New JCAP Migration Network

A network on migration has been formed within the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, comprising Jesuit institutions working on the issue – Tokyo Migrant Desk in Japan, Yiutsari in Korea, Rerum Novarum Centre in Taiwan, UGAT Foundation in the Philippines, Sahabat Insan in Indonesia, JRS Asia Pacific, and Jesuit Social Services Australia.

Fr Benny Juliawan SJ, the Conference’s Coordinator for Migration and Secretary for Social Ministries, convened the network’s inaugural meeting in Jakarta from June 3 to 6.   He said that the meeting aimed at two general objectives: (1) to recognise the current state of the migration services in JCAP; and (2) to kick start common programmes for the next three years. The reporting among the migrant-sending countries (Indonesia, Philippines) and migrant-receiving countries (Japan, Korea, Taiwan) turned out to be a learning experience in discovering rich possibilities of collaboration in the next years.

The network seeks to target the brokerage system which is a major source of injustices to migrant workers. The migration industry relies heavily on the brokerage system to run the business of recruitment and placement of workers across state borders. The role of the state so far has been minimal especially in terms of protecting workers’ rights. The worst cases of injustice always occurred where the power of agencies was unchecked and government officials colluded with them. To know more about this network, please check the following article.

This post is part of an original article written by Benny Juliawan for the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific website.