David Schembri
Migrants stand up for their rights
The migrants' network was set up yesterday. Photo: Jason Borg.
A united front of immigrants from 11 African countries has called on the government to provide unemployment benefits, freedom of movement and better conditions at open centres.
The newly-founded Migrants' Network for Equality has written a letter to Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici highlighting the difficulties African migrants in Malta face, while proposing solutions.
The group, launched during a news conference yesterday, will also be presenting a letter to EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom.
One of its "most pressing concerns," the group said, was freedom of movement, whereby migrants with some form of protection wishing to live elsewhere in Europe were being sent back to Malta under the Dublin Regulation.
"We note with disappointment that, when the European Union was in the process of granting freedom of travelling, living and working inside the EU to persons with protection who had lived for at least five years in any EU country, for reasons incomprehensible to us, Malta was the only country to oppose these new rules and stopped them from coming into effect," the letter read, urging the government to reopen the debate on a European level.
The group also requested that immigrants working regularly who have paid at least 50 social security contributions over at least two years be given the right to apply for unemployment benefit, as is the case with the Maltese.
The letter said the lack of a safety net was deterring people from leaving open centres to find work, fearing they would lose the little allowance they were receiving should they lose their job. The group was therefore recommending that those who did not manage to pay 50 NI contributions before losing their job be given a small allowance.
The group said it was possible for the government to create open centres that met, at the very least, the basic standards needed to uphold the dignity and well-being of human beings.
The group also said it was a gross injustice that those arrested at the airport for trying to leave the island irregularly were given prison terms of at least six months, when it would have been their first offence.
This letter ushers in a new voice for migrants, whose most vocal advocates had been NGOs such as the Jesuit Refugee Service and Moviment Graffitti.
"For long, many of us have felt the need to do something about our situation here, but before anything could be done we needed to organise ourselves. While a lot is being said about immigration in Malta, the voice of migrants has been generally missing," Abshir Abdala, a spokesman for the group said.
While immigration worries persist among the locals, the African immigrants themselves had problems of their own to face.
"Stories about migrants and their experience have often been heard," said Andre Callus, representing 12 local NGOs who have lent their support to the network. "Now it is important that migrants be an active part of the debate on immigration."
Things came to a head when last March a resident at the Marsa open centre committed suicide. This was "the last of many incidents," Mr Abdala said.
The network started meeting on Sundays, and the group has grown to include representatives from 11 countries.
The letter they presented was signed by representatives of all 11 countries, 12 local NGOs and 23 academics.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
24 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
gaffarena joseph
Aug 3rd 2010, 18:32
This is only the beginning.
This is a carbon copy of what happened in other eu countries.
Better if we citizens of the Republic of Malta fight for our rights.
We are not dealing with refugees, but illegal immigrants,that
are taking our jobs,and all kind of jobs, this is what we have to fight.
In, the coming election,I, will not cast my vote if we stay in this situation.
Many univ, students this summer had to stay home, because their summer jobs
were taken by these illegals.
What more rights do they want?Some of them are already better off than us.
There are many members of parlament from both sides of the house that share
my views,so pluck up courage,and show your voice about this situation,that is going to
make an impact on our people.
Sean Grima
Aug 4th 2010, 08:36
we are dealing with people who have exercised the right granted to them by maltese law to seek aslyum.
Michael Neville Cassar
Aug 1st 2010, 21:04
I find it irritating that these 12 NGO want to make illegal’s in a legal situation while ignoring the very fact that Malta cannot afford to legalize all the people from all over destitute countries to come and stay on these tiny island. Such decisions must be put to a referendum and not does 12 NGO’s as a fact , So please Dear PN take note if you have the intention of calling a referendum for divorce do another whether we want a permanent illegal’s or not .
Sean Grima
Aug 2nd 2010, 19:30
which law says that such decisions must be decided by referendum?
oliver mallia
Aug 1st 2010, 18:26
@ Andrew Calleja
Louise Vella is right.
I always learned that charity starts at home. Do your self bother about the single parents situations in Malta? The drug problems? 8000 Maltese persons unemployed? The problems that are being faced most of the workers in factory’s? Help the illegal immigrant solve problems in their country and we all support. Thanks to most of Maltese, all are doing their aim to help such Dar tal-Profidenza, dar il-kaptan, institutes and so on
Sean Grima
Aug 2nd 2010, 19:30
one problem does not eliminate another.
