The Filipino community in Los Angeles, California, US launched the campaign Justice for Trafficked Lancaster Caregivers (J4TLC) on March 29 to expose the situation of Filipino caregivers in the US and to defend their rights and welfare.

A group of Filipino caregivers from Lancaster approached Migrante San Fernando Valley in 2024 to report their experience of abuse.

Most of them entered the US through State 101, a Philippine-based travel agency that processes B1/B2 non-migrant visas, for business or tourism purposes.

Prior to leaving, the workers were promised free food and lodging, a monthly allowance of ₱99,000, and assistance in obtaining legal papers. They paid ₱385,000 to join the program.

Upon arrival in the US, they were paid only $70 (₱4,200) per day instead of the promised amount. They were forced to work long hours into the night without compensation. They were not given proper housing and made to sleep in the facility’s garage.

The workers demand an end to the company’s abusive policy, accountability for State 101, and its permanent closure. They also call on government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Migrant Workers’ Office to condemn the abusive employers, ensure that workers receive their wages, and provide urgent legal assistance and aid. They urge Ferdinand Marcos Jr to address the roots of forced migration and ensure protection for Filipinos overseas.

According to J4TLC, the caregivers’ experience is only one among many cases where Filipino migrants suffer underpayment, abuse, and labor trafficking.

“This campaign shows that migrant workers can fight for dignified work wherever they are,” said J4TLC.

₱60 = $1