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INPRIMATU
The Association of Socio-Sanitary Caregivers Women Migrant Feminists calls for solidarity in favor of the right to housing
  • A press conference was held at the headquarters of the Women ' s Assembly in Bizkaia to report on the situation of violence suffered. Despite the multiple fields of oppression, the reading has focused on the field of housing in this period: "Racism, classism, poverty, the strong speculation of housing, the lack of laws that regulate the fundamental right to a roof, and although all this was little, between funds, banks, real estate agencies, the migrated people were always excluded".
Jenofa Berhokoirigoin @Jenofa_B 2023ko martxoaren 03a
2020ko Martxoaren 8ari begira, Euskal Herriko Emakume Migratu eta Arrazializatuen Sareak agerraldia egin zuen Martxoaren 8 dekolonial baten alde. Argazkia: Ecuador Etxea.

Immigrant female caregivers suffer multiple forms of exploitation and violation of rights in the workplace. But in addition, after overwork, "without minimum management time, when the endless days of 13 to 15 hours are not 24 hours, with lack of days free of conciliation", they also suffer marginalization and violence in the place of residence. To report it, members of the Feminist-Sociosanitary Migrated Women Association (EMFS) have appeared in the media.

At the press conference on 3 March, it was announced that "Also, as it could not be otherwise, we were excluded from accessing housing. Due to the difficulty of renting rooms or apartments, once the rents have been obtained they prohibit registration, the tyranny continues with the lack of contract, the sale of the census, instability, lack of intimacy, insecurity, etc. All this deteriorates the lives of many of us, the migrated and racialized woman".

Call for solidarity

Given the impossibility of a "suffocating situation", from the press conference they ask for "safe" and "stimulating" spaces. To achieve this, they have called for solidarity, and more specifically for feminist groups, against racism, trade unions, leftists, social transformation groups, political parties, associations of neighbours, women and workers. The possibility of participating in the endurance fund has been opened to help them cope with the deposit of rental income, as well as to meet other expenses, and has been called upon to contact them in case of having a flat or house.

In view of the work needs of many of the groups, they have called to relate to them if a caregiver is needed: "Many of us ask for a work contract to manage social rooting."

In 2020, the Association of Feminist-Socio-Sanitary Migrated Women (EMFS) was established, which currently consists of about 250 women. Some newcomers to the Basque Country, others have been here for years, but almost all suffer oppression and exclusion in terms of housing.

In 2021 ARGIA interviewed feminist worker MarĂ­a Juncay (Loja, Ecuador, 1970), spokeswoman for EMFS, in the interview that said "Migrated and racist women are promoting with our bodies a care system that the public will need."