聯署：攜手並肩約章　推動C189　與外籍家傭同行

我們是來自不同的組織、背景的香港公民。在國際家務工日這天，我們發布約章，望能消除港人對外籍家務工的歧視，促進社會共融，達致公平社會。

 

我們的立場：

外籍家務工和香港勞動階層一樣，為香港經濟、社會、文化發展有重大貢獻，是香港社會的一員，我們應一視同仁，給予平等對待，反對帶有歧視的政策。

家務勞動是勞動。家務勞動一直被社會文化低估其意義和價值，以致無論是家庭主婦還是家務工，往往被社會保障忽視，也得不到應有的報酬。外籍家務工來自世界各地，數十萬家務工離鄉別井來港工作，釋放家庭的勞動力，替數以十萬計的家庭攜老扶幼，繼而令經濟得以發展，這些對社會的貢獻，一直受到忽視，社會應正視家務勞動的價值。

 

我們支持外籍家務工會的訴求：

發表約章之日，是國際家務工日。2011年的這天，國際勞工組織通過了第189條公約（C189），確認家務勞動的價值，並要求各國政府簽署C189，承諾推行當中的各種保障。

雖然香港政府不能以自身為單位簽署約章，但港府仍能按照當中的條文實施相應措施，以保障在港家務工的權利。例如港府應逐步廢除使外籍家務工與其他勞工區隔的措施，消除歧視，令兩者得到更公平的對待。

 

附：C189簡介

家務工的基本權利

C189公約建議：

• 促進和保障所有家務工的人權
• 尊重和保護工作時的基本原則和權利：（一）集會結社的自由及有效的集體談判權；（二）消除任何形式的強制性勞動；（三）廢除童工；（四）消除就業及職業上的歧視
• 受針對任何形式的虐待、騷擾及暴力對待的有效保障
• 公平就業及合理的生活條件

 

有關受僱條款的資訊

C189公約建議：

• 家庭傭工必須清楚了解他們的僱傭合約，並以書面合約為佳。

 

 

 

工作時間

C189公約建議：

• 於工作時數、超時工作補償、每日及每週的休息時數與全年帶薪假期上，也需要制定政策以確保家務工與一般工人有平等的待遇。
• 每週有最少連續24小時的休息。
• 規管有關待命時間。

 

報酬

C189公約建議：

• 家務工的最低工資應與其他工種的最低工資相同。

 

職業性安全與健康

C189公約建議：

• 家務工應享有於安全與健康工作環境進行工作的權利。

 

社會保障

C189公約建議：

• 家務工所受的保障不應與其他工種的工人有差異。

 

關於留宿家庭傭工的標準

C189公約建議：

• 設立以尊重家務工私隱為原則的合理生活環境。
• 家務工有權保管自己的身份證明及外遊文件。

 

有關外籍家務工的標準

C189公約建議：

• 政府應切實保障家務工免受中介公司的剝削。

 

私人中介公司

C189公約建議：

• 管制私人中介公司的運作。

 

解決爭議、投訴及執法問題

C189公約建議：

• 家務工有權通過有效的投訴機制，將投訴訴諸法院等各類訟裁機關。

 

 

 

Hand In Hand Charter: Promoting C189 with the foreign domestic workers

We are Hong Kong citizens of different organizations and backgrounds. On the day of International Domestic Workers’ Day, we are releasing the charter in an attempt to fight against the discrimination against the foreign domestic workers, to promote the social harmony and a fairer society.

 

Our stand:

Foreign domestic workers, as well as the other working class people in Hong Kong, have made a tremendous contribution to the development of economy, society and culture of Hong Kong. They are the members of the Hong Kong society that we should be impartial, provide fair treatment and oppose the discriminative policy.

 

Domestic work is work. The signification and value of domestic work has long been underestimated by the society. As a consequence, both housewives and domestic workers, are usually being excluded from the social security system and being underpaid from what they deserve. Coming from all over the world, thousands of domestic workers left their home to work in Hong Kong. The elderlies and the children of thousands of HK families, therefore, are being taken care of. Consequently the adults in the household can join in the labor force. However, their contribution to the economy and society, has been neglected for long. The society should recognize the value of domestic work.

 

We support the demands of foreign domestic workers’ union:

The release date of the charter is the International Domestic Workers’ Day. On this day in 2011, the International Labor Union passed the convention C189. The convention recognizes the value of domestic worker and demands every country to ratify C189 in order to implement the ranges of protection included.

Though Hong Kong government is not able to ratify the convention by itself, the government can still promote the protection of domestic workers’ rights according to the clause of the convention. For example, the government should abolish the measures which segregate the foreign domestic workers from other workers in order to eliminate the discrimination and promote a fairer treatment of both parties.

 

Attachment: Introduction of C189

Basic rights of domestic worker

C189 suggests:

• To promote and protect the human rights of all domestic workers
• Respect and uphold the basic rules and rights at work:
  Uphold the freedom of association and the right of collective bargaining

2. Eliminate all forms of force labor
3. Abolish the use of child labor
4. Eliminate the working and occupational discrimination

• Effective protection against all forms of abuses, harassment and violence
• Fair employment and reasonable living condition

 

On the information of employment clause

C189 suggests:

• Domestic workers have to understand their contract (better in written format) clearly

Working Hour

C189 suggests;

• Apart from working hour, overtime work payment, daily and weekly rest hours, annual paid leave, it is necessary to enact policy which ensures domestic worker has equal treatment just like ordinary workers
• At least having a consecutive 24-hour rest weekly
• Regulate the related on-call hour

 

Salary

C189 suggests:

• The minimum wage of domestic workers shall be the same as the minimum wage of other types of work

 

Occupational Safety and Health

C189 suggests:

• Domestic worker shall enjoy the rights of working in a safe and healthy environment

 

Social Security

C189 suggest:

• The protection of domestic workers should not differ from the workers of other types of work

 

On the Standard of Live-in Domestic Worker

C189 suggests:

• To provide a reasonable living arrangement which based on the rules of the respect of domestic workers’ privacy
• Domestic worker has the right to keep their own identification and travelling document

 

On the Standard of Foreign Domestic Worker

C189 suggests:

• The government should protect the domestic worker from exploitation of employment agencies

 

Private Employment Agency

C189 suggests:

• To regulate the operation of private employment agencies

 

On resolving the dispute, complaint and law enforcement

C189 suggests:

• Domestic worker has the right to proceed the complaints to the arbitration body such as court through an effective mechanism