Posted by Belarmino D. Saguing Rome, Italy 03.19.19
Justice for Jerwin
Roj Rayupa!
Migrante
Australia, a national alliance of organisations advocating for Filipino
migrants mourns the death of Jerwin Roj Royupa, a 21-year old newly arrived Filipino
migrant worker.
Jerwin came
to Australia just 5 weeks ago on a traineeship visa. He died on 15th
of March 2019 after allegedly jumping from a moving vehicle.
It began
as a dream. In the end, it killed him. When Jerwin saw an opportunity to go to
Australia, he took it wholeheartedly. He anchored his big dreams on a
traineeship scholarship. As part of this scholarship scheme, he underwent a
4-week training in the Philippines. He didn’t mind that. He was ecstatic when his
traineeship visa came. Finally, his dream to build a house that didn’t get flooded,
his dream to take his parents to Australia, his dream to set up his own
business and his dream to prove to his parents that he is someone they can be
proud of again after he failed to pass the board exam are going to be
fulfilled. Barely a month in Australia, he told his family and friends that he
wasn’t being paid, he wasn’t being properly fed, the electricity and Wi-fi connection
where he was staying was frequently switched off. He told his friend that his
passport was taken off him as soon as he arrived at the airport by his
employer. He also told his family that according to his employer, he didn’t
have any rights in Australia. He was working 10 hours a day, 6 days a week.
George
Kotsakis, Migrante Australia’s Chairperson said that over 6000 Filipino workers
leave the country on a daily basis under the labour export policy program of the
Philippine government. Forced migration is a reality and to many Filipinos, it
is their only option, if they want to provide for the basic needs of their
families. And for Jerwin, it was the only way to make his dreams come true.
“It is the
responsibility of the Philippine government to ensure that overseas Filipino
workers are protected and treated with respect in countries they work in”,
Kotsakis added further.
The lack
of employment opportunities in the Philippines has forced many young Filipinos
like Jerwin to work stripped of their rights at work – or their human rights in
general.
We join
the Royupa family in seeking justice for their beloved Jerwin.
Justice for
Jerwin!
Migrante Australia
19 March
2019
For inquiries:
Angie Acierto
(Victoria) – 0410 579 563,
Mel Baltazar
(Western Australia) - 0414 247 154
Lina
Cabaero (NSW) – 0407 841 010