Joseph Calleja
Aug 1st 2010, 14:37
Inch by inch, step by step, little by little it all comes to a point. We are all familiar with that term, it's like a cancer, once it starts it's very hard to stop. Think about it all, first they started showing up 8 people to a boat, the the number grew and even included women and children. First they started showing up in shanty boats, now they have very expensive dinghys with very expensive outboard motors which coincidently happen to brake down in the middle of the Mediterranean. How convenient, while the AFM risk their life and other things to save them. Now they are starting to get organised and wanting their rights. What's next? Only time will tell. I think somebody, somewhere is making tons of money organizing all this. It's a shame if that somebody turns out to be Maltese. QUO VADIS?
s.koludrovic
Aug 1st 2010, 14:09
For every immigrant that has left Africa for a better life in Europe, they left behind a mother, a wife and children.
Africa has become an orphan continent with just abandoned wives and children trying to survive as best they can, with no protection or any human rights, and no husband or father to protect them.
It truly is time for African men to stand up to their responsibilities and do something for their families in their own countries.
Europe can survive without Africans, but Africa cannot survive without the African workers.
Mark Bonello
Aug 1st 2010, 13:44
Honestly cannot believe what I am reading!!! these people are already a burden on us and they want more? INstead of doing the decent thing and travel back to their country and fight for their country, they want more from us Europeans . Remember that Europe did not come from nothing.. our fathers worked and fought hard they just want to take it the easy way!!
Josephine Bugeja
Aug 1st 2010, 13:31
Mr. Andrew Calleja, illegal immigration is still very much a problem, contrary to what you say. It will remain a problem until such time as all illegal immigrants, including those enjoying refugee status, are repatriated or settled elsewhere. I believe this to be official policy too. If the illegal immigrants "integrate", as you say, they will have no more reason or incentive to "move on". That means, we will still have them among us with all the future social problems this may create. We have been lucky for centuries to be a homogeneous population and, among other problems we had to face, we did not have racial or religious diversity. This will change if these persons remain here. Who will take responsibility for the future when our children will have to face the problems now faced by other countries? Please think about this before supporting integration. illegal immigrants are to be treated most humanely but it must be made clear to them that they are here temporarily and should harbour no hopes of integration or residence permits. They are trying to be polite and moderate for the time being but, once they are given more rights, their appetite will increase.
Franco Farrugia
Aug 1st 2010, 13:18
I am disgusted at some of the comments here. OF COURSE, immigrants have rights! Even animals do, let alone human beings like you and I!
Louise Vella
Aug 1st 2010, 12:48
They want “a small allowance” here and “a small allowance” there. Can these people who came illegally to our island on some dinghy or rickety boat, and who never contributed anything to Malta’s present standards, tell us what right they have in the limited wealth that our fathers and forefathers have left to us? Our present standards are the result of the toil, sweat and work of generations of Maltese. We earned it. It was not given to us in charity.
Andrew Calleja
Aug 1st 2010, 11:49
Louise Vella:
Can you please tell us why you are so resentful? I think you fail to realise that these people want to make a living and contribute to society and not be a burden.
Let them become productive, let them integrate and once they think they can move on, let them do so. It is true it is not a desired situation and that for some time illegal immigration was a problem - but it is not so anymore. so let the genuine refugees build a new life just like your great-great-great grandfather did.
Marc T.F.
Aug 1st 2010, 13:20
@ Andrew Calleja
Just because this has been going on for so long and has somehow become a norm does not mean that they are no longer a burden. We were still paying the same amount if not more from our taxes and now they are demanding even more. Well you are also part of a minority Andrew, a minority who doesn't mind them in our country. The majority of us do not want them and if the government decides to grant them all these benefits, it's only a matter of time until the Maltese unite and organise and no government will control a revolting majority of the population!! i for one would not like to pay taxes if i know they're going to be spent in this way!!! It's my hard earned money and i should have a say on how it's spent!!
