According
to a 2018 Hong Kong census, there are 386,075 migrant workers in Hong
Kong. As
of last year, there were around 166,000 Indonesian domestic helpers
in Hong Kong, the second largest population after domestic workers
from the Philippines. Cases of abuse of workers by employers have
long been reported in Hong Kong, with ill treatment ranging from
forcing them to work excessive
hours to physical beatings and death
threats.
They
live in a precarious state - they are often overworked, underpaid and
lack protective labour policies, said Eman Villanueva, a migrant
worker from the Philippines and spokesperson for the Asian Migrants
Coordinating Body.
Unlike
expatriates from other foreign countries who are eligible to apply
for residency after seven years, Southeast Asian migrant workers have
no legal route to citizenship.
"Because
of the existing government policies with regards to visas, we are all
temporary migrants," said Villanueva, who has worked in Hong
Kong for 28 years.
Domestic
workers are the lowest paid group of labourers in Hong Kong, with a
minimum monthly wage of HKD$4,630 ($590) and are required by law to
live in their employers' homes.
By
comparison, the median monthly wage across all industry sectors as of
2018 in Hong Kong is HKD $17,500 ($2,231). According to the Hong Kong
Immigration Department, for employers to be eligible to hire a
domestic helper, they must make no less than HKD $15,000 ($1,912) per
month. Even
so, foreign workers contribute HKD$98.9 billion to Hong Kong's
economy, according to a report
published in March.
Sring
Atin, chairperson of the Indonesian Migrant Worker's Union in Hong
Kong, said domestic helpers' rights, which are not always guaranteed
in normal conditions, are being further violated as a result of the
protests. Workers have complained to Atin that employers are
demanding extra hours to accommodate their participation in protest
activities - for example to take care of children while they rally,
or to remain at home during rest days out of concern for the domestic
helpers' safety.
Ka
Mei Lau, organising secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Asian
Domestic Workers Unions, said migrant workers, like the protesters,
have concerns about what autonomy means in practice regarding
relationships with both employers and government.
They
also feel they have a stake in Hong Kong's status within the "one
country, two systems" framework and the extent of the Chinese
government's control.
Ka
Mei Lau, organising secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Asian
Domestic Workers Unions, said migrant workers, like the protesters,
have concerns about what autonomy means in practice regarding
relationships with both employers and government.
They
also feel they have a stake in Hong Kong's status within the "one
country, two systems" framework and the extent of the Chinese
government's control.
Two
years ago, when reports were published
about China's desire to recruit Philippine women as maids and English
teachers, migrant workers expressed fears over whether they would be
protected in China without the support network of unions and
community groups that exist in Hong Kong.
"They
are not sure about that. They have doubts," Lau said.
Some
migrant community leaders and critics of the pro-democracy movement
have also voiced concerns that the protests ignore or overshadow the
demands of workers, such as freedom of assembly, the right to a
living wage and suitable living conditions.
Migrant
worker community groups frequently organise their own rallies
relating to these issues, and have a history of participating in
social movements in Hong Kong; they supported striking dock workers
in 2013 and the anti-WTO protests in 2005.
"Our
protest actions are not about extradition to China. They are about
migrant rights," said IWMU's Atin, emphasising the need to keep
the two causes separate.
Villanueva
from the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body said domestic workers who
had previously joined the pro-democracy movement have now opted out,
fearing participation could cost them their visas and jobs, or
undermine their ability to organise their own events in the future.
"The challenge for us is to how to actually get into the
picture, without placing ourselves in a dangerous situation. We want
to make sure that when we raise the issues, it is not in a tone that
will appear that we are blaming the protesters, because that's not
our message," explained Villanueva."Our message is we are
in Hong Kong and we are part of society and there are valid issues
affecting us, with or without the protests, that the government would
have to address.”
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