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  March 2010 Hong Kong News   
FDHs press for minimum wage
About 30 migrant workers demonstrated outside the Legislative Council on Feb. 11 to press their campaign for the inclusion of foreign domestic helpers in the statutory minimum wage bill.

Members of the Asian Migrants' Coordinating Body (AMCB) handed their proposals in big lai see packets to legislators arriving for the Bills Committee meeting at 10:45am.

AMCB spokesperson Eman Villanueva lamented that the legislators were no longer discussing the inclusion of FDHs in the bill.

He said the household workers, being contractual workers, are the most vulnerable group in the labor sector.

"It is Lunar New Year and it is during this time that we give thanks to the people who've helped us throughout the past year," said Villanueva.

Former legislator Leung Kwok-hung, more popularly known as "Long Hair", wore an AMCB campaign T-shirt for the minimum wage legislation and recognition of domestic workers to show his support.

He told the group that they should give him more T-shirts so he could always show his support for them. He also urged migrant workers to join him in a march from Wan Chai to the Central Government Offices to mark International Women's Day.

Shortly after the crowd dispersed, the Legco committee began discussions on issues raised at its previous meeting held on Jan. 28.

The outstanding issues included the definition of "hours worked" and even of the term "minimum wage."

Former secretary for security Regina Ip said that there are a lot of people in the community who think that they should be included in the bill, while unionist legislator Lee Cheuk-yan urged that the minimum wage should be a "little bit better" than the CSSA (Comprehensive Social Security Assistance.

The meeting was adjourned to Feb. 25.


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