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| AMCB demands a minimum 'living wage' of $6712 for foreign domestic workers |
A multi-ethnic group of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong has blasted at a call made recently by a pro-employer organization to freeze their monthly minimum wage which now stands at $4,990.
The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) said in
a statement issued Sunday that FDWs should not be used as “scapegoats” for the
hardships experienced by employers.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
“The Hong Kong government must address the crisis,”
said the AMCB.
Recently, the Quadripartite Alliance for Harmonious
Employment Practices staged a protest outside the Labor Department office in
Sheung Wan to call for a freeze of the minimum allowable wage set for FDWs, in
light of the recent economic downturn, and a spike in the unemployment figure.
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| PINDUTIN DITO |
The AMCB is calling for a monthly salary of at least
$6,172 which they say is the least that migrant workers and their families need
to be able to live more comfortably. If food allowance is provided, this should
be at least $3,123 a month.
According to the AMCB reaction, the current MAW of
$4,990 is already very low, as FDWs remain excluded from the statutory minimum
wage in Hong Kong, even if they, too, are affected by the rising inflation, and
spend part of their salary here.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Apart from the low wages, FDWs also suffer from
having to work long hours because they live with their employers, said AMCB.
“If the employers are struggling, they should demand
the Hong Kong government to address the unemployment rate, stop the inflation
and other fees and expenses like house rent, transportation, etc,” AMCB added.
Hong Kong’s Labour Department is currently conducting
its annual review of the MAW, and has sought the opinion of stakeholders, including
AMCB and a number of non-government organizations supporting higher wages for
FDWs.
