2009年11月24日 星期二

台灣對外勞的不公義:我們還能期待上帝為台灣伸張公義嗎?

上次林律師來台神演講提出這個問題:「當台灣對外勞如此地不公義時,我們還能期待上帝為台灣伸張公義嗎?」

我非常有感觸,因為我一直不斷為台灣在國際能受到公平正義的待遇禱告,但是我越思考台灣如何不公義地對待外勞,我就越慚愧。這樣我們怎麼還能期待上帝為我們伸張正義呢?

外勞問題,沒有去關心或了解的人是無法理解這當中的不公義。其實每個外勞一踏上台灣,他/她就背負了要用一兩年以上才還得清的債務:仲介費。一旦被遣返,這筆仲介費就損失了,在台灣工作需要一兩年才能還,更何況在本來的國家,根本不可能還得起。因此遣返對外勞來說,是最恐怖的命運。為了避免遣返,外勞什麼都能配合。

也因此當仲介或雇主性侵外勞、要求外勞每週7天毫無休息的工作、要求外勞除了上班工作外回家還要加班做家務等等近似奴隸的待遇發生的時候,外勞多半選擇隱忍,因為外勞沒辦法不做,他/她們沒有換雇主或仲介的權利,不做的意思就是要被遣返。

而且我們還理所當然地認為外勞最好不要有休閒,最好不要去跟他/她的朋友混在一起。要求一位離鄉背景的人不和他/她的同鄉在一起,這樣合理嗎?如果我們去國外留學的人都不准有休閒,也不准跟一樣從台灣來的留學生談心,這樣不簡直是虐待?

這整個體制是不是應該想辦法改變?我們能不能對這些遠道而來幫我們從事危險、疲累工作的外勞多一點尊重?是不是應該給他/她們休假?是不是應該讓他/她們能換雇主及仲介?是不是應該明訂兩國仲介費比例?

願台灣能行在上帝的公義中。

2009年11月18日 星期三

對自己解經立場的檢視與反思My personal reflection on how I interpret Bible


Tao-jen Wang 王道仁 97003
“And no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27, NRSV)  Reading Bible and trying to know God is impossible without God’s own help.  May the Lord guide me on this reflection paper.
Background
I was born in Taipei during the 1970’s, when Taiwan was struggling with diplomatic crises and in the same time trying to transform from a developing country into a developed country.  Politically Taiwan was moving toward democracy and the culture in Taiwan was rapidly changing and mixed with traditional Chinese, American and Japanese influence.  Education in Taiwan was mostly authoritative, but became more open as I grew up.  My thinking tend to be simultaneously modern and post-modern and this might come from my cultural background.  And maybe the conflict between Taiwan and China made me often think about justice when I read Bible.  I also stayed in the United States for four years when I was a pre-schooler, so my boldness in asking questions might be influenced by that.  Feminism movement had its influence in Taiwan, but often more in words rather than in action.  But at least conceptually I am also influenced by it.
My parents’ and I go to the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan regularly and my hometown church had a good relationship with Campus Evangelical Fellowship.  My mother studied in Taiwan Theological College and Seminary, China Evangelical Seminary and The South East Asia Graduate School of Theology and I also studied in China Evangelical Seminary and Taiwan Theological College.  So I have my conservative roots, but am also exposed to a diverse range of theologies.