Migrante Europe

Tag: Italy

  • OBR 2023 Rise For Freedom

    OBR 2023 Rise For Freedom

    Tagumpay na naidaos ang One Billion Rising 2023 sa ilang Tsapter ng Migrante Europe, malinaw at napapanahon ang dalang panawagan at tema ngayon taon Rise For Freedom.

    Sa ginanap na taunang  programa ng Migrante Cyprus kasama ang mga ilang  kababayan, matingkad ang kanilang panawagan sa ating Gobyerno para sa agarang repatriation ng isa nating kababayan kasabay nito ang panawagan nang  hustisya sa isang kababayan na pinaslang at inabuso sa Kuwait.

    Pinangunahan din ng Gabriela Rome ang OBR 2023 sa Roma Italya, matagumpay na naidaos ang maikling  programa sa pamamagitan pagsayaw at pagbibigay ng solidarity message ng ilang Organisasyon kasabay nito ang panawagan : Stop The Killings in the Philippines.

    Viva La Solidarieta Internationale!

  • (ITALY) Regularisation, here is the text from the Official Gazzette. The flat-rate contribution is 500 euros

    (ITALY) Regularisation, here is the text from the Official Gazzette. The flat-rate contribution is 500 euros

    Rome, 20 May 2020 – Regularisation, DL art. 103 has been published in the Official Gazzette.
    Among the new features (compared to what was previously announced) we find that: the amount of the contribution for the employer increases from 400 to 500 euros.
    The presence in Italy can be proved with all documents with a certain date from public offices.

    translated from https://stranieriinitalia.it/attualita-sp-754/regolarizzazione-ecco-il-testo-in-gazzetta-ufficiale/

    https://stranieriinitalia.it/

    here is the text :

    1. In order to ensure adequate levels of individual and collective health protection as a result of the contingent and exceptional health emergency linked to the disaster resulting from the spread of Covid 19 and to encourage the emergence of irregular employment relationships,

    Italian employers or nationals of a Member State of the European Union, or foreign employers holding the residence permit provided for in Article 9 of Legislative Decree No 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended,

    may apply, in the manner described in paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7, to conclude a contract of employment with foreign citizens present on the national territory or to declare the existence of an irregular employment relationship, still in progress, with Italian citizens or foreign nationals.

    To this end, foreign citizens must have been subjected to photodactyloscopic surveys before March 8, 2020 or must have stayed in Italy before that date, on the basis of the declaration of presence, made in accordance with Law no. 68 of May 28, 2007, or certificates consisting of documents of a certain date from public bodies; in both cases, foreign citizens must not have left the national territory since March 8, 2020.

    2. For the same purposes referred to in paragraph 1, foreign citizens, with a residence permit expired on October 31, 2019, not renewed or converted into another residence permit, may apply for a temporary residence permit, valid only in the national territory, for a duration of six months from the submission of the application, according to the modalities referred to in paragraph 16.

    To this end, the aforementioned citizens must be present on the national territory on 8 March 2020, without having left the same date, and must have carried out work activities in the areas referred to in paragraph 3, before 31 October 2019, proven in accordance with the procedures set out in paragraph 16.

    If, at the end of the duration of the temporary residence permit, the citizen has a subordinate employment contract or the salary and social security documentation proving the performance of the work activity in accordance with the provisions of the law in the sectors referred to in paragraph 3, the permit is converted into a residence permit for work reasons.

    3. The provisions of this article apply to the following sectors of activity:

    (a) agriculture, livestock and animal husbandry, fisheries and aquaculture and related activities;

    (b) assistance to the person for themselves or for members of their family, even if they are not living together, suffering from diseases or handicaps that limit their self-sufficiency;

    (c) domestic work to support family needs.

    4. The application referred to in paragraph 1 shall indicate the duration of the employment contract and the agreed remuneration, not less than that provided for in the collective labour agreement of reference entered into by the trade unions and employers’ organizations comparatively more representative at national level.

    In the cases referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, if the employment relationship terminates, even in the case of a seasonal contract, the provisions of article 22, paragraph 11, of legislative decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended, shall apply, in order to carry out further work activity

    5. The application referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, shall be submitted from 1 June to 15 July 2020, in the manner established by decree of the Minister of the Interior in agreement with the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of Labour and Social Policies, and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, to be adopted within ten days of the date of entry into force of this decree, at the following address

    (a) the National Social Security Institute (INPS) for Italian workers or for nationals of a Member State of the European Union;

    b) the one-stop-shop for immigration, referred to in Article 22 of Legislative Decree No 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended, for foreign workers, referred to in paragraph 1;

    c) the Police Headquarters for the issue of residence permits, referred to in paragraph 2.

    6. The same decree referred to in paragraph 5 also establishes the employer’s income limits required for the termination of the employment relationship, the appropriate documentation to prove the work activity referred to in paragraph 16 as well as the detailed procedures for carrying out the procedure.

    Pending the definition of the procedures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the presentation of the petitions allows the carrying out of the work activity; in the hypothesis referred to in paragraph 1, the foreign citizen carries out the work activity exclusively in the employ of the employer who has presented the petition.

