Migrante Korea

09/08/2026

30/07/2026

23/07/2026

PRESS RELEASE
July 23, 2026

Overseas Filipino groups hold State of Filipino Migrants and Diaspora Global Press Conference ahead of Marcos Jr 5th SONA

Manila, July 22 -- An online press conference was organized by Bayan International and Migrante International where migrant leaders from various global regions spoke not only about the deplorable conditions and situations in their host countries, but also registered their united stand with the Filipino People's State of the Nation Address as the real state of the nation.
In the Asia-Pacific region, where 1.6 million OFWs and Filipinos live and work, Roger Raymundo of Bayan Asia-Pacific spoke of the struggles of Filipino migrant workers under the Marcos Jr. regime.

In New Zealand, consular officials and the Philippine government abandoned more than 700 Filipino migrant construction workers who lost their jobs when the company they were working for collapsed, leaving the workers stranded and unemployed. In South Korea, the severe and intense crackdown on migrant workers has affected thousands of undocumented Filipinos who have also become targets for arrested, detention and deportation. The workers receive little or no assistance and attention from the Philippine government while they are detained by the police and immigration. In Thailand and Cambodia, scammers and illegal recruiters prey on Filipinos who enter these countries. These illegal recruiters based in the Philippines have not been punished. In Hong Kong, OFWs decry the unjust increase in contract verification fees recently implemented by the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong.

The US War against Iran has also led to increasing cost of living in host countries and in the Philippines worsening the economic hardships migrant workers are already facing. “Anumang pagtaas sa presyo ng produkto ng petrolyo ay may agad-agad na pagtaas sa presyo ng bilihin, kung kaya ang mga OFW ay napipilitang magtrabaho ng doble, kumayod ng doble para tustusan ang pangangailangan ng pamilya." Raymundo stated.

In the Middle East, the US war of aggression on Iran and Lebanon continues to directly impact the safety, security and jobs of OFWs. Many have lost their jobs, made to go on forced or indefinite leave, suffer reduced wages and hours, loss of benefits, and forced to house-sit for employers who have evacuated. Thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Inutil ang gobyerno sa kanilang serbisyo para sa mga OFWs na apektado ng gera. Sa karanasan namin, hindi transparent ito, may mga consular officials na sinasabihan ang mga OFWs na wag sabihan ang ibang OFWs tungkol sa Aksyon Fund. Kapag hindi ka din OWWA member mas kaunti lang ang matatanggap mo na ayuda. Kahit walang gera, malubha pa din ang kalagayan ng mga OFWs dahil sa laganap ang mga kaso ng contract substitutions, mababang sahod, diskriminasyon at iba pang paglabag sa aming mga karapatan" described Laura, an OFW in UAE.
From the USA, June Culcul of Bayan USA shared how growing number of Filipinos in the US are fighting against the expansion of US militarism in the world and the US-backed counter-insurgency initiatives and programs of the Philippine government. She condemned the systematic practice of red tagging of Filipino American activist groups in the US who are critical of and fight back against the fascist policies of the Marcos regime that have also caused the recent death of two Filipino American activists in the Philippines.

Meanwhile in Canada, Apol Apuntar of Canada’s Tama Na! Coalition, a coalition formed to unite Filipinos in Canada in the fight against corruption declared that advancing the fight against government corruption is integral to realizing the aspirations of Filipinos for genuine development. Apuntar also shared about the recent visit of BBM to Canada to attract foreign investements for mining, clean energy and digital infrastructure and how his visit was greeted by strong protest actions by Filipinos in Canada.
"We are speaking out because these investments will only mean plunder of our land and natural resources. Many Filipinos already struggle with high power costs and inadequate public services, our resources should first serve the needs of our people,” according to Apuntar.

Filipino migrants in Europe are also demanding an end to systematic government corruption, and accountability of the highest corrupt officials starting with the Marcoses and Dutertes.
“Ang tunay na pagbabago ay nangangailangan ng pagwawakas sa sistemang naghihintulot sa korupsyon, political dynasties at kultura ng impunity. Ang burukrata kapitalismo, ang paggamit sa kapangyarihan ng estado para sa pansariling yaman at kapakinabangan, ay isa sa mga ugat ng paulit-ulit na pandarambong at pang-aapi sa mga mamamayang Pilipino. Hangga't nananatili ang sistemang ito, patuloy na uusbong ang mga opisyal tulad ni Marcos Jr. at Sarah Duterte na inuuna ang sariling interes kaysa kapakanan ng bayan" according to Lean Jimenez, spokesperson of Bayan Europe
Closing the press conference, Andan Bonifacio of Bayan International declared that Filipinos overseas stand united with the Filipino people in the Philippines who are demanding for genuine systemic change.

