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| The multi-ethnic group presents its written demands to a govt representative |
By Daisy CL Mandap
A multi-ethnic alliance of migrant domestic workers staged a picket outside the Hong Kong Central Government Offices this morning to present concrete demands on living wage, working hours regulation and improvements on working and living conditions, which they call their 3Ws campaign.
About 50 MDWs from Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand comprising the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, held up posters and spoke on their demands outside the CGO, after which a government representative stepped outside to collect a copy of their written statement.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Number in their list of 3Ws is their call for a “living wage” for all, including MDWs who they say have to deal with the rising costs of basic goods, just like any other person living in Hong Kong.
AMCB says at least $6,172 a month is what migrant workers need to allow themselves and their families to live a bit more comfortably. If provided with a food allowance, this should be at least $3,123 a month.
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| The picket outside the CGO this morning |
The second W in the campaign is the “working hours regulation.” AMCB wants MDW contracts to stipulate a continuous 11-hour rest period for the workers each day, especially as it has received complaints of MDWs working for up to 16 or even 20 hours each day.
The lack of regulation deprives MDWs of much-needed rest and sleep which they need to work safely and effectively, said the AMCB.
The third and last W stands for “working and living conditions” of MDWs. From the time the first standard foreign domestic helper contracts were issued by the government, nothing has been done to set a standard for sleep and rest accommodation for MDWs who number more than 300,000 now, according to AMCB.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
While the word “suitable accommodation” is mentioned in their contract, the term does not give concrete examples of where a MDW can be allowed to rest and sleep in. Thus, during consultations with their members, they found out that 3 out of 5 migrants do not have private rooms to sleep in.
There have also been documented cases of MDWs being forced to sleep inside toilets, atop washing machines, or inside coffin-like cabinets in the kitchen.
“Their uniqueness as workers who live where they work implies a 24-hour on-call household worker with little or no rest and privacy, said the AMCB.
The group has reiterated the call to make the live-in arrangement for all MDWs optional for those who cannot be given decent and acceptable accommodation.\
