Workers welcome freeze on HK pay cut

Migrant workers’ groups welcomed yesterday the decision of the Hong Kong government not to push through with its planned salary cut for foreign domestic helpers.

Migrante International said the decision was "a victory for the thousands of migrant workers and their supporters who sustained an active campaign for a zero percent wage cut."

"Clearly, it was the mass movement of groups like the Asian Migrant Coordinating Body, United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL), Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrant Filipinos and Migrante that was decisive in preventing the latest attack on the livelihood of Filipino migrant workers," Migrante secretary Poe Gratela said.

Hong Kong, on the brink of a recession, considered a proposal last year to reduce the minimum monthly pay of about HK$3,670 (US$470) for 233,110 foreign domestic workers by up to 20 percent.

In response, foreign domestic workers staged a protest rally in early January to press the Hong Kong government not to pursue the proposal.

Thousands of maids, mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia, marched from Victoria Garden to Chater Garden in the business district of central Hong Kong chanting slogans including "No wage cuts," and waving banners that proclaimed "Wage cuts are unfair, inhumane and unjust."

The other day, Hong Kong’s government announced the minimum monthly pay would be retained subject to further review of economic conditions.

UNIFIL spokesperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said those who organized the protests have clearly been vindicated.

"We remember when the Philippine government branded our protest action as alienating and counter-productive. It wanted to create the impression that our actions will jeopardize their diplomatic efforts to prevent a wage cut," Bragas-Regalado said.

Gratela said the victory can be attributed to the patriotic efforts of pro-worker legislators, and not those of President Arroyo and Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.

The migrant workers’ group had criticized the President for allegedly declaring support for a lower wage cut of five percent. Mrs. Arroyo later sent her labor chief to Hong Kong to make a plea for the workers.

Two weeks ago, a group of lawmakers led by party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo flew to Hong Kong to lobby for the deferred implementation of the proposed wage cut and removal of "live-out" arrangements of Filipino and other foreign domestic workers.

Migrante and UNIFIL urged migrant workers to remain vigilant against further attacks on their rights and livelihood.

"We must continue our collective efforts so that when we face other challenges, our movement to protect our rights and welfare will remain strong. Although the wage cut for this year has been frozen, a decision on the live-out arrangements has yet to be made," Gratela said.

He pointed out that if the arrangement is abolished, domestic helpers in Hong Kong will be forced to live in their employers’ homes, where they could be prone to abuse and exploitation.