Muscat D
Aug 1st 2010, 13:48
The operative word is genuine refugees. These last eight years only about 250 were genuine refugees.The rest, 97% are abusing the system. I agree that refugees should be helped. The problem isn't the genuine refugees, 250 can be assimilated , the problem is those that have had their case for refugee status dismissed and are economic migrants.
The immigrants should thank the state that, unlike other normal third party nationals they have free medical services, free accomodation and an allowance. Not even the Maltese get free accomodation. The NI contribution is just paying back a little of what has been given. It doesn't even cover the fuel used to fish them out of the sea. They seem to believe in, take take take and nothing else and that we owe them a living. We don't.
Joseph Calleja
Aug 1st 2010, 14:11
" for some time illegal immigration was a problem - but it is not so anymore. so let the genuine refugees build a new life just like your great-great-great grandfather did."
First of all our great grandfather was born here on the island of Malta. He did not come here illegally. Secondly since when did illegal immigration not a problem anymore? What part of Malta are you living in? As long as ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION remains ILLEGAL it will remain a problem. If it wasn't a problem we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Sean Grima
Aug 2nd 2010, 19:32
the vast majority of that 97% have been granted subsidiary protection and are consequently here legally. had they merely been 'economic migrants' they would not have been granted that protection.
Tonio Azzopardi
Aug 1st 2010, 11:48
I repeat, rephrase accordingly...
Please dear '12 local NGOs and 23 academics', start explaining to the '11 representatives' of these illegal immigrants from Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Ghana, Niger, Mali, Guinea Bissao, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Sierra Leone to grab the opportunity to re-unite and start preparing for an eventual readmission programmes to their original countries, that will see them taking an active part in stabilizing their original country.
Explain to them, that they should re-unite with their brothers who are actively collaborating with the African Union forces and EU military advisors in African countries which, border their countries and contribute to stabilize their countries.
Enough with this cowardice and escapism!
Charles Sammut
Aug 1st 2010, 10:59
"Things came to a head when last March a resident at the Marsa open centre committed suicide. "
Many people have committed suicide because of VAT and tax problems. So what? if you place yourself in a difficult situation, you suffer the consequences. The vast majority of these illegals are not refugees. They are still here simply because the Maltese government does not have the means to send them back where they came from. They are abusing the system and are not welcome here or in the rest of Europe.
We have 8000 unemployed so their work is not needed. The only reason some of them get work is because they can afford to work for less and the government turns a blind eye to their illegal employment. They do not belong here, it is that simple.
As for unemployment benefits being suggested, these liberal lefties are ever so generous with other people's money while the Jesuit Refugee Service enjoys exemption from income tax.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 1st 2010, 10:48
Its not to Sweden and Maelstrom that the immigrants have to write to, it should be more to Boris Johnson the mayor of London.
After all if one Somali family is freely given a 5 bedroomed pad in Kensington costing the local council 2000 stg weekly rent,I,m sure they,ll more than willing take on quite a few from us on the same basis.
Louise Vella
Aug 1st 2010, 09:56
We are told there were twelve local NGOs but only two are mentioned, Moviment Graffitti and the Jesuit Refugee Service. Which are the other ones? What is the total number of registered members of the twelve NGOs altogether? Can we be assured that no one person is a member of two or more of these NGOs? We are told 23 academics signed the letter. Can we have names please?
Stephen Farrugia
Aug 1st 2010, 10:36
Here is the monitored list of names : http://videos3.timesofmalta.com/tomcdn/20100731--120200-migrantsnetworkforequalityletter.pdf
Stephen Farrugia ( Rightwing)
Charles Sammut
Aug 1st 2010, 10:47
Most of these phanton 12 NGOs are offshoots of the JRS and the Moviment Graffiiti. Same faces, same lame arguments.
Louise Vella
Aug 1st 2010, 09:47
I am pleased that they will be writing to the Swede Cecilia Malmstrom, EU Commissioner responsible for illegal immigrants. I hope they will remind her that Sweden has sent back to Malta 550 illegal immigrants because they were unwelcome and unwanted by Sweden. Maybe the Swede Cecilia Malmstrom will find a home in Sweden for all the illegal immigrants in Malta who want to go to that paradise in the north.