    • The applications are presented upon payment, with the modalities provided for by the inter-ministerial decree of which

    It is also provided for the payment of a lump-sum contribution for the amounts due by the employer for remuneration, contributions and tax, the determination of which and the methods of acquisition are established by decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy in agreement with the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

    8. Ineligibility of the requests referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, limited to cases of conversion of the residence permit into a work permit, the conviction of the employer in the last five years, even with a non-final sentence, including the one adopted following the application of the penalty on request pursuant to Article 444 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, constitutes a cause for ineligibility:

    a) aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy and illegal immigration from Italy to other States or for crimes aimed at the recruitment of persons to be used for prostitution or exploitation of prostitution or minors to be employed in illegal activities, as well as for the crime referred to in Article 600 of the Criminal Code;

    b) illegal intermediation and exploitation of labour pursuant to Article 603-bis of the Penal Code;

    c) offences referred to in Article 22, paragraph 12, of the Consolidated Act referred to in Legislative Decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended.

    9. It also constitutes a cause for the rejection of the requests referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, limited to cases of conversion of the residence permit into work reasons, the failure of the employer to sign the contract of stay at the one-stop-shop for immigration or the subsequent failure to hire the foreign worker, except in cases of force majeure not attributable to the employer, however, occurring following the completion of procedures for the entry of foreign citizens for reasons of subordinate work or procedures for the emergence from irregular work.

    10. Foreign citizens are not admitted to the procedures provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article:

    a) in respect of whom an expulsion order has been issued pursuant to Article 13, paragraphs 1 and 2, letter c), of Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998, and Article 3 of Decree-Law No. 144 of 27 July 2005, converted, with amendments, by Law No. 155 of 31 July 2005, and subsequent amendments.

    b) that are reported, also on the basis of international agreements or conventions in force for Italy, for the purposes of non-admission in the territory of the State;

    c) they have been convicted, even with a non-final sentence, including that pronounced also following application of the penalty on request pursuant to Article 444 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for one of the offences provided for in Article 380 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or for offences against personal liberty or for drug offences, aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy and illegal emigration from Italy to other States or for crimes aimed at the recruitment of persons to be used for prostitution or the exploitation of prostitution or minors to be employed in illegal activities;

    d) which are in any case considered a threat to public order or the security of the State or of one of the countries with which Italy has signed agreements for the abolition of internal border controls and the free movement of persons.

    In assessing the dangerousness of the foreigner, account is also taken of any convictions, even with non-final sentences, including those pronounced following the application of the penalty on request pursuant to Article 444 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for one of the offences provided for in Article 381 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

    11. From the date of entry into force of this decree until the conclusion of the proceedings referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the criminal and administrative proceedings against the employer and the employee, respectively, shall be suspended:

    a) for the employment of workers for whom the declaration of emersion has been submitted, even if of a financial, tax, social security or welfare nature;

    b) for illegal entry and stay in the national territory, with the exclusion of the offences referred to in Article 12 of Legislative Decree No 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended.

    12. In any case, criminal proceedings against employers are not suspended for the following offences:

    a) aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy and illegal immigration from Italy to other States or for crimes aimed at the recruitment of persons to be used for prostitution or exploitation of prostitution or minors to be employed in illegal activities, as well as for the crime referred to in Article 600 of the c

    (b) illegal intermediation and exploitation of labour in accordance with Article 603-bis of the Criminal Code.

    13. The suspension referred to in paragraph 11 shall cease if the application referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 is not submitted, or if it is rejected or dismissed, including the failure of the parties referred to in paragraph 15.

    Criminal and administrative proceedings against the employer shall in any case be dismissed if the negative outcome of the proceedings is due to causes beyond the employer’s control or conduct.

    14. In the event that the employer employs, without prior notification of the establishment of the employment relationship, foreigners who have submitted the application for the temporary residence permit referred to in paragraph 2, the sanctions provided for in Article 3, paragraph 3, of Decree-Law no. 22 February 2002, n. 12, converted, with amendments, by Law no. 73 of 23 April 2002, article 39 (7) of decree-law no. 112 of 25 June 2008, converted, with amendments, by Law no. 133 of 6 August 2008, article 82 (2) of Presidential Decree no. 797 of 30 May 1955 and article 5 (1) of Law no. 4 of 5 January 1953. When the facts referred to in Article 603-bis of the Criminal Code are committed against foreigners who have applied for the temporary residence permit referred to in paragraph 2, the penalty referred to in the first paragraph of the same article is increased from one third to one half.

    15. The one-stop-shop for immigration, having verified the admissibility of the declaration referred to in paragraph 1 and obtained the opinion of the Police Headquarters on the absence of grounds for refusing access to the procedures or the issuance of the residence permit, as well as the opinion of the competent Territorial Labour Inspectorate regarding the economic capacity of the employer and the appropriateness of the working conditions applied, convenes the parties for the stipulation of the residence contract, for the compulsory notification of employment and the compilation of the application for the residence permit for subordinate work. Failure by the parties to appear without justification shall result in the closure of the proceedings.

