Pastoral Visit to Tg Selur, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia

Gereja Sta Maria Immakulata, Tarakan, Kalimantan Timur

Tarakan : The Diocese of Tg Selur, Kalimantan Timur of Indonesia is the nearest diocese to the Diocese of Sandakan. It is the transit diocese to the vast number of Indonesian Catholic migrants from Flores and other adjacent islands in Nusantara Timur Tengah. The migrants, either legal or illegal residing in the diocese are encountering much difficulties in many aspects of life, basic needs and spiritual accompaniment and development.

L-R : Sdra Anton, Francis Tan, Pastor Antonius, Pastor Emanuel, Msgr Yustinus, Bishop Julius, Sr Barbara Lip, Sr Lidwina, Sr Ermilinda Too ssps, Alison Neri, Chin Poh Choo

Rt Rev Julius Dusin Gitom, Bishop of the Diocese of Sandakan led a 6-member delegation to Tarakan for a dialogue session with Msgr Yustinus Harjosusanto, Bishop of the Diocese of Tg Selur and members of the Social Action Team on 26th - 27th October 2011 at Santa Maria Immakulata Church, sited at the vicinity of the town. The purpose of the session is to exchange ideas on how best both dioceses could possibly work together to reach out to the migrants more effectively especially in strengthening their faith while on the move, restoring their dignity and hope.

The members from the Diocese of Sandakan included Francis Tan, the Executive Secretary of the Diocese, Poh Choo, Director of Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd Sabah (PKGS), Sr Barbara Lip RGS, Sr Lidwina RGS and Alison Neri, staff member of PKGS. Representing the Diocese of Tg Selur were Pastor Emanuel, Pastor Antonius Rajabana, Anton from Nunukan and Sr Ermilinda Too ssps.

1st session facilitated by Francis Tan

The first session, 26th October was on an insight into the Diocese of Sandakan and the plight of migrants presented by Francis Tan, through a power point presentation followed by a movie on the realities of migrants in Sandakan and the response taken by the local Church. The dialogue session opened up great opportunities for both the receiving and transit dioceses to complement each other in reaching out to the migrants, outgoing and home-coming.

2nd session facilitated by Poh Choo

Poh Choo of PKGS, on 27th October presented a summary of the Good Shepherd's initial experiences with the migrants and the many challenges encountered and the outcomes of their commitment. PKGS, established just a year ago in Sandakan has established a presence among migrant communities through their shelter and support services. The many outreach, learning and formation programs has drawn the migrants very much closer to the church, making them well integrated and felt supported.

Bishop Julius sharing his thought

In the later part of the day, after much deliberation and extensive exploration on possibilities to bring good to the migrants, both dioceses resolved to act accordingly in the recommended related immigration issues;

Inter diocesan collaboration through regular dialogues and visits

Establish an efficient and effective network system of partners in migrant ministry

Identify contact persons for the receiving and transit dioceses

Transit diocese to hold awareness program for migrants

Exchange of ideas

Joint effort in forming volunteers to better serve in the learning program in the receiving diocese

Keeping a proper registry for marriages and baptisms at the transit diocese

Transit diocese will act to procure relevant documents from the sending diocese

To meet among the sending, transit and the receiving dioceses

Much cooperation is needed between the dioceses to see to the success of the agreed recommendations just as St Paul wrote in 1 Cor 3 : 6, ‘I  planted, Apollos watered, but  God was causing the growth.'

ds

MWG Press Statement

Malaysia: Vote in Favour of the Proposed Convention supplemented by a Recommendation concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers at the 100^th Session of the International Labour Conference, Geneva, June 2011

June 2011

The Migration Working Group calls for the Malaysian government to vote in favour of the proposed Convention supplemented by a Recommendation concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers at the 100^th Session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva in June 2011. This international instrument would strengthen the protection of the rights of domestic workers, including migrant domestic workers, who provide essential services to households and economies around the world.

There are around 300,000 documented migrant domestic workers in Malaysia today, providing valuable services, care and support to thousands of Malaysian families. There are also thousands of temporary local domestic workers and undocumented migrant domestic workers who remain unprotected and yet are of great importance to Malaysian households. Domestic workers are not provided with adequate protection of their labour and human rights. There have been numerous cases of domestic workers suffering from unpaid wages, poor living and working conditions, and violence at the hands of their employers. While domestic workers are recognised under the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) as ‘domestic servants’, they are not given equal protection of their rights as other employees. These include their rights related to the termination of contracts, maternity benefits, rest days, hours of work and holidays, as well as benefits related to termination, layoff and retirement.

We have been disappointed at Malaysia’s response to the proposed Convention and supplementary Recommendation concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers so far. At the 99^th Session of the International Labour Conference, in Geneva in 2010, the Malaysian government was amongst the minority of voters and governments who would only support a Recommendation and not a Convention. We have been particularly disappointed by Malaysia’s response to the proposed Convention as reported in ILO’s Report IV(2A) Decent Work for Domestic Workers, in which the Malaysian government observed that “Domestic work is not seen as ordinary employment” (p. 6) and that in relation to the proposed Article 10(3) concerning hours of work, “Domestic workers cannot be equated to other workers in general.” (p. 40).

We call upon the Malaysian government to:

v  Vote in favour of the proposed Convention supplemented by a Recommendation concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers at the 100^th Session of the International Labour Conference; and furthermore, to

v  Amend the Employment Act 1955, giving all domestic workers rights equal to other employees;

v  Ensure that all domestic workers have one paid day-off per week and are protected by a fair and standard employment contract that protects their labour and human rights;

v  Promote and protect the rights of domestic workers to freedom of association, the right to organise and to form and join trade unions by amending laws, policies and practices as necessary;

v  Ensure that domestic workers have access to justice when they face violations of their rights;

v  Establish multilateral or bilateral agreements with other countries to strengthen the promotion and protection of the rights of all migrant domestic workers.

