‘HK migrant maids entitled to minimum wage’

FOREIGN domestic workers in Hong Kong ask for fair treatment

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:29:00 07/08/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino workers in Hong Kong have bonded with workers from other foreign countries in pressing the Legislative Council (LegCo) of Hong Kong to include them in the law that would legislate the wage increase of workers.

The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) staged a protest rally in front of the LegCo building to air their concern as the first reading of the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) was held.

“We appeal to the members of the Legislative Council (LegCo)...to show to the public and to the world you are compassionate, just, and non-discriminatory to those who already have less in the Hong Kong society. Include foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) bill,” said Eni Lestari, AMCB spokesperson, in a statement.

The group called on the members of the LegCo to be independent and not to be a “stamp pad” of the Executive Committee, which sees foreign domestic workers as “second-class, or even third-class, citizens and has never hesitated in reducing us to a slave-like status.”

Lestari said that AMCB will actively work to gather the widest support among the LegCo members in their bid to include the FDWs in the bill.

“Any wage increase in the SMW will undergo deliberations and LegCo decision. What we aim for is for FDW wage to be released from the arbitrary, unaccountable, and non-transparent process of the ExCo and be moved to the LegCo, where we, at least, can have a level playing field in terms of advocacy,” Lestari said.

Lestari had criticized Executive Committee’s justifications that the SMW was for the “protection of disadvantaged sectors” and for the “promotion of social harmony.”

“Are we not members of the disadvantaged sectors and are we not part of the HK (Hong Kong) society? This is the height of discrimination by the HK ExCo,” she said.

Lestari said that her group will seek out international support for the campaign such as lobbying with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and with trade unions of different countries.

Lestari also said that the AMCB is exploring all venues to challenge the exclusion of FDWs including seeking out legal opinions for the planned filing of judicial review if other lobbying efforts fail.

“We shall not take infringement to our rights sitting down. We stand for what is just and right and we sincerely hope that the LegCo and the local people of Hong Kong will stand with us,” she said.

Member of the AMCB include the Association of Sri Lankans in Hong Kong (ASL-HK), Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia-Hong Kong (Atki-HK or Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers), Far-East Overseas Nepalese Association-Hong Kong (Feona-HK), Filipino Migrant Workers' Union (FMWU), Friends of Thai-Hong Kong (FOT-HK), Thai Regional Alliance (TRA-HK), and the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-HK).