    16. The application for the issuance of the temporary residence permit referred to in paragraph 2 is submitted by the foreign citizen to the Questore, from 1 June to 15 July 2020, together with the documentation in possession, identified by the decree referred to in paragraph 6 suitable to prove the work activity carried out in the sectors referred to in paragraph 3 and verifiable by the National Labour Inspectorate to which the application is also directed.

    Upon submission of the request, a certificate is delivered that allows the person concerned to legitimately reside in the territory of the State until any communication from the Public Security Authority, to carry out subordinate work, exclusively in the sectors of activity referred to in paragraph 3, as well as to submit any application for conversion of the temporary residence permit into a residence permit for work purposes.

    The applicant is also allowed to register in the register referred to in Article 19 of Legislative Decree no. 150 of 14 September 2015, by presenting to the Employment Offices the certificate issued by the Questore (Police Commissioner) referred to in this article. For the fulfilments referred to in paragraph 2, article 39, paragraphs 4-bis and 4-ter of law no. 3 of 16 January 2003 shall apply; the relevant charge to be borne by the party concerned shall be determined by the decree referred to in paragraph 5, up to a maximum amount of 30 euros.

    17. Pending the definition of the proceedings referred to in this article, the foreigner cannot be expelled, except in the cases provided for in paragraph 10. In the cases referred to in paragraph 1, the signing of the residence contract together with the obligatory notification of employment referred to in paragraph 15 and the issue of the residence permit entail, for both the employer and the worker, the extinction of the crimes and administrative offences relative to the violations referred to in paragraph 11.

    In the case of a request for emersion referring to Italian workers or citizens of a Member State of the European Union, the relevant submission pursuant to paragraph 5, letter a) entails the extinction of the crimes and offences referred to in paragraph 11, letter a).

    In the cases referred to in paragraph 2, the extinction of the crimes and administrative offences relating to the violations referred to in paragraph 11 is the sole consequence of the issue of a residence permit for work purposes.

    18. The residence contract stipulated on the basis of an application containing untrue data is null and void pursuant to article 1344 of the Civil Code. In this case, any residence permit issued is revoked under article 5(5) of legislative decree n.

    19. By decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy in agreement with the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the allocation of the flat-rate contribution, referred to in the last sentence of paragraph 7, is determined.

    20. In order to effectively combat the phenomena of concentration of foreign citizens referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 in conditions inadequate to ensure compliance with the hygienic-sanitary conditions necessary to prevent the spread of contagion from Covid-19, the competent State Administrations and the Regions, also through the implementation of the measures provided for in the Three-Year Plan to combat labour exploitation in agriculture and the caporalate 2020-2022, adopt solutions and urgent measures suitable to ensure the health and safety of housing conditions, as well as further interventions to combat irregular work and the phenomenon of the caporalate. For the above purposes, the Operational Table established by art. 25 quater of Legislative Decree no. 119/2018, converted with amendments by Law no. 136/2018, can avail itself of the support of the Department for Civil Protection and the Italian Red Cross, without new or increased charges to public finance. For the implementation of this paragraph, the Public Administrations concerned shall provide within their respective financial, human and instrumental resources available under current legislation.

    21. In paragraph 1 of article 25-quater of Decree Law no. 119 of 2018, after the words representatives, the following words are added “of the delegated political authority for territorial cohesion and of the delegated political authority for equal opportunities”.

    22. Unless the act constitutes a more serious offence, whoever makes false statements or certifications, or contributes to the act in the context of the procedures provided for in this article, shall be punished in accordance with article 76 of the Consolidated Act referred to in Presidential Decree no. 445 of 28 December 2000.

    If the act is committed through the falsification or alteration of documents or with the use of one of these documents, the penalty is imprisonment from one to six years. The penalty is increased up to a third if the act is committed by a public official.

    23. In order to allow for a more rapid definition of the procedures referred to in this article, the Ministry of the Interior is authorised to use, for a period not exceeding six months, through one or more employment agencies, temporary contract work services, up to a maximum expenditure limit of 30,000,000 euros for 2020, to be distributed to the places of employment concerned in the regularisation procedures, in derogation of the limits referred to in Article 9, paragraph 28, of Decree Law no. 78 of 31 May 2010, converted, with amendments, by Law no. 122 of 30 July 2010. To this end, the Ministry of the Interior may use negotiated procedures without prior publication of a tender notice, pursuant to Article 63, paragraph 2, letter c) of Legislative Decree no. 50 of 18 April 2016, as amended.

  • Message of Solidarity on Farmworkers’ General Strike (Italy – May 21, 2020

    Message of Solidarity on Farmworkers’ General Strike (Italy – May 21, 2020

    Greetings of solidarity to all, friends and fellow migrants! We, in Migrante Europe an alliance of Filipino migrants’ organization in Europe, strongly adhere to the call by the organized farm workers for unconditional regularization. We commend your militant initiative for this general strike and for bringing the voices of the “invisible” migrants, immigrants and displace people in the forefront of the up-coming regularization law in Italy.

