Maids' groups urge inclusion in wage law
Foreign and local domestic helpers' groups yesterday criticised the exclusion of live-in workers from the proposed minimum-wage law at a marathon eight-hour public hearing.
Seventy-five employer and employee groups attended a Legislative Council public hearing on the proposed minimum-wage bill that began at 9am.
Foreign workers' groups including the Asian Migrants Co-ordinating Body, United Filipinos in Hong Kong, Coalition for Migrants' Rights, Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, Filipino Domestic Workers Union, Filipino Community Services and Information Network and Coalition of Service Providers for Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong repeated their stance that the proposed law should cover all helpers.
United Filipinos chairwoman Dolores Balladares stressed that foreign domestic workers should be included 'so that they can have a level playing field on wage adjustments'.
Some of the groups earlier vowed they would file a judicial review over the issue.
Their fight for inclusion was supported by local domestic helpers' groups.
Li Mei-ling, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Domestic Workers General Union, said labour laws should protect all workers regardless of their race and their job.
'Excluding live-in domestic workers from the law is a very bad example. This is discrimination against women and foreign workers, as most domestic workers in Hong Kong are ethnic minorities and females,' Li said.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung stressed that the law excluded live-in helpers not because of their race or gender.
'The nature of the work of foreign domestic helpers is unique, as they work and rest at the same place. It is difficult to calculate their working hours, and the minimum wage is an hourly rate,' Cheung said. 'We already have a mechanism to protect their rights and we have a minimum allowable wage, which is reviewed regularly by studying a basket of factors for foreign domestic workers.'
Fung Ka-yan, a member of the Federation of Asian Domestic Workers' Union, said the proposed law aimed to protect workers with weak bargaining power. 'It should include foreign domestic workers, who are now exposed to exploitation.'
The minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers is HK$3,580. The proposed minimum-wage bill excludes certain student interns and live-in domestic workers who receive free lodging and food or a food allowance.
Cheung also noted that food, accommodation and air tickets were provided by employers and these were non-cash allowances.
When asked whether the government was prepared for a possible judicial review filed by foreign domestic helpers' groups, Cheung said: 'I hope there will be no judicial review. But we have to be prepared and we have already sought legal advice.'
