耶穌進了神的殿,趕出殿裡一切做買賣的人,推倒兌換銀錢之人的桌子,和賣鴿子之人的凳子;對他們說:經上記著說:我的殿必稱為禱告的殿,你們倒使他成為賊窩了。(太21:12-13)
他們來到耶路撒冷。耶穌進入聖殿,趕出殿裡做買賣的人,推倒兌換銀錢之人的桌子,和賣鴿子之人的凳子;也不許人拿著器具從殿裡經過;便教訓他們說:經上不是記著說:我的殿必稱為萬國禱告的殿嗎?你們倒使他成為賊窩了。(可11:15-17)
耶穌進了殿,趕出裡頭做買賣的人,對他們說:經上說:我的殿必作禱告的殿,你們倒使他成為賊窩了。(路19:45-46)
沒有非法的人
從事移工相關工作讓我有機會學習與聆聽移工的故事、移工的掙扎、犧牲、和夢想。很多移工在他們的原生國家都有家庭,依賴著他們給予每個月的生活費,或任何剩餘的薪水過活。通常一名移工需要連付好幾個月的債款給違法超收費用的職業介紹仲介,這樣的環境迫使許多移工需要忍受虐待他們的雇主的苦難和剝削,有些特殊情況底下,他們會面對爭鬥或處在必須要爭鬥的狀態,而能做的就是與雇主對質或是逃跑。
有許多案例是移工為了自衛而不得已殺了他們的雇主,這將使他們被判處死刑或是無期徒刑。許多中東國家不斷發生這樣真實的案例,許多人只能逃跑保命,這是導致許多人成為無證移工的原因之一。其他無證移工常是因為雇主沒收他們的證件,證件沒有更新而過期,或是惡意拒絕更新他們的證件。這些人因此成為人口販賣的犧牲者,有些人會以旅客的身分繼續待著找工作,但通常都無法在時間內取得簽證。
許多人有錯誤的觀念認為這些無證移工所得到的薪資會遠高於有證移工,然而生活的不安定也是這些無證移工掙扎的地方。他們的生命安全處於高度危險,只因為要生存下去,他們必須要忍受低薪、長工時、還有許多被像奴隸一般對待的狀況。
我還記得2010年我在馬來西亞沙巴遇見一個12歲的女孩,她在百貨公司前被移民局逮捕,當時的她才剛交接長達十二小時的工作。當我們在拘留中心與她對談時,她告訴我們她會找機會再回到沙巴,我們問她為什麼,她說我在馬來西亞出生,但我不認識菲律賓的任何人(她可能會被驅逐回菲律賓),我的家庭在這,這是我的國家,我的父母是無證移工,這就是我也沒有證件的原因,我不苛責他們,我猜無證的背後一定有什麼原因。我只希望馬來西亞政府能夠讓我們更容易取得證件、被識別,誰想要成為沒有名字的人呢?
我想總有些原因致使這些人成為無證移民,我們可以視他們為家庭中的一份子、我們的鄰居、朋友,他們並不是想要破壞法律的犯人,他們不是刻意變成無證移民的壞人,他們是一群有夢想、犧牲、值得被公正對待,享有權利與尊嚴的人。
作者現工作於 Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
原文如下:
No one is illegal.
Working with migrant workers gave me the privilege of listening to and learning about their stories, their struggles, their sacrifices and dreams. Many of them have families back in their home countries who would await their monthly remittances, or whatever is left of their salaries. Usually, migrant workers have to pay for several months debts coming from illegal fees charged by recruitment agencies.
This situation forces many migrants to endure hardship and exploitation caused by their abusive employers. At a certain point, they would face the fight or fight situation, in which they would either confront their employer or would simply run away. In many cases, migrants defending themselves would end up killing their employers and would be sentenced to death or life imprisonment. This is true in many Middle Eastern countries. Many others resort to running away.
This is one of the many ways to become undocumented migrants. Others become undocumented because their employers have confiscated their documents and have either intentionally refused to renew their employment visas or have forgotten about it. Many become victims of trafficking. A few would enter as tourists in order to find work but would not get a visa at the right time.
People who think undocumented migrants earn more than their legally-documented counterparts are wrong. There is a life of uncertainty for undocumented migrants. Their security is at great risk but since they need to survive they would have to endure receiving lower salaries, longer working hours and other slave-like conditions.
I remember meeting a 12-year old girl in Sabah, Malaysia in 2010. She was caught by immigration police outside the local department store where she just finished her 12-hour work shift. When we talked to her in the detention center, she told us that she will find a way to go back to Sabah. We asked why. This she said to us,
“I was born here in Malaysia. I don’t know anyone in the Philippines (where she would be deported). This is where my family is. This is my country. My parents are undocumented, that’s why I am undocumented. I don’t blame them. I guess there is a reason why they are undocumented. I just wish it is easier to be documented and recognized by the (Malaysian) government. Who wants to be undocumented?”
There is a reason why and how migrants become undocumented. Let us look at them like we see our families, our neighbors, our friends. They are not criminals who want to break the law. They are not bad people who simply chose to become undocumented. They are people with dreams, with sacrifices, with rights and dignity who deserve to be treated justly.