    Like other ”invisible” people, Filipino undocumented migrants and immigrants all over Europe, are strictly suffering from the havoc of this pandemic. In Italy alone, of which an estimated of 20,000 undocumented migrant workers are left without or minimal assistance from our own government. They were even left out of any assistance from the Cure Italy decree of the Italian government, of which only documented and regular workers can avail.

    https://www.facebook.com/2211922102464724/videos/1148458975487168/

    We migrants and immigrants share the commonality on the root cause of migration. We recognize our right to migrate for a humane future, for us and our family and this is our fundamental rights. What we are experiencing now is beyond our rights. Migration now becomes a force choice for us to conserve our human dignity as a person. We flee and migrate for there is war of aggression in our country. We flee and migrate from having an environmentally torn country caused by multinational mining and exploitation. We flee and migrate from a despotic and tyrannical rule.

    Like you, Filipinos are forced to leave and seek for a better future, but these choice is more driven by the systematic policies of our own government. Ever since, our government knew that it can profit not only from the raw materials that it exports but also from the remittance of Filipino migrants, it then brought into policy the continuous bargain of Filipino workforce abroad.

    Labor export policy as we call it, have made Filipinos a mere product, a simple commodity on which to exchange and profit from. In 2019 alone, our government had profited an enormous 29 billion dollars from our remittances. More than 10 percent of the total 105 billion population of Filipinos are dispersed globally. Before the pandemic, 7,000 Filipinos leave our country everyday to work abroad. This situation is strengthen by the implementation of neo-liberal laws and policies dictated by imperialist countries to our own government, thus leading to local mass unemployment, inequity, social injustice and poverty. Yet, they neglect their duties on their service to the Filipino migrants.  

    https://www.facebook.com/2211922102464724/videos/2566937650302828

    Thus, we join your call for the immediate unconditional regularization of undocumented migrants/immigrants and displaced people. The pandemic of Covid-19 must not be only a pretext for a humane treatment of all irregular and undocumented migrants. Human rights must be the base of any regularization. We could talk of a vaccine from the disease in six months to a year from now, but if the migrants remain irregular and without access to a proper health care, it is useless.

    We share your sufferings and we unite with you in pursuing the rights of other “invisible” people that also taking part for the economic building and development of any host country.  We further call for decriminalization of irregular and undocumented workers and stop  the neoliberal policies dictated by the imperialist countries.  

    “Regularization and full citizenship rights for all migrant workers, refugees and displaced peoples”

    “Universal right to health and public health for all and not private profit!”

    “Stop Criminalizing Migrants and Stop Deportation!”

    “End Neoliberal Policies in Third World Countries! Stop Imperialist Domination!”

    “LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!”

    Marlon Lacsamana

    Secretary-general

    Migrante Europe

    [email protected]

    Messaggio di solidarietà sullo sciopero generale dei braccianti (Italia) – 21 maggio 2020

    Un saluto di solidarietà a tutti, amici e compagni migranti! Noi di Migrante Europe, un’alleanza dell’organizzazione dei migranti filippini in Europa, aderiamo con forza all’appello dei braccianti per una regolarizzazione incondizionata. Elogiamo la vostra iniziativa militante per questo sciopero generale e per aver portato le voci dei migranti “invisibili”, degli immigrati e degli sfollati in prima linea nella prossima legge di regolarizzazione in Italia.

    Come altre persone “invisibili”, i migranti filippini senza documenti e gli immigrati di tutta Europa soffrono rigorosamente del caos di questa pandemia. Solo in Italia, di cui si stima che circa 20.000 lavoratori immigrati senza documenti siano rimasti senza o con un’assistenza minima da parte del nostro Governo. Siamo addirittura esclusi dall’assistenza del decreto Cura Italia del Governo italiano, di cui possono usufruire solo i lavoratori regolari e documentati.

    Noi migranti e immigrati condividiamo con voi la causa principale della migrazione. Riconosciamo il nostro diritto a migrare per un futuro umano, per noi e per la nostra famiglia e questo è il nostro diritto fondamentale. Quello che stiamo vivendo ora va oltre i nostri diritti. La migrazione diventa per noi una scelta di forza per conservare la nostra dignità umana come persona. Fuggiamo e migriamo perché nel nostro Paese c’è una guerra di aggressione. Fuggiamo e migriamo da un paese ambientalmente lacerato a causa dell’estrazione mineraria e dello sfruttamento multinazionale. Fuggiamo e migriamo da un Governo dispotico e tirannico.

    Come voi, i filippini sono costretti ad andarsene e a cercare un futuro migliore, ma queste scelte sono maggiormente guidate dalle politiche sistematiche del nostro stesso Governo. Da allora, il nostro Governo sapeva di poter trarre profitto non solo dalle materie prime che esporta, ma anche dalle rimesse dei migranti filippini, ha poi portato in politica il continuo affare della forza lavoro filippina all’estero.

    La politica di esportazione del lavoro ha fatto dei filippini un semplice prodotto, una semplice merce di scambio e di profitto. Solo nel 2019, il nostro Governo ha beneficiato di 29 miliardi di dollari americani delle nostre rimesse. Più del 10% dei 105 milioni della popolazione totale filippina è dispersa a livello globale. Prima della pandemia, 7.000 filippini lasciano ogni giorno il nostro Paese per lavorare all’estero. Questa situazione è rafforzata dall’applicazione di leggi e politiche neoliberali dettate dai paesi imperialisti al nostro Governo, portando così alla disoccupazione di massa locale, all’iniquità, all’ingiustizia sociale e alla povertà. Eppure, essi trascurano i loro doveri al servizio dei migranti filippini.

