What is the Filipino Workers Center?

The Filipino Workers Center is an institution that aims to arouse, organize and mobilize Filipino workers to work for social and economic justice. The Center aims to promote awareness of common interests, issues and problems as workers of an ethnic minority, and develop understanding and cooperation with workers of other ethnic communities.

The Center serves as a place where Filipino workers can spend time together, discuss, learn from one another and work collectively to serve one another and improve working conditions. The Center works to build a movement of Filipino workers aware of their rights and confident to lead actions to influence and change oppressive structures.

Programs and Services

Organizing Program: Organizes Filipino domestic workers, restaurant and dock workers to address social and economic justice issues within the community.

Social Services Program: Offers free or affordable services such as immigration, legal, medical and counseling services, and job referrals.

Leadership and Skills Program: Offers leadership training workshops to develop leaders among Filipino workers in order to implement programs and actions to better the community.

Education Program: Offers seminars and study sessions on workers' and immigrants' rights, the conditions of migrant workers, and the underlying causes of the Philippine diaspora.

Cultural Program: Conducts theatre arts workshops, offers exposure to pro-people and pro-worker area cultural events, and sponsors and produces cultural events that give Filipino workers the opportunity to express the conditions of their lives.

Youth Internship Program: Exposes Filipino-American youth to the issues facing Filipino workers and develops youth leaders to take action to address these problems.

How to Get Involved!

All are encouraged to get involved in working to better the Filipino working community. You might want to attend a forum or discussion on issues affecting Filpino workers, support one of the Workers Center programs, or help organize.

Whether you are a worker or not, whether you are Filipino or not, you can make a difference! Call or write to the Filipino Workers Center to learn more about the upcoming activities and how to become involved.

Why do Filipinos leave the Philippines? It is estimated that a total of 8 million Filipino, 10% of the population, are living outside the Philippines. More than 3 million are in the United States. Massive poverty in the Philippines causes Filipinos to migrate abroad in search of jobs and the opportunity to live in dignity. The Philippines is the top labor exporter in the world. The Philippine government's unwillingness to effectively address widespread poverty has led it to actively promote migration for the purpose of obtaining dollar remittances to boost the Philippine economy. This is in spite of the fact that the work Filipinos obtain abroad is usually classified as "dirty, dangerous, and degrading," ranging from domestic help to "entertainment" or prostitution.

Who are the Filipinos of New York? In New York there are an estimated 100,000 - 200,000 people of Filipino descent. More than 3,000 documented Filipinos move to New York City every year. The Filipino Workers Center is currently focusing efforts on domestic workers and restaurant workers. Many Filipino women are domestic workers, though they often hold college and professional degrees.

In addition to low wages of $3.33 to $8.33 per hour and long hours, Filipina domestic workers usually live in the home of their employer and have little interaction outside of their job. Many are undocumented immigrants who live in fear of deportation. Employers of domestic helpers have been known to use immigration status against the domestic helpers they employ as a way to oppress and violate their rights.

Contact the Filipino Workers Center and take action to improve the conditions of Filipino workers!

The Filipino Workers Center is a project of the Philippine Forum, an education and advocacy organization in New York City. The Filipino Workers Center is supported by the New York Foundation, the Funding Exchange, Materials for the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and by members.