Protest Action Forced CLA Head to Conduct Probe into FPG Beatings of Filipino Workers

In a protest action yesterday participated by 17 migrants and their advocates in front of the Council of Labor Affair's office, CLA Minister Lee Ying-Yuan was forced to commit to conduct an impartial investigation on the beating up of four Filipino workers in said establishment last August 2 and promised to call on the manager of the Formosa Plastics Group (FPG). He made this remark in an open forum after the protest action with representatives of the Chinese Federation of Labor (CFL) and the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions (TCTU) the afternoon of October 27, 2005.

Minister Lee also stated that he could invite representatives of labor unions to the investigation. The CLA head made the remark in response to a question raised by Lennon Ying-Dah Wong of the CFL who earlier in the morning emceed a protest action in front of the CLA to seek justice for the victims and to investigate their living and working conditions.

After the open forum, Lennon talked with Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training head Fong-Yu Kuo and requested him if groups advocating for the FPG workers could also be invited. Mr. Kuo, whose Bureau is under the CLA gave his assent to this informal request.

The CLA head led an inspection tour with representatives of Labor groups at the G-Fun factory in Taoyuan to get their support in importing more foreign workers in such establishments. G-Fun makes dyes for textiles and is considered a dirty, difficult and dangerous (3-D¡¦s) place where even locals are hard to recruit.

The protest action was made in front of the CLA to look into the beatings and the conditions of the workers still employed at FPG. Gil Lebria, one of those who were severely beaten up spoke at the activity. He explained that the company retaliated violently at them on August 2 for successfully holding a strike in July 14 and 15.

In that strike which was participated by more than 600 Filipino workers, they were able to stop the monthly collection of NT$3000 cash bond and the deduction of NT$4,000 plus for alleged loan which they incurred in the Philippines. In addition to this, the illegal fee being imposed on them for health check-ups was reduced from NT$300 above to NT$50 and a mess hall has been built for them since last month.

The company however has been forcing the migrant workers to sign an illegal side agreement which includes an NT$10,000 documentary fee for entrance to Taiwan; brokers fee in the guise of a loan; and the balance to be paid to the Philippine agent. Other than this, the migrants still in FPG are complaining that their overtime pay is always delayed.

The protest action also proves that as long as the migrant workers are united and organized and supported by local advocate groups, the voice of migrant workers will be heard.

The migrants and their advocates vowed to continue with their quest to seek justice to the FPG workers. Other activities lined up would be a protest action in the office of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) this coming Sunday, October 30. Another would be a dialogue with the Committee for the Human Rights of Migrant Workers of Vice President Annette Lu, which still has to be set.