Hong Kong nationals protest residency rights for domestic helpers

MANILA, Philippines - Protesters in Hong Kong yesterday marched from Wan Chai to government headquarters to protest a recent court ruling granting right of abode for domestic helpers.

Around 200 domestic helpers took part in a candlelight vigil in support of the court ruling in Chater Garden in Hong Kong Sunday night, according to a report in The South China Morning Post.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, which organized the march, said local workers could lose their jobs if a large number of migrant domestic helpers were given abode.

The demonstrators, numbering about 1,500, were joined at the Tamar site by the New Territories Association of Societies, which collected 16,000 signatures to support the protest.

“We are not discriminating against migrant domestic helpers, as they are workers and we want to protect them too,” federation chairman Pan Pey-chyou said.

The protesters called for the government to appeal against the court decision granting right of abode to Evangeline Banao Vallejos, a ruling that could set a precedent for thousands of other domestic workers.

“We are targeting the government because we are worried that they are not doing enough to protect the interests of local workers. If Hong Kong has to absorb such a large influx of migrants all of a sudden, it will negatively impact the job market for local workers,” Pan said, adding that current restrictions should be maintained.

Pan cited a survey by the Hong Kong Employers of Overseas Domestic Helpers Association that showed an overwhelming majority of domestic helpers would apply for right of abode if there was a chance of it being granted.

He also warned that migrant workers’ command of English could put local workers at a disadvantage. “In the service sector, local workers will be at a disadvantage if migrant workers enter the job market,” he said.

Sheilla Grace Estrada, chair of the Alliance of Progressive Labour, said helpers faced discrimination regardless of their command of English. “We are fighting for a right of abode for all domestic helpers,” she said, adding, “We think this is class discrimination, not just race discrimination. People are against migrant domestic helpers obtaining right of abode.”