16 July 2008
For reference: Eni Lestari
Chairperson
Tel. No.: (852) 96081475
Suspension of levy: righting a wrong and unjust
policy
FDWs says levy suspension marks
intensified demand for its abolition and significant pay hike
"It is high time to right a wrong and unjust policy. Though it
has taken long to come, the suspension of the levy is a victory that
shall mark our intensified campaign for its total abolition as well as
for a significant wage increase for migrants."
This was declared by Eni Lestari, spokesperson of the Asian Migrants
Coordinating Body or AMCB as the government announced today the
two-year suspension of the HK$9,600 levy charged to employers of
foreign domestic workers.
"FDWs have been firm in our demand to abolish the levy. Such a
demand has been supported by local workers and even employers who are
burdened by such a fee. Our efforts have paid off," she said.
In 2003, the levy was introduced at the same time as the minimum
allowable wage of FDWs was cut by HK$400. According to Lestari, it
meant that, indirectly, it was regressive taxation imposed to FDWs who
are already one of the lowest-paid workers in Hong Kong.
"Since then, the collection of the levy has made a hostage of
our wage. So as not to antagonize employers of FDWs who are mostly
from the middle-class, the HK government has opted to implement
minimal and staggered wage increase to FDWs despite the booming
economy," she remarked.
Recently, the HK government has announced a HK$100 wage hike for FDWs.
The AMCB said that such an increase was a mere token and was
insufficient.
"Our wage has not yet recovered from the drastic cut five years
ago. If we include the HK$190 wage cut of 1999, FDW salary has still a
long way to go for it to even recover," she lamented.
Last Sunday, members of the AMCB as well as the International Migrants
Alliance (IMA) marched through major thoroughfares in Central and
ended at the Central Government Office (CGO) to denounce the hike
which they said was "too little and too late."
Lestari said that the suspension of the levy should lead to the
granting of a more substantial wage increase for FDWs.
"There is no more excuse for the HK government to deny the wage
that is commensurate to the nature of our work, the hours we spend on
our job, as well as to our needs. The benefits of HK's economic
development must also be shared to FDWs who undeniably contributed a
lot, as workers and consumers, to the boom that HK is enjoying,"
she added.
The group also demanded for the government not to dilly-dally anymore
and finally abolish the levy. Lestari said that they will not settle
for mere suspension that shall make them fear its implementation again
after two year.
"However, this is still one big step for our fight. We shall
pursue until the full rights of FDWs are upheld," she
concluded.
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Asian Migrants Coordinating
Body (AMCB)
Members:
Association of Sri Lankans in Hong Kong (ASL-HK)
Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia - Hong Kong (ATKI-HK)
(Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers)
Far-East Overseas Nepalese Association - Hong Kong (FEONA-HK)
Filipino Migrant Workers' Union (FMWU)
Friends of Thai - Hong Kong (FOT-HK)
Thai Regional Alliance (TRA-HK)
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK)
c/o APMM, No. 2 Jordan Road,
Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Tel no(s): (852) 3156-2447, 2314-7316
Fax no(s): 2735-4559
E-mail:
amcb.hk@gmail.com
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