time for personal life, which affects people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. Human development is the premise of social development.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has made devastating impact on Migrant Workers specially precarious or casual low wage sector. Dear Migrant Workers, taking back what is ours is now; I believe global labour shortage and poor treatment of Migrant Workers exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic should be a Wake Up Call for African leaders and employers to treat Migrant Workers fairly as essential workers with dignity.
I thank International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for her continuous evacuation support of Migrant Workers in terms of disastrous situation and undocumentary related issues especially her latest assistance of 164 Migrant deportees to Ghana this month December 2021. I also extend the same gratitude to the IOM Ghana Ambassador, song artist Kofi Kinaata for his welcoming solidarity support for them at Kotoka International Airport in Accra on their arrival.
Please, note that after Migrants’ skills acquisition and/or their employment, the best labour practice; fundamental principles of work, job security and decent employment for Migrant Workers are their freedom and rights to join a labour/trade union organisation for their employment security in order to reduce precarious job challenges and labour abuses. On defence of Migrant Workers’ labour rights, MLGWUI seeks to ensure that they are all have rights for equal pay/wage for equal work and avoid discrimination or racism between citizens and foreign nationals.
The formation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a sign of creating job opportunities in labour market for African Migrant Workers to seek employment within/among their member countries without fear or favour. Therefore it is the obligation of AfCFTA and labour organisations like MLGWUI to ensure that labour migration and regional integration is well harnessed with potential human mobility by opened borders/frontiers to have peaceful and harmonious relationship between Member States and Border Security in collaboration with labour organisations to reduce unethical recruitment and irregular labour migration outside the continent.
Organising and educating Migrant Workers into trade unionism is very important globally considered not only for Human and Labour Rights issues but it also helps increase proper data of a country’s Immigration Services and reduces migratory crime such as extremism spearheads by radical terrorists; if a formed migrant workers’ union is well supported. Migrant Sectoral Union could reduce fear on Human and Labour Rights in labour market.
Many African Migrant Workers borrowed or sought a loan before embark their emigration or labour migration made possible. Unfortunately, after they are deported to their countries without nothing drives home is sad and shameful issue. MLGWUI and I humbly appeal to their creditors to exercise patience for especially recent Deportees’ repayments. Parents and spouses, whose returnees might have hurt them one way or another, MLGWUI and Justice say, please sorry on their behalf. NEVER AGAIN IRREGULAR LABOUR MIGRATION!
It envisages Africa is producing radicalised migrant workers who refuse to mobile themselves for unionisation but rather massively organise themselves for demonstrations when group or section of workers are retrenched (layoff) (e.g. financial institutions and recent Toll Booth revenue workers). Migrant Workers, joining a Union is now.
In preventing Violent Extremism in Ghana and Africa, I urge all Migrant Workers to be aware and be self-defence (be careful) against terrorists radicalisation at workplaces, homes, worship centres, routes, mosques and border languages interactions because anything could happen in which Human Right syndrome could be a second school of thought. In your labour migration and regional integration, listen to road users and youth along the routes. During Terrorist Attack, please a Migrant Worker, leave your belongings and run if you can but do not hide yourself.
Jobless Immigrant W should not engage in Fraudulent or Cyber Crime activities such Sakawa or 419.
