Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong rallied again yesterday, calling for the increase of their wages from HKD4,110 to HKD4,500 a month.
Organised by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB), women from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal and Sri Lanka marched from Chater Garden in Central to the Labour Department in Sheung Wan.
The same demands for the Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) to be increased to HKD4,500 – along with the food allowance to be increased from HKD964 to HKD1,600 – were denied by the Labour Department last year.
Instead, Hong Kong’s 320,000 domestic helpers were given a measly HKD100-a-month boost.
With inflation recorded at 3.1 percent in June, the band of helpers called on the government to consider how the rising cost of living is affecting their ability to work in Hong Kong.
The current MAW of HKD4,110 reflects a 6.8 percent increase since 1998, equating to just HKD14 a year.
Translated into a hourly rate, the city’s foreign domestic workers earn just HKD11 if working eight-hour days and HKD8 if working the usual 16-hour days. Their food allowance offers just HKD32 a day.
Hong Kong’s minimum wage is HKD32.5 an hour, but foreign domestic workers are exempt from the rules.
“We lament that our contribution to the development of the local economy remains unrecognised despite the economic recovery of Hong Kong,” AMCB said in a press release.
“Migrant workers are workers. Domestic work is work. We strongly demand the Hong Kong government to recognise this, not only in words but more importantly in deeds.”
Hong Kong’s Labour Department said in a statement to Coconuts HK, “The HKSAR Government reviews the Minimum Allowable Wage rate from time to time and will make announcement as and when appropriate.”
Photos: Loryjean Yungco
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