    Quindi ci uniamo alla vostra richiesta di una regolarizzazione immediata e incondizionata dei migranti/ immigrati senza documenti e degli sfollati. La pandemia di Covid-19 non deve essere solo un pretesto per un trattamento umano di tutti i migranti irregolari e senza documenti. I diritti umani devono essere alla base di ogni regolarizzazione. Potremmo parlare di un vaccino contro la malattia tra sei mesi e un anno, ma se i migranti rimangono irregolari e non hanno accesso a un’assistenza sanitaria adeguata, è inutile.

    Condividiamo le vostre sofferenze e ci uniamo a voi nel perseguire i diritti di altre persone “invisibili” che partecipano anche per la costruzione e lo sviluppo economico di qualsiasi paese ospitante. Chiediamo inoltre la depenalizzazione dei lavoratori irregolari e senza permesso di soggiorno e la cessazione delle politiche neoliberali dettate dai Paesi imperialisti.

    “Regolarizzazione e pieni diritti di cittadinanza per tutti i lavoratori migranti, rifugiati e sfollati”

    “Diritto universale alla salute e alla sanità pubblica per tutti e non al profitto privato!”

    “Stop alla criminalizzazione dei migranti e stop all’espulsione!”

    “Porre fine alle politiche neoliberali nei Paesi del Terzo Mondo! Stop alla dominazione imperialista!”

    “LUNGA VITA ALLA SOLIDARIETÀ INTERNAZIONALE!”

  • Migrante-Milan matagumpay na inilunsad

    Migrante-Milan matagumpay na inilunsad

    Migrante-Milan
    Communique

    02 Mayo 2016
    Milan, Italy
    Unang Kongreso – Mayo 1, 2016

    Matagumpay na naidaos sa unang pagkakataon ang makasaysayang kongreso ng Migrante-Milan chapter nitong nakaraang Mayo uno, kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng pandaigdigang araw ng paggawa. Ito ay inilunsad sa viale Monza 40 Milan, Italy na nilahukan ng humigit-kumulang sa 60 katao na kung saan 56 ang nagpahayag ng kusang-loob na pagsapi.

    Sa ilalim ng temang “Pahigpitin ang Pagkakaisa, Isulong AngDemokratikong Interes Ng Ating Sektor, Itatag Ang Tunay na Organisayon Ng Migrante”, nilinaw sa mga migrantengmanggagawa dito sa Milan ang napapanahong pangangailangan nito na maitatag ang isang organisasyong tunay na magsisilbi at magsusulong ng interes at kagalingan ng sektor ng migrante kasabay ang pagsusulong ng interes ng sambayanang Pilipino. Naniniwala ito na ang paglutas sa ugat ng suliranin sa lipunangPilipino ang s’yang papawi sa suliranin sa migrasyon ng Pilipinas,
    kung kaya’t wastong manawagan ng ibayong pagkakaisa sa hanay ng migrante.

    Nagkaruon ng maikli ngunit makabuluhang paglalahad ng kasaysayan ng migrasyon sa Pilipinas at sa mga obhetibong kundisyon na nagtulak sa pagkakatatag ng Migrante International nuong 1994. Kabilang din sa kasaysayang ito kung paano ang naging pag-iral ng Migrante-Milan bago pa man idaos ang pormal na kongresong ito.

    Matapos ang paglalahad ng kasaysayan, nagkaruon ng payak ngunit makabuluhang parangal sa pumanaw na si kasamang Sol Pillas, tumayong Pangkalahatang Kalihim ng Migrante International (2014-2016). Taas kamaong kinanta ng buong asembliya ang “Bayan Ko” bilang munting alay sa kasama at bukal sa pusong nag-ambag ang bawat isa ng kaunting halaga bilang tulong pinansyal sa kanyang naiwang pamilya.

    Bago talakayin at aprubahan ang saligang batas ng organisasyon ay ipinakita at binasa ang mga video at sulat ng pahayag nang pakikiisa mula sa iba’t ibang balangay at alyadong organisasyon tulad ng Migrante-Europe, Umangat-Migrante Roma, KanlunganConsortium-UK, OFW Watch-Italy at ang mismong Migrante International sa pamamagitan ng mensaheng video ni ka Gary
    Martinez, tagapangulo. Sinundan din ito ng isang presentasyon na video ng isang anak ng kasapi na kung saan kinanta ang “Tatsulok” ng dating grupong Buklod.

    Naging masigla at buhay ang talakayan sa pag-apruba ng binalangkas na Saligang Batas ng organisasyon kung saan nagkaruon ng ilang pagsusog at pag-amyenda, kabilang na rito ang pagtatakda ng sapi at butaw sa organisasyon at ang dalas ng pulong ng asembliya. Sa huli’y pinagtibay at sinang-ayunan ng lahat ang Saligang Batas. Ipinakita rin ng mga dumalo ang kanilang pagsang-ayon sa pamamagitan ng kusang loob napagpapasa ng kani-kanilang mga membership form at ang ilan ay nagbayad na kaagad ng kanilang sapi at butaw.

