By Lorna Kung
Thursday, Dec 18, 2008, Page 8, Taipei Times
A few days ago, I received a phone call from a caregiver. She sounded frustrated and angry. She kept on asking me about her rights because her employer was refusing to give her a day off — she hadn’t had a day off in more than two years.
“Why they can treat me like this? I am not a slave!” she said.
Daisy is another caregiver. She enjoys a day off only once a month, but wants to take a regular day off every week. After she requested this of her employer, the lovely woman suddenly became cool and detached. She ignored not only her request but also her very presence.
This kind of conversation is a frequent part of my work, and that makes me sad and angry.
I won’t forget the sadness of Nancy, a caregiver in Taipei County. She showed me a picture of her three kids. Her oldest son died 20 years old while she was here. She was not allowed to attend his funeral. She was forced to abandon her family life, the most precious part of Philippine culture. I looked at her face and felt the pain and sadness — and persistence.
2010-03-27
Protecting the lot of immigrant workers
By Lorna Kung 龔尤倩
Sunday, May 04, 2008, Page 8 of Taipei News
You see them day and night at the vegetable market in Taipei County’s Sanchong City — foreign female workers who get up at dawn to work in the breakfast shops or clean cars under the scorching sun or late into the night. As the public waits for the economy to take a turn for the better when president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) takes over on May 20, it is this group of hardworking female immigrants that is the engine driving the local labor market.
A survey of the work situation for immigrant women published on the eve of Labor Day showed that language and race are the cause of much prejudice against these women as they seek employment. Then, if they manage to find a job, they usually have to suffer from inferior work conditions. Being immigrants and having to take care of their husbands’ family mean that these hardworking women often have to take substandard jobs.
Sunday, May 04, 2008, Page 8 of Taipei News
You see them day and night at the vegetable market in Taipei County’s Sanchong City — foreign female workers who get up at dawn to work in the breakfast shops or clean cars under the scorching sun or late into the night. As the public waits for the economy to take a turn for the better when president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) takes over on May 20, it is this group of hardworking female immigrants that is the engine driving the local labor market.
A survey of the work situation for immigrant women published on the eve of Labor Day showed that language and race are the cause of much prejudice against these women as they seek employment. Then, if they manage to find a job, they usually have to suffer from inferior work conditions. Being immigrants and having to take care of their husbands’ family mean that these hardworking women often have to take substandard jobs.
Education Photo - 2008
↑13July ,Workshop for international family
↑5 July, for Indonesian and Vietnamese immigrants
Activities Photo - 2008
↑↓New Immigrant Children painting lessons and outing
↑Nov.9, National Migrant Sunday
Advocacy -Photo 2008
↑11 July, Public hearing of Household Service Act.
↑15 May, Against the Decrease Minimum Wage.
Other Professional Activities by Lorna Kung-2008
1. Taiwan International Family Association (TIFA), Board Member.
2. Taiwan International Workers Association (TIWA). Consultant.
3. Host of Listeners’ Corner of Radio Taiwan International.
4. Mediator of Banchiao Family Court.
2. Taiwan International Workers Association (TIWA). Consultant.
3. Host of Listeners’ Corner of Radio Taiwan International.
4. Mediator of Banchiao Family Court.
Participation in Conferences, Workshops-2008
SIMN-Taiwan has attended and participated in the following conferences:
● 15March,29March,12April,19April,26April Workshop on Marriage Laws, organized by Warm Life Foundation.
● 27 March Conference on Cross-culture case studies, organized by Taipei City Government.
● 14 June Conference on Labor Studies, organized by Social Transition and Development Department of Shishin University
● 13 July Workshop on Foreigners and National Pension, organized by TIFA
● 5 August Conference on Migrant workers in Korea and Taiwan, organized by TIWA
● 14 August Conference on ”Why they choose to go aboard?”, organized by Taiwan International Family Association.
● 26 September Conference on Employment and New Immigrants organized by Institution for National Policy Research
● 15March,29March,12April,19April,26April Workshop on Marriage Laws, organized by Warm Life Foundation.
● 27 March Conference on Cross-culture case studies, organized by Taipei City Government.
● 14 June Conference on Labor Studies, organized by Social Transition and Development Department of Shishin University
● 13 July Workshop on Foreigners and National Pension, organized by TIFA
● 5 August Conference on Migrant workers in Korea and Taiwan, organized by TIWA
● 14 August Conference on ”Why they choose to go aboard?”, organized by Taiwan International Family Association.
● 26 September Conference on Employment and New Immigrants organized by Institution for National Policy Research
Networking and Advocacy - 2008
Up to the present, SIMN-Taiwan is an active member of Migrant Empowerment Network in Taiwan (MENT). SIMN-Taiwan is taking an important role in MENT’s lobbying activities.
1. MENT Meeting
MENT has regular meeting every month with topics of discussion on important and present migrant issues: Jan.10、Feb.22、March.20、April.11、May.23、June.23、7July、28Aug,、 14Sept.、Nov.11
2. The government agencies.
16 Jan, CLA Meeting regarding the Household workers.
24 April, CLA Meeting regarding the household workers and Minimum Wage Policy
7 October, CLA Meeting regarding the Household Service Act.
22 December, Meeting with the chairman regarding the rights of caregivers.
1. MENT Meeting
MENT has regular meeting every month with topics of discussion on important and present migrant issues: Jan.10、Feb.22、March.20、April.11、May.23、June.23、7July、28Aug,、 14Sept.、Nov.11
2. The government agencies.
16 Jan, CLA Meeting regarding the Household workers.
24 April, CLA Meeting regarding the household workers and Minimum Wage Policy
7 October, CLA Meeting regarding the Household Service Act.
22 December, Meeting with the chairman regarding the rights of caregivers.
Formation - 2008
Education
1. Information Campaign.
SIMN-Taiwan together with MWCD-Taipei started labor information campaign to educate the migrant workers of their rights. It is being done 15 minutes before the Sunday mass at St. Christopher’s church.
2. Talk on migration issue to the university students:
8 Jan., National Politic University.
24 Apri, Fu-Jen Catholic University
19 May, Fu-Jen Catholic University
21 May, ToWu University
12 November, GiNan University
20 November, Shishing University
1 December, DeMing Technology University
8 December, DeMing Technology University
11 December, ChungGan Medicine University
1. Information Campaign.
SIMN-Taiwan together with MWCD-Taipei started labor information campaign to educate the migrant workers of their rights. It is being done 15 minutes before the Sunday mass at St. Christopher’s church.
2. Talk on migration issue to the university students:
8 Jan., National Politic University.
24 Apri, Fu-Jen Catholic University
19 May, Fu-Jen Catholic University
21 May, ToWu University
12 November, GiNan University
20 November, Shishing University
1 December, DeMing Technology University
8 December, DeMing Technology University
11 December, ChungGan Medicine University
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