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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
November 28, 2006
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| November 11, 2006 |
Speaking Out Against the Exploitation of Filipino Women in Japan – Carmelita Nuqui |
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| Carmelita Nuqui advocates on behalf of migrant women |
Every year, tens of thousands of Filipino women are employed at nightclubs and drinking establishments in Japan. They are a common sight in the country, yet few people are aware of the exploitation and isolation they face. Carmelita Nuqui, a representative of Development Action for Women Network (DAWN), joined Peace Boat's 55th voyage to help tell their stories. |
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| Peace Boat participants model designs made by DAWN |
In the Philippines, she explained, jobs are hard to find and many are poorly paid. Consequently, many women seek work in other countries to help their families make ends meet. Some take singing and dancing lessons in the Philippines to qualify as “entertainers” in Japan, but when they arrive in the country they find themselves working as hostesses in smoke-laden bars, with salaries less than half of what they were promised. Their employers confiscate their passports and other documents when they arrive, making it difficult for the women to leave adverse situations.
Moreover, the women are often asked to go on “afternoon dates” with clients of the bar, which sometimes lead to pregnancy. When the women's visas expire, however, they have no recourse other than to return to the Philippines. There, they and their children often face shame, discrimination, and poverty.
According to Ms. Nuqui, DAWN was founded in 1996 to help returning migrant women reintegrate into society, and help them and their children regain their sense of self-worth. Key components of the organization include teaching the women new skills such as sewing, weaving, and dyeing, and a theater program for the Japanese-Filipino children. DAWN also helps the children search for their fathers in Japan, but many of the men already have families in Japan, which complicates the issue, Ms. Nuqui explained. |
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| DAWN products are a big hit on the ship |
Several years ago, the Japanese government finally recognized the exploitation of Filipino women in Japan and reduced the number of entertainer visas from approximately 70,000 per year to 10,000. Unfortunately, said Ms. Nuqui, the Filipino government has been lobbying for a renewed increase. She added that the Japanese embassy still views the issue of children born to Filipino migrant women and Japanese men as a personal one. “But it's not just a personal issue,” she emphasized. “It's the result of policies that have been decided by the two countries.”
After listening to Ms. Nuqui's talk, one young man admitted that he and his friends had been curious about clubs that employ Filipino women, and often thought of dropping by one for entertainment. However, after learning more about the reality behind the clubs, he said, his interest disappeared completely. Others agreed that it was important to speak more openly about the issue of migrant workers in Japan, and increase the pressure against human trafficking and exploitation that is arguably tacitly approved by both governments.
To help support DAWN’s activities, Ms. Nuqui brought a wide variety of goods produced by members of her organization; ornate and beautifully hand made dresses, bags and skirts. Having a sharp awareness of the stories behind these goods, participants were eager to make a purchase and support DAWN and make a socially conscious fashion statement at the same time.
DAWN can be reached at Rm. 514 Don Santiago Bldg. 1344 Taft Ave. Ermita 1000, Manila, Philippines, or at dawnphil[at]l-next.net. The URL is www.dawnphil.org. |
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