FDHs await wage hike decision

Filipino domestic workers march in Central on September 4 to ask for a $5,000 minimum wage for foreign domestic workers

Foreign domestic workers expect the Hong Kong government to come out with its decision on the proposed wage increase before the month ends, a migrant leader said.

Dolores Balladares, chair of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-Migrante-HK), said Labour Department officials told them indirectly that the decision on the minimum allowable wage (MAW) was expected at the end of the month.

“We expect it at the end of September. So, malapit na,” Balladares said in an interview.

“Hindi nila sinabi exactly kung kailan pero nabanggit nila na the same practice of conducting consultations bago maglabas ng desisyon will be the same this year,” she added.

In the last three years, the Hong Kong government announced every September 30 its decision on wage increases for FDHs.

The government announced a $160 wage hike in 2011, $180 in 2012, $90 in 2013, $100 in 2014, and another $100 last year.

This time around, migrant groups are asking for a $790 wage increase from the current minimum allowable wage of $4,210 to a flat $5,000. They are also asking for a food allowance of $1,600 for FDHs.

The workers also held a protest march on September 4 and called for better safety regulations at work, particularly a ban on cleaning windows from the outside of high-rise buildings, and regulated working hours.

The march, led by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, included groups like the UNIFIL, Association of Sri Lankans in Hong Kong, Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong, Far-East Overseas Nepalese Association – Hong Kong, Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union, Friends of Thai – Hong Kong, Indonesian Migrants Muslim Alliance, Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Union, League of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Overseas Nepali Workers’ Union, Thai Regional Alliance, and United Indonesians Against Overcharging.

Balladares said Labour officials were noncommittal about the wage hike during the consultation meeting with FDHs on August 15.

“Unang bungad pa lang nila, sinabi kaagad na hindi maganda ang ekonomiya ngayon. Parang binibigyan tayo ng pangitain. I-coconsult din daw nila ang mga employers,” Balladares said.

The last time Hong Kong decided to freeze the MAW was in 2010.

“Pero hindi rason yung ‘the economy of Hong Kong is not doing well’ para hindi tayo mabigyan ng increase,” Balladares said.

“Noong maganda ba ang economy ng Hong Kong, nabigyan ba tayo ng mataas na increase? Hindi rin naman nakinabang yung mga foreign domestic workers tulad natin. So, madaling i-rebut yung argument na yan,” she added.

She said they also asked the Labour officials for the formula they use in determining the wage increase but were told that they had none.

Balladares said her group conducted a study which showed that foreign domestic workers should get $5,334.91 to meet their basic needs while living in Hong Kong.

“However, we are asking for $5,000 a month because the wage of local workers/employers has not significantly increased in the past years,” Balladares said.

“Siyempre, unlike before the yung mga rich lang ang may kasambahay, ngayon marami na ring mga employer na hindi mayaman, she added.

Balladares said the study considered the rising cost of living in Hong Kong, the working hours of domestic workers, and the need for a “living wage.”