To enable us harnessing the potential of human mobility and meet our better conditions of services, we need to persevere hard to regain our jobs COVID-19 pandemic has left us ‘Wage Theft Claimers’ so that we would able to championing labour market challenges for socio-economic and development in both home and host countries with our following concerns:
All Unskilled Migrant Workers in Ghana must insist on their National Daily Minimum Wageof GHC13.35 effective date 1st January, 2022 which is eight percent (8%) over the 2021 figure of GHC12.53 as agreed by the National Tripartite Committee on 3rd June 2021;
2. Migrant Workers need recognition in society and workplaces as essential workforce and sustainers of enterprises or companies in terms of global pandemic(s);
3. Employers should call back and re-instate their former employees/workers whose retrenchment or termination caused by COVID-19 to work as Pandemic is reducing its spreading, instead of employing new workers to start orientation for work;
4. Migrant Workers call for access to Justice for Wage Theft (all entitlements employers own their former workers during and after Corona Virus pandemic lockdown;
5. MLGWUI suggests to African Leaders to amend their Constitution and National Migration Policies in order to allow African Migrant Workers work without Work Permit in the continent to avoid risk of resorting to cyber crime and radical extremism or laziness;
6. African Migrant Workers, Refugees and Expatriates and Members of their Families must be considered inclusive nationwide Corona Virus Vaccination in all countries in the continent especially Ghana where vaccination exercises is going on throughout the nation;
7. Migrant Workers need access to Decent Work, Decent Housing, Sufficient and Healthy Food at Workplaces, Homes and Streets, Portable Drinking Water, Health Care, Cultural Activities, Local Public Transportation and Leisure;
8. MLGWUI humbly reminds the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to speedy her processing of extension of Biometric Passport Application services to Ghana’s missions abroad as part of decentralisation of issuance of Passport for Ghanaian citizens so that stranded Ghanaian Immigrant Workers and Members of their Families could access to Passport Holder; She should also put more efforts to win more bilateral VISA WAIVES relationship globally;
9. MLGWUI is humbly appealing the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to liaise with the Association of Ghana Industries and Ghana Enterprises Agency to encourage AGI’s members to ensure long-term Decent and Sustainable Employment for all African Migrant Workers and Refugees;
10. AU and ECOWAS should ensure the implementation of the Communiqué adopted in the end of Kofi Annan Peace and Security (KAPS) Forum held from 8th to 9th December, 2021;
11. AU and ECOWAS and other Economic Communities should ensure that Land Borders are open in January 2022 so that all Migrant Workers can access to labour markets in the continent and reduced risk of Migrant Workers’ mapping unapproved border routes for entry, to avoid harassment and falling prey into hands of unethical recruitment and travel agencies purported to labour migration in Europe or other continents;
12. MLGWUI is humbly asking the President of the South Africa to rescind his stance in deporting 200,000 Zimbabwean end of December 2021;
13. MLGWUI calls Parliament for speedy passing of Homeland Return Bill of Diasporans;
14. All African Heads of State should do their best to finish building Plant(s) for Corona Virus in each country;
15. MLGWUI urges the Ministry of Roads and Highway as a matter of urgency to construct Pedestrians Pavement both sides of the road Gamal Abdul Nassar (from Ghana National Cathedral Foundation to Police Headquarters, Osu to decongest human and vehicular traffic between Passport Head Office and International Press Centre;
16. MLGWUI appeals to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to check and advise Immigrant Street Children below age or 10 years who sell Polish and Blush, Ear Pads in addition to their daily begging for money around 37 interchange and elsewhere.
17. God bless employers who have called their lockdown COVID-19 former workers to work;
- MLGWUI repeats her 2016 appeal to investors or African governments to create (Migrants) Labour Bank to assist Migrant Workers, Refugees and Diasporans in the continent; and.
- MLGWUI is respectfully and urgently looking for Financial Support/Funds or Grant for new Office Rent Advance, Organising, Education and Decent Employment for Migrant Workers.
MLGWUI would continue to ensure defence, protection of labour rights for Migrant Workers, Women Migrant Workers and Refugees in all sectors in labour market for decent work, social justice, protection, occupational safety and health and education for them.
I finally urge all Internal Migrant and (Im)migrant Workers and the Members of their Families to return or visit home during Christmas festivities for peaceful reunification and reintegration with beloved left/missing family members and friends.
I wish you all A Happy 2021 International Migrants’ Day and 2022 eradication of COVID-19.
Long Live Migrant Workers, Refugees, Foreigners-Expatriates and Diasporans and Diplomats!
Long Live MLGWU-FFMRC ! Long Live Ghana !
Meda Moase ! Thank You ! Merci ! Gracias ! Kiitos !