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| AMCB leaders show what the 3W campaign is all about |
Members of the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body are set to hold a picket from 11am to 12 noon on May 3, in front of the Central Government Office in Admiralty to launch its 3W campaign for better protection for migrant workers.
The 3Ws stand for wage increase, working
hours regulation and improvement in workers’ living and working conditions.
Following the picket, AMCB will turn over a
petition letter to a government representative.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
The AMCB and International Migrants Alliance
of IMA made the announcement on May Day, when they would traditionally march
through the streets along with local workers, to call for better working
conditions across all sectors.
In a published statement the group said they have
received complaints from migrant workers about “very serious” long working
hours, of between 16 and 20 hours, “inhumane accommodation and food provision,
and various other abuses.
It is because of these unbearable working
conditions that many migrant domestic workers are forced to terminate their contracts,
said the AMCB, and not due to the whimsical reason of “job hopping,” or
employer shopping.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The group again urged the Hong Kong government
to regulate working hours and lift the requirement for the mandatory live-in
arrangement for foreign domestic workers as this is the primary reason why
strict regulation cannot be imposed.
Forcing MDWs to live with their employers
leads to abuses and exploitation, said AMCB, while working long hours deprive them
of much-needed rest and sleep, and could lead to serious health problems.
The AMCB also reminded the government that the regulation of
working hours is a “must” under international law standards such as the ILO
Convention No 189.
The campaign will focus on the following demands:
1.
Raise the minimum allowable wage for DMWs to $6,172 and the food
allowance to $3,123, in line with what is an acceptable “living wage” for all
2.
Legislate working hours for all workers
3.
Implement working hours specially for MDWs that will allow them a continuous
rest period of at least 11 hours per day
4.
Make live-out an option
5.
Include in the standard employment contract a clear description
of the following: (a) working hours/rest hours; (b) suitable accommodation; and
(c) decent food
AMCB, a network of migrant organizations from the Philippines,
Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lankans and Thailand, has been spearheading since 2019
the campaign for social inclusion, living wage for all, and the protection of
the well-being of more than 300,000 migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong.