"As the crises continue to worsen, many Filipinos abroad have joined the progressive organizations in the movement to change the system, in spite of the red tagging and attacks against people’s organizations. Overseas Filipinos stand united with the resounding call of the Filipino people in the Philippines “Itakwil ang papet, pasista, korap at pahirap na rehimeng US-Marcos! Labanan ang imperyalistang gera at pandarambong!" Bonifacio declared.

"We also also call for “Trabaho sa Pinas, Hindi sa Labas! Ibasura ang LEP at Pax Silica at lahat ng mga unequal economic, and military agreement!” Bonifacio asserted.
Bonifacio announced that starting July 22 onwards, global protest actions will be held in many cities around the world as a demonstration of unity with the Filipino People’s SONA on July 27.

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https://migranteinternational.org/overseas-filipino-groups-hold-state-of-filipino-migrants-and-diaspora-global-press-conference-ahead-of-marcos-jr-5th-sona/

21/07/2026

Migrante International
STATEMENT
July 21, 2026

Migrant rights group decry death of two Filipino seafarers, calls on all seabased OFWs to unite and join global call to end intensifying imperialist wars

Migrante International expressed outrage at the recent death of two Filipino migrant seafarers and 12 others who were injured as a result of drone attacks resulting from the escalating US-NATO Proxy War in Ukraine. According to the Department of Migrant Workers, a total of nine vessels carrying the Filipino seafarers and transiting the Black Sea were reported to have been attacked in separate instances. Meanwhile, one Filipino seafarer remains missing.

"We mourn the death of our two Filipino seafarers and extend our deepest sympathies to their families. We condemn the escalating conflict and imperialist wars from Europe to the Middle East, led by the number one imperialist United States that has directly endangered the lives and safety of migrant seafarers who work in various ports, logistics hubs and cargo, commercial and oil rig vessels" stated Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson of Migrante International

Migrante also lambasted the Marcos Jr. regime for failing to protect Filipino seafarers and for supporting the U.S. in strengthening its global war machine.

"While the Department of Migrant Workers has declared maritime corridors such as the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz as "War-like Operations Areas" and released advisories to our seafarers on their right to refuse deployment, the death of our two seafarers prove that the PH government's response remain inadequate and do not address the systemic problem of the lack of long-term job creation for Filipino seafarers at home and prioritizing the building of our own national maritime industry", according to Concepcion

"We also hold Marcos equally accountable for the deaths of our seafarers and the increasing number of Filipino seafarers who are placed in the cross fire because he continues to bow down to his imperialist master, surrendering Philippine sovereignty by allowing the US to use the entire country as a military base and launching pad for its wars of agression. He has committed to providing the US with vast tracts of land under the Pax Silica initiative for weapons production that will only heighten the global crisis and place more innocent lives at risk" added Concepcion.

Migrante called on Filipino seafarers to join the growing global movement resisting imperialist wars.

"Filipino seafarers alongside all Filipino migrant workers all over the world should unite, express our rage and join collective protest actions to demand an end to all imperialist wars of agression, and resist US intervention in the Philippines that are causing the suffering of working peoples." declared Concepcion # # #

https://migranteinternational.org/migrant-rights-groups-decry-death-of-two-filipino-seafarers-calls-on-all-seabased-ofws-to-unite-and-join-global-call-to-end-intensifying-imperialist-wars/

17/07/2026

09/07/2026

KASAMMA-KO salutes all Korean and migrant workers of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries who stood firm and united in defending their rights.

Through your collective action and solidarity, you successfully opposed the company's proposal to abolish the monthly 210,000 won meal deduction by reducing the base monthly salary from 2,041,200 won to 1,872,800 won, as well as the implementation of a fixed overtime allowance and a performance-based pay system that would have further undermined workers' livelihoods.

We stand with you in your struggle, and we celebrate this hard-earned victory together with you.

Because of your determined and united resistance, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries was forced to withdraw its proposal. Under the revised agreement, the company will provide free breakfast, lunch, and dinner to all migrant workers. In addition, it will retroactively reimburse all meal deductions collected since 2023, when the company began providing three free meals a day to both direct employees and subcontracted workers. Each worker is expected to receive an average refund of approximately 7 million won.

This victory is not only a victory for the workers of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. It is a victory for the entire working class in Korea and an inspiration to workers around the world. It proves once again that rights denied can be defended and won through unity, collective action, and organized struggle.

Whenever our rights are trampled upon, we must never remain silent. Let us unite, fight, and assert our dignity. Unity is our strongest weapon and our most powerful shield in achieving victory.

Long live the workers!
Long Live International Solidarity!
Eric Inverno
Chairperson
July 9, 2026

Kasamma Ko