    Nagkaruon din ng masiglang pagbabahagi sa ilang mga dumalo ng kanilang mga karanasang nagpapatotoo sa mga suliraning kinakaharap nating mga migrante tulad na lamang ng mga namamatay na migranteng kailangan ng tulong pinansyal ngunit hindi miyembro ng OWWA. Halimbawa ito ng ilan lamang sa mga usaping kagyat na haharapin ng organisasyon.

    Ang halalan ng pamunuan nito ay masaya, masigla at aktibong nilahukan ng lahat kung saan nahalal sina Ed Turingan bilang taga-pangulo, Cecil Morales bilang pangalawang taga-pangulo,
    Franklin Irabon bilang pangkalahatang kalihim, Lea Gulle bilang pangalawang pangkalahatang kalihim at si Alma Panis bilang ingat-yaman. Binuo din sa asembliyang ito ang mga komite sa organisasyon, edukasyon at propaganda, kultura, tulong serbisyoat pinansya.

    Inaprubahan ng pangkalahatang asembliya ang pang isang taon Pangkalahatang Programa ng Pagkilos nito na sasaklaw mula 01 ng Mayo 2016 hanggang 30 Abril 2017. Binibigyang diin ng naturang programa ng pagkilos ang pag-oorganisa sa hanay ng migrante, pagbibigay ng mga pag-aaral at pagsasanay para sa higit pang sandata sa kritikal na pagsusuri ng kanilang sariling kalagayan bilang sektor, paglulunsad ng mga pagkilos para sa kongkretong pagsasakatuparan ng pagsusulong ng interes at kagalingan ng migrante at sambayanang Pilipino at ang pakikipagkaisa nito sa malawak pang bilang ng iba’t ibang demokratiko at makabayang sektor at mamamayan ng ibang nasyon.

    Umaasa ang lahat na ang kongresong naganap ay umpisa pa lang nang tuloy-tuloy na pagpapalakas, pagpapalawak at pagkilos ng Migrante-Milan para sa pagtataguyod ng mga demokratikong karapatan at kagalingan ng mga ofw at ng kanilang pamilya.

    Mabuhay ang manggagawang Pilipino !
    Mabuhay ang Migrante-Milan !

    Ed Turingan
    Tagapangulo
    Migrante-Milan

  • Nang magising si Juan OFW matapos ang mahabang-mahabang paglalakbay…..

    Ako si Juan OFW, dating badante. Kabilang na ngayon sa tinatawag na “stranded” o walang  regular na trabaho. Iyan ang hirap kapag caregiver ka kapag natigok si Italyano kasamang  natitigok ang bulsa. Magaang trabaho, maraming oras mag-Facebook, pati selfie dinadamay ang amo. Kalaban mo lang ang inip at dapat matibay ang sikmura kapag pumulandit ang ihi at tae ni Italyano sa kanyang karsunsilyo.

    Isang umaga, tutal rin lamang at walang trabaho, nagpasya akong magsadya  sa tanggapan ng POLO-OWWA sa Roma para i-renew ang aking membership.  Sinuot ko pa nga ang bagong damit na binili ko sa Mercato. Sabay wisik ng bagong biling pabango, suklay ng buhok at bago tuluyang lumabas ng aking kwarto di mapigilang sumulyap muli sa kwadradong salamin sa lumang tukador na minana ko pa sa aking unang amo. Di ko na nga binigyang-pansin ang mga dokumento na dadalhin. Sabi ko “ tiyak namang mayroon akong lahat ng kailangan nila.”

    Hindi kasi ako nakasama sa palistahan nang magkaroon ng service mission sa Firenze. Di ko kasi kilala ng personal si  Mr. Fernandez , isang Pilipinong boluntaryong nagtatrabaho sa Konsulado. Di ko alam pero wala na raw pwesto para sa akin. Ayaw ko na lang isipin na nakarating pa dito sa Italya ang palakasan. Sa kabilang banda masaya ako dahil first time akong makakarating sa Roma kaya dapat GWAPO! Marahil dadaan na rin ako sa Vaticano at tatagpuin ko ang aking ex doon.

    Bago pa ako matuntong sa tarangkahan ng Embahada, sinipat ko pa ngang muli kung may watawat ng Pilipinas. Dahil sa harapan nito, may isang makisig na lalaki, Bill daw ang pangalan na tinatalakay ang PORK BARREL . Sa isip ko litsong baboy na niluto sa bariles. Aniya, “Pork Barrel King” si Presidente Aquino dahil ang gabinete partikular ang Department of  Budget at ang pinuno nitong si Abad ay kasabwat ni Napoles. Dawit din sa kwento niya si dating Senate President Drilon. Sa kwento nga , kalahati ng senador, daang kongresman at mga kalihim ng Departamento ang sangkot. Dahil dito,bahagyang naantala ang aking pangunahing pakay, i-renew ang pagsapi sa OWWA.

