HK workers unite for our wage and against globalization’s attacks to our rights!
Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body (AMCB)
01 May 2007

On this International Labor Day, workers of Hong Kong – local and foreign – show our unity and solidarity to advance our common fight for our wage and livelihood.

Our wage and our comprehensive labor rights have been under attack by policies that follow the the dictates of neoliberal globalization. Exemplified by agreements in the World Trade Organization and directives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, globalization policies only serve the interests of big businesses and capital and never of the workers.

Local workers, especially in the service and in the public sectors, have experienced wage cuts. Despite the government’s claim that all workers will suffer the same, the impacts of such action to those already receiving less is much greater than those in higher positions.

The gravity of the wage cut is even worse for us, foreign domestic workers.

We are among the lowest paid in Hong Kong. Currently, the minimum allowable wage HK$3,400 translates to a measly HK$11 per hour for a 12-hour workday and HK$8 per hour for a 16-hour workday.

Given the nature of the job of FDWs, it is even clearer that the wage we receive is very low.

We have not yet recovered from the HK$400 wage cut in 2003. The HK$50 increase in 2005 and HK$80 in 2006 are peanuts compared to the high standard of living in HK and, more importantly, the ever increasing prices of basic commodities in our home countries.

We continue our call for a wage increase, the abolition of the levy, and the legislation of a minimum wage for all workers in Hong Kong while we also call for the defense of the rights of migrant workers such as the abolition of the discriminatory ban against Nepali workers.

With the recovery of Hong Kong, it is but right for FDWs to share the benefit of the economic rebound. The contribution of FDWs to the HK economy and the fact that our wage does not meet our basic needs make our call for a wage hike just and urgent.

We also do not let go of our demand to scrap the levy imposed on our employers. The levy is a useless fee that serves no other purpose than to keep the FDW wage hostage and maliciously pit migrant workers and employers – who are mostly workers as well – against each other.

FDWs march today with the local trade unions to demand the legislation of a minimum wage for all Hong Kong workers. Through such a legislation, workers in Hong Kong can have the protection of a benchmark wage that will, in the minimum, be a criteria to judge whether the wage is enough for our needs.

While FDWs have the minimum allowable wage, this is not enough to assure the protection of our wage as shown by the previous wage cuts. The MAW is reviewed yearly and every time, the Hong Kong government presents different criteria in determining whether the MAW will be increased, decreased, or frozen. Our wage is a hostage to arbitrary decisions that do not have basis whatsoever to our real condition.

Attacks on the wage of workers should stop. The rights of workers must be upheld. Neoliberal globalization be must resisted and foiled.

This can be done with the organized and united actions of workers from all sectors for our interests as a class are the same.

This May Day, Hong Kong workers, united in one cause, continue the struggle of the workers all over the world.#

Legislate minimum wage to all workers in HK!
Wage increase for FDWs now!
Abolish the levy!
Scrap the Two-Week Rule!
Scrap the ban against Nepali migrants!
Resist neoliberal globalization!

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