Members of the FNVMDWU joined the national demonstration for the rights of migrants and refugees dubbed as MOVE and organized by MiGreat on Sunday, June 18 in Amsterdam. The demonstration started at the Dam where speakers spoke about the dire situation of undocumented migrants and refugees and called on the Dutch government to implement more humane policies. It was followed by a march to the Museumplein.
The United Nations agency on migration (IOM-International Organization for Migration) cites three main reasons why people leave their countries: wars, poverty and the climate crisis. The rich countries of the North are mainly responsible for these three causes of migration and the poor countries of the Global South are the main victims. That is the reason why the flow of migrants and refugees are mainly from the Global South to the Global North. But the countries of the Global North refuse to acknowledge this truth and continues to make wars, create poverty and wreak havoc on the environment and at the same time setting up walls to keep migrants and refugees out.
During the march to the Museumplein, Joann made her speech on behalf of the FNVMDWU where she described the dire situation of migrant domestic workers who are mostly undocumented. She pointed to the fact that migrant domestic workers perform an essential service and contribute positively to Dutch society but their work is not recognized as real work like any other. Therefore they are denied their right to the standard labor protection and social security enjoyed by other workers. She issued the call of the FNVMDWU: RIGHT TO WORK, RIGHT TO STAY. NOW!
FNV Migrant Domestic Workers Union 