    Nagulantang ako sa haba ng pila, Huwebes pala ngayon, day-off ng maraming tulad ko. Sa wakas at nakakuha ako ng numero. Hinihintay kong tumayo ang isang dalaga na mukhang tinatawagan ng amo at pinababalik sa trabaho.
    ”KAINIS”, aking naulinigan. Nurse daw yun, walang makitang trabaho sa Pinas kaya andito. “Flussi” ang nagiging paraan niya ng pagdating . “ Ako pala si Weng” pakilala ng aking nakatabi sa upuan, “ako naman si Juan OFW”, sagot ko. Katabi niya ang isang kwarenta anyos na babaeng may pasa, parang sinaktan o nagulpi. “Napano siya , tanong ko?”  “Ginulpi ng amo,“sabi ni Weng.  Nangyayari din pala yan sa Europa, alam ko lang ay talamak yan sa Middle East (rape pa nga ang madalas), Hong Kong at kung saan sangkaterba ang mga OFW na nagtatrabaho bilang kasambahay. Paalis na rin sila dahil sa halip na asistihan sila ng POLO, isang labor attache officer at ng OWWA tinuro sila sa Sindacato.

    “Numero 69”, anunsyo ng babae sa maliit na salamin.  “Numero ko yun , kagyat akong tumayo at tumapat sa bintana. ”Magandang umaga ma’am,” bati ko. “DOKUMENTO, ani ng babae. Aking iniabot ang aking pasaporte at permesso di soggiorno, apat na buwan na at paso na rin ito. Laking gulat ko nang di tanggapin ng ahensya ang aking inihahaing passport at permesso di soggiorno.

    Hinahanapan  ako ng konrtibusyon sa INPS o sulat ng aking employer bilang  katibayang ako ay may trabaho. Kung wala ang mga iyon malabong maging kasaping muli ng OWWA.

    Kagyat kong naisip na, paano kung may mangyari sa akin (wag naman sana)! Tulad ng nangyari kay  Aling  Saling na taga Tacloban. Dumating siyang (clandestino) dito sa Italya. Minsang naglilinis ng bintana, akalain mo ba namang nakabitaw sa hinahawakang seratura. Hayon, pinoproblema ng mga kasamahan  niya sa inuupahang  silid ang pagpapadala ng kanyang bangkay sa Pilipinas.

    Tulad ko kulang daw sa bagong rekisitos sa pagsapi. Nawasak pa naman ang kanyang ipinapatayong  bahay bunga ng bagyong Yolanda. At hanggang ngayon  sa mga tent pa rin  sila nakatira. Marami ngang kwento na kahit sa parte ng Samar at Leyte hindi lang sa Tacloban ganito ang tanawin. Walang tirahan, trabaho, tigil na ang rasyon, nagtitiis sa maiinit na tent (kubol) at yung malapit sa baybaying dagat ay di na muling pinayagan magtayo ng kahit barong-barong. Gagawin daw eco-tourism ang lugar.

    Tumambling akong palabas ng Embahada. Bigo, pagod, nasayang na oras at panahon, higit sa lahat tumataginting na 50 euro (solo andata) na ipinambayad ko sa tiket, mahal kasi ang Freccia Rosa pero masisiyahan ka sa bilis, linis at komportableng biyahe.

    Tinuloy ko ang plano na tumungo  sa Vaticano. Tinawagan ko si Sisa, ex ko sa Pinas noong kami’y nasa parehong iskwelahan sa probinsya. Krrringgggggg…..”ayoko sana na ikaw ay mawawala”(Aegis yata ang ring tone ng telepono niya), paborito niyang grupo ng mang-aawit dahil hanep kung bumirit. “Il numero che ha chiamato e non disponibile”, naisip ko mauunsiyami pa yata ang aking matagal nang hangad na makita siyang muli. Purnada! Dami ko pa namang plano, kakain kami sa Mc Donald o Burger king (siyempre sagot ko), mamamasyal at kung posible, katulad ng dati gawin ang ginagawa ng mag-asawa, ito e kung posible pa.

    Sa di kalayuan nakakita ako ng grupo ng mga Pilipino na may dalang mga plakards. “LAHAT NG SANGKOT MANAGOT!” “Bro intsik ka ba?”, tanong ng isang nagpapaliwanag.  Sa loob-loob ko, pinagdudahan pa ang aking nasyonalidad e pango naman ang aking ilong! Paliwanag niya na umabot na hanggang Malakanyang ang alingasaw ng korapsyon at pilit ikinukubli ang partisipasyon ng mga susing opisyales ng Gabinete.  Sekretaryo Butch Abad at lima pa sa kanyang pamilya na sangkot sa PDAF, Sekretaryo Alacala sa Kagawaran sa Agrikultura dagdag pa ang bigong pangongotong ng kapatid ni P-Noy sa gobyerno ng Czech para sa pagbili ng bagon ng MRT at LRT. Tumataginting na $30M ang hinihingi kapalit ng pagkopo sa kontrata. Naisip ko tuloy, mabuti na lamang at may mga taong handang magsiwalat ng lahat at malalakas ang loob para labanan ang katiwalian at mapawi ang pagsasamantala. Nilingon ko ang isang placards, nakasulat “ LP – Lapian ng pangulo, Lapian ng Plunderers”.

