Meeting with migrant workers activists from Hong Kong

MTU held discussion with migrant workers’ activists from Hong Kong. They are activists from Indonesian migrants’ labor union, Filipino migrants’ labor union, as well as leaders of the Hong Kong migrant workers' movement. These groups are all registered with the Hong Kong confederation of labor unions.

To share their important experiences of struggle and organizing, we include a brief report of the talk here. In Hong Kong, there are about 265000 migrant workers. Most of them are female domestic workers from the Philippines (128,000) or Indonesia (129,000).

Situation of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong

  and activities of Indonesian Migrant workers’ union (IMWU President Sring)

In Hong Kong, because union was the most effective channel for migrants to legally engage with activism, we started as labor union in 1999. Our task is to publicize migrant workers’ issues, protect rights of workers, procure their empowerment, and create transnational solidarities.

In terms of program, there are organization consolidation program, database construction program, and educational program. Education is constituted of three different programs: legal education, gender equality education, and training for the union. Among them, the union training is most important. We are trying to build a network of Indonesian migrant workers. We are struggling against excessive broker charges, wage discrimination, and discriminatory treatment. For example, when fired or laid off, domestic workers must leave Hong Kong in 15 days. Moreover, domestic workers pay about 21,500 HKD ($ 3000) to the brokers to migrate. Although the law regulates the broker fee to be only 10 % of the worker’s wage, it is not the case in reality. Migrant domestic workers are forced to work for 16 hours a day and stay on call for 24 hours. In addition, the workplace change is prohibited and the minimum wage does not apply to them.

Indonesian migrant workers earn only 50% of the minimum wage in Hong Kong (which is about 260000won) and do not receive any day off, which is a clear violation of law. The employer must provide room and board, but food is always insufficient. Domestic workers live in a living room, kitchen, or even at a kennel. It was a real case that a migrant worker got bitten by dogs lodging with 30 dogs. In addition, the employers prohibit religious activities and even restrict use of the phone. Hong Kong confederation of labor unions does its best to support us when we organize campaigns and rallies, and let people know about migrant workers’ issues home and abroad. We are working to form a committee constituted of 30 different groups and are in the process of crafting a list of broker agencies that violated the law. We are also appealing to other unions and organizations. Asian Domestic Workers Federation is working with us.