The Center's main goal is to support democratic and independent labour
movements in Asia. In order to achieve this goal, AMRC upholds the
principles of workers' empowerment and gender consciousness, and follows a
participatory framework.

On information and documentation, we monitor and process information on
all aspects of labour in Asia. Last year we handled around 1,500
requests made by labour activists, NGO workers, journalists, academic
researchers and people from business circle. We also maintain a web-site:
http://www.hk.super.net/~amrc.

Our research projects support many ongoing campaigns, the major one being
TNCs and labour practices in China. Our findings are frequently cited in
printed or electronic media. Financial crisis and its impact on Asia
workers is another focus.

We also publish a quarterly labour journal named Asian Labour Update which
examines important labour issues and current events in the Asia/Pacific
region from workers' perspectives. It provides information and analysis
of issues and stories that are not covered thoroughly by the mainstream
media.

Lastly, we play an active part in several campaigns and networks -

1. ALARM (APEC Labour Rights Monitor) - this is a joint venture of several
regional labour NGOs to monitor labour rights in the APEC region by
sending out action alerts and promoting solidarity actions.

2. Toy Campaign - we act as the international secretariat to promote toy
workers' rights, to organise consumers' education and campaign activities.

3. EPZ workers - facilitate exchange visits and support organizing
activities among women workers in the Export Processing Zones.

4. OSH- forge solidarity links among occupational safety and health,
accident victims groups in Asia.

-----

Asian Migrant Centre: Using Various Media for Activities & Campaigns

AMC is an Asian regional NGO founded in 1989 and based in Hong Kong. AMC's
work focuses on migrant workers' issues all over Asia (with emphasis on
women migrants). Our 3 main programmes are: (1) Reintegration and Migrant
Empowerment, (2) Networking, Campaigns and Lobbying., and (3) Information,
Research and Publishing.

Migrant reintegration - A pioneering programme that involves grassroots
organising, unionisation, training and empowerment of migrant workers.
Reintegration involves forming migrant savings groups and mobilising their
savings for alternative investment in the migrants' home country. This
represents a new and proactive response to the issue of Asian labour
migration.

Networking, campaign and lobbying -- AMC's key network and campaign
activities for 1999:

Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) - our Asian network of 40+ migrant action
groups which spearheads our Asia-wide and joint campaigns on migrant
workers' issues. The Secretariat is in Manila.

December 18 (International Migrants Day) - we have declared this day as
our yearly Migrants Day. This year, 1999, marks our 3rd year of
joint/coordinated celebration in Asia.

<asia-migrants> -- our online list-serve (moderated) focusing on labour
migration issues. It now has over 50 members in the list from Asia, the
Americas and Europe.

Global Campaign for Ratification of UN Convention - our joint
international campaign to push for the ratification of the UN Migrant
Convention. The Steering Committee is based in Geneva.

"Rights and Roots" campaign - The campaign has two legs: "Rights" -
focuses on exposing migrants' rights violations, violence against women,
and promoting migrants' rights; "Roots" -- focuses on unemployment,
poverty, debt, IMF/WB, SAPs and other root causes of labour migration.

ALARM/APEC - we are one of the key sponsors of the APEC Labour Rights
Monitor (ALARM); we served as ALARM Secretariat for 2 years before it
moved on to AMRC. In the last 4 APEC summits, AMC has co-organised the
parallel "Migrant/Labour Forum".

CARAM-Asia - this is our network group for migrant health issues, with
specific focus on HIV/AIDS Research, information and publishing

Infobank & library - in-house collection of clippings, data/statistics,
and information about Asian migration; also a library of reading
materials, video/audio, visual aids, photos and training kits.

Asian Migrant Yearbook (AMY) -- A unique and pioneering work of AMC
which contains authoritative reports on the situation of migrant workers
in more than 15 Asian countries and analytical writeups on current issues
(e.g. Asian crisis, gender issues, etc). Migrant groups & advocates, and
even government agencies, companies and universities have praised it for
its excellent format and contents.

Studies/reports (pamphlet series) - in-house studies of urgent issues.
Our July 1998 report on the "Impact of the Asian Crisis on Migrant
Workers" was very popular both in print (AMY 998) and electronic formats.
A follow-up study is underway. From 1999 onwards, the results of these
studies will be released as a pamphlet series.

AMC Online <hk.super.net/~amc> -- our website contains online version of
country reports, AMC papers, and other resource materials. For 1999, we
plan to include a photo gallery and regular news.

Posters/Calendars/Visual materials -- we publish at least one poster
each year. Recent posters include: "Labour Nexus: A Decade of Migration in
Asia" (1997) and "Ratify" (1998).

Roaming photo exhibit - to be launched in 1999; enlarged, laminated and
mounted photos of migrant workers' actions & activities will be circulated
and exhibited in various countries c/o AMC partners.

Video production -- in October 1998 we co-produced a video entitled,
"Visible/Invisible: Filipina Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong". We are
promoting the idea of participatory video documentaries done by migrants
themselves. We plan to do videodocu in various countries in Asia. The 1999
plan is to produce a participatory video on Indonesian migrants.
7 CD-ROM - new medium being explored. CD-ROM has become one of the most
durable and cheap vehicles for storing and distributing migrant materials.
For 1999, we are arranging for the production of CD-ROMs for reading
materials, AMY, directories, photos, video, training materials,
alternative music, and other materials on Asian migrant workers.

/rmv, 10 Feb 1999