Even though undocumented migrant workers were some of the hardest hit by the pandemic, they were excluded from pandemic unemployment insurance and other government benefits. Through the collective action of grassroots organizations, NY State created the Excluded Worker Fund and allocated $2.1 billion in unemployment compensation for approximately 130,000 immigrants.
In 2021, Damayan's relentless efforts in advocating for Filipino migrant workers proved successful when it helped distribute more than $3 Million to more than 200 Filipinos through the NY Excluded Workers Fund. The financial assistance served as a lifeline for many Filipinos, often undocumented, unemployed, elderly, battling illnesses, and facing hardship during the pandemic.
“And so laid off by employers, sent home, some from the urban region of New York City, returning to Jackson Heights, to Woodside, to Elmhurst, to Corona. And moving back into living environments where - I mean that was the epicenter of the New York city pandemic - where our constituency of membership resides.”
“Elmhurst Hospital and there's body bags and there's refrigeration trucks. And I mean, it was madness and scary. I feel that one of the most impactful things that I participated in in the tail end of my tenure was helping out with providing some level of service to our membership.”