For more information, please contact Daniel Lo, Co-Coordinator of the Migration Working Group at 012 218 6051 (mobile) or malaysia.mwg@gmail.com (email)

Endorsed by the following members of the Migration Working Group:

1.    Archdiocesan Human Development Commission (AHDC), Kota Kinabalu

2.    Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) Asia Pacific

3.    Coalition to Abolish Modern-Day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)

4.    Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility (CARAM Asia)

5.    Council of Churches, Malaysia

6.    Foreign Spouse Support Group (FSSG)

7.    Justice, Peace & Solidarity In Mission Office, Congregation of the Good Shepherd Sisters, Province of Singapore-Malaysia

8.    Health Equity Initiatives (HEI)

9.    Lawyers for Liberty (LFL)

10.     Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI)

11.     Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)

12.     Penang Office for Human Development (POHD)

13.     Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd (PKGS)

14.     Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

15.     Tenaganita

16.     The National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)

17.     Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

About the Migration Working Group:

The Migration Working Group (MWG) is a network of Malaysian civil society groups and individuals who advocate for the rights of migrants, refugees, stateless persons, trafficked persons and foreign spouses.

Website:
http://www.migrationmalaysia.net/

Email:

malaysia.mwg@gmail.com

Address:

MWG c/o Women’s Aid Organisation
P.O. Box 493 Jalan Sultan
46760 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Malaysia

EMI 3rd Annual Conference

Commission members, consultants and observers with Bishop Paul Tan (5th from right)

Kuching : 13 Commission members and 4 appointed consultants (formation, media, advocacy and resource) from 9 arch/dioceses of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei converged at the Priests' Retirement Home sited at the Catholic Church of the Chapel of Mother Mary Stutong, Sarawak on 27th - 29th April. for the 3rd Conference of the Episcopal Commission  for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants (EMI).

The first day of the Conference, Wednesday 27th April 2011 was on presentation of reports  by Joachim Francis Xavier the EMI Chairman (2009 - 2011)  followed by reports from the various Arch/dioceses regarding activities pertaining to migrants and itinerants carried out for 2010.

Rt Rev Paul Tan, Bishop of the Melaka-Johor Diocese, the president of  the Catholic Bishops' Conference for Malaysia-Singapoe-Brunei and also the president of EMI presided over the Opening Mass, con celebrated by Fr Simon Poh of KK Archdiocese, Fr Mitchel Anthony of KL Archdiocese and Fr Benedict Daulis of Keningau Diocese.. 

The prelate reflected on the sufferings of Christ and called on all those involved in migration work to help the migrants, 'the modern slaves' in whatever way possible to alleviate their suffering.

Through such act of compassion, he said, we proclaim the Easter message of God's infinite love for all. The 'modern slaves' are  used also by God to go out to proclaim the same act through His love. Their presence in certain countries has make many Churches become alive. We all share the same mission of God, actively sharing the faith of God to the migrants by proclaiming His love. 'Our suffering makes up for the lack of suffering in Christ for His body, the Church.'

The dialogue session at Kg Ngimoris Community Hall

 With the local parishioners in their soon to complete Chapel

On the second day of the conference, Thursday 28th April more reports were presented by the other dioceses as well as consultants. In the later part of the day, commission members and consultants had the opportunity to learn from the folks of St Anthony's Chapel in Kg Ngiromis, some 20 kilometers from the city about their experiences while working in the Peninsular and Singapore. They also shared about the situation of their children either studying or working there.

In the evening, members were privileged to join the workers of Kim Hin Tiles Factory at the vicinity of the city, to celebrate mass presided over by Fr Simon Poh., rector of St Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching. More than 100 workers, mostly from the rural areas, who had moved to the city to seek employment , attended the celebration.

The third day, Friday 29th April was a session on charting the course of action for the year 2011. It was resolved that all Arch/dioceses focus on the process of concsientizing the faithful through awareness program on the need to respond to migrants.

L-R : Sr Susay rc, Sr Angeline rgs, Stanley, Joachim, Bp Paul Tan, Fr Albert mhm, Francis Tan, Dominic Lim

The following were elected as EMI Executive Committee for the term of 2011 - 2013;

• President                :  Bishop Paul Tan
• Chairman               :  Joachim Francis Xavier, Penang Diocese
• Vice Chairman       :  Dominic Lim, KK Archdiocese
• Secretary               :  Sr Susay Valdez rc, Singapore Archdiocese
• Treasurer               :  Sr Angeline Lau rgs, Melaka-Johor Diocese
• Member                 :  Francis Tan, Sandakan Diocese
• Member                 :  Fr Albert mhm, Kuching Archdiocese
• Member                 :  Sudhagaran Stanley, Penang Diocese
• Co-opted Member :  Helena, Penang Diocese

Consultants L-R : Diana Carol, Cheryl Lee and Patrick Neo far right

Consultants in the following areas were retained for another term of office of 2 years;

• Consultant (Advocacy) :  Josephine Muriel John, Melaka-Johor Diocese
• Consultant (Formation) :  Cherly Lee, KL Archdiocese
• Consultant (Media)       :  Diana Carol, Kuching Archdiocese
• Consultant (Resource)   :  Patrick Neo, Singapore Archdiocese

As a Church we are concern about the plight of immigrants either international or local. Scripture calls us to care for the strangers and remain sensitive to their desperate plight caught in a world of poverty. 

In winding up the Conference, Bishop Paul Tan reiterated that if we do not respond to the plight of the migrants, people on the move, then the Church has failed in her mission.

Concluding Mass presided by Fr Mitchel Anthony 

ds