Economic crisis:
Life is hard in Hongkong

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

Domestic helpers in Hongkong hailing from the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia have been militantly opposing the Hongkong government's newest anti-worker scheme since November 2002. The Hongkong government plans to impose a HK$500-750 tax (P3,250-P4,875 based on the P6.50=HK$1 exchange rate) on the wages of domestic helpers. Last December, more than 5,000 domestic helpers belonging to 100 Asian migrant groups marched in the major streets of Hongkong. They promised bigger, more frequent and broader protests if the Hongkong government refuses to withdraw its plan. The protests were led by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body and United Filipinos in Hongkong.

Domestic helpers are strongly opposed to the plan as it would gobble up even more of the meager salaries they receive in exchange for the almost 24-hour, seven days-a-week services they render to Hongkong families. In a study conducted by the Mission for Filipino Migrant workers (MFMW), an ordinary domestic helper receiving a gross salary of HK$3,670 to HK$4,119 spends 66% (P15,971) of this amount for her personal needs in Hongkong. (See chart.)

A domestic helper is able to send only HK$1,278.35/month (P8,307) or HK$42.91/day (P278.90) to her family in the Philippines. This is minuscule compared to the more than P500/day or P15,000/month income needed by a family in the Philippines.

January 2003
English Edition

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