    Nakasabayan ko si Pedro, taga Mindanao. Pareho Regionale ang sinakyan naming treno  pauwi. Tumaas na naman kasi ang presyo ng biglieto. Ipinaliwanag niya sa akin na ayon sa OWWA Omnibus Law ( art.IV, sect.1.B.) ang usapin sa boluntaryong pagsapi ng lahat ng OFW. Karapatan ko pala ito! Sinasaad pa sa Republic Act 8042 na nararapat pangalagaan ang lahat ng OFW o mga “bagong bayani” dapat pangalagaan, asistihan at bigyang proteksyon. Maling i-abandona ng POLO-OWWA ang dikretong ito, diin pa niya. Umabot pa ang aming kwentuhan na sa Mindanao ay laganap ang malawakang pagmimina. Kabilang nga ang kanyang pamilya sa naitaboy dahil ang kanilang niyugan ginawang taniman ng DOLE at Del Monte.

    Naunang bumaba ng tren si Pedro.  Binasa ko ang polyetong iniwan niya sa akin. Nananawagan pala ang mga Migrante dito sa Italya sa Board of Trustees sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Administrador na –
    1. Ibalik at ipatupad ang dating alituntunin na passport at kontrata lamang ang kailangang dokumento sa panahong ipinoproseso ang kanyang pag-aaplay sa trabaho at passport lamang ang kailangan kung siya ay boluntaryong nag-aaplay na maging kasapi sa panahon siya ay nasa labas ng ating bansa.
    2.   Ibalik ang dating “lifetime membership”.
    3.   Pag-uulat sa kaganapan sa ahensya laluna sa kanyang pananalapi.
    4.   Pagtiyak sa mabilis at epektibong pagbibigay ng serbisyo at pagtugon sa problemang kinakaharap ng mga OFW.
    5.  Pagpaparami ng representasyon ng OFW sa Board of Trustees at pagbibigay sa kanila ang pangangasiwa ng nasabing ahensya.

    Pagdating ko ng bahay, tumambad sa akin ang lumang dyaryo ng Ako ay Pilipino. Sa frontpage “ P450 milyong pondo ng OWWA pinakialaman ni GMA”. Sa inis ko, nanuod na lang ako ng Pinoy channel sa TFC. Ang pangunahing balita – Pangulong Noynoy Aquino  nagpamigay ng milyon-milyong bonus sa mga pinuno ng OWWA.  Pondo ng Philhealth nawawala, baon sa utang at namemeligrong di mapakinabangan ng mga kasapi ang kanilang kontribusyon.

    Nagdesisyon na lang akong mahiga at magpahinga sa aking inuupahang “repostilyo”, ginawang kwarto, mas mura kasi ang bayad. Umuukilkil sa aking gunita ang anak ko na  humihingi ng pang-matrikula. Taon-taon na lang tumataas, renta sa boarding house, pamasahe, uniporme at pagkain. Kahapon lang tumawag ang kapatid kong bunso, kasamang natangal sa NXP semi-conductor sa Cabuyao. Ang kompanyang gumagawa ng  micro-chips ng sikat na I-Phone at I-Pod. Naalala ko ng mag-strike din ang mga manggagawa ng Coca-cola.

    Mahigit limang taon na silang manggagawa bilang driver pero nanatili silang kontraktwal.  Herrera Law, isa sa batas na pinirmahan ni Cory Aquino, ina ni Pres. P-noy. Sa ilalim ng batas na ito, lumaganap ang kontraktwalisayon, nameligro ang seguridad ng mga manggagawa sa trabaho, napako sa napakababang minimum wage ang mga obrero.

    Bumalik sa aking isipan ang ilang kwento sa Mindanao. Mula ng maaprubahan ang Mining Act of 1995 sa panahon ni Presidente Ramos, naglitawang parang mga kabute ang mga mining company. Nito lamang taong ito, sa rehiyon ng Davao sangkatutak ang pinayagang magmina. Open pit mining ang modernong paraan. Pinapatag ang kabundukan. Kabilang sa mga kompanya ang IndiPhils, Kinimi Copper  Exploration and Mining Corp, Pacific Heights Resources Inc, Mcwealth Mining Corp, Geoffrey T. Yengko at Compostela Valley.  Macliing Dulag ang pangalan na natatandaan kong lumalaban sa Philex at Cellophil Mining Co. na pinaslang sa Cordillera  sa dahilang nilalabanan nila ang pagmimina na nagdudulot ng pagkawasak ng kalikasan at pagtataboy sa kanilang lupang ninuno.

    “Che giornata!…” Andirito na ako sa Italy ayaw pa akong lubayan ng mga problemang panlipunan.  Dito naman, patuloy din ang pagtaas ng lahat bilihin, mula sa pagkain at damit, upa sa bahay, tubig-kuryente-gas, gasolina. Patong-patong din naman ang bayaring buwis…hay naku!

    “Juan, Juan, Juan gising na, anong oras ba ang sasakyan mong treno papuntang Roma? Sayang ang tiket mo “pag nagkataon”. (sinulat ni RO, isang migrante sa Firenze, 2014)