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PSI holds National Forum on UN High Level Dialogue on Migration & Development
More than 60 participants attended the national forum with the theme “Towards a Country Strategy and Position for the 2nd UN HLD on Migration and Development: A National Forum among Trade Unions, Civil Society and Government.”
The public event facilitated by the Public Services International (PSI) and its affiliates in the Philippines which include PSLINK brought together representatives of trade unions, civil society organizations, and the government agencies involved in the Philippine preparations for the UN HLDMD.
The forum was organized to strengthen cooperation among social partners and build a common strategy and position to further advance decent work for migrant workers. It also served as a preparatory event to the Global Unions panel event scheduled on October 2, 2013 in UN New York.
William Gois, Regional Coordinator of Migrant Forum in Asia gave an overview of the UN HLDMD, the civil society processes around it, and the proposed five-year action agenda. PSI Migration Programme Coordinator Genevieve Gencianos presented about PSI as well as the Global Unions’ position to the UN HLDMD. Select resource persons talked about the recommendations from the Philippine trade unions and civil society groups.
Annie Enriquez-Geron, General Secretary of the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) underscored the need to decrease the financial costs of migration and improve transparency and accountability in the recruitment industry. She called for ethical recruitment of migrant workers and urged the Philippine government to push for the abolition of placement fees.
After the presentation of recommendations from the civil society, government representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) were asked to respond and provide information on the preparations being done by the Philippine government prior to the October UN HLDMD.
The panel of government speakers included the following:
- GONARANAO B. MUSOR, Division 4 Director, United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO-DFA)
- ANNE KRISTINE SALVADOR, Principal Assistant, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA-DFA)
- LIBERTY T. CASCO, Deputy Administrator, Employment and Welfare, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)-DOLE
- ANDREA LUISA C. ANOLIN, Executive Assistant, CFO
The open forum that followed provided an opportunity for all the trade unions, civil society groups and government agencies present to further sharpen the Philippine strategy and position for the upcoming UN HLDMD in October. All the stakeholders committed to supporting a rights-based approach to migration and development.
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PSLINK 