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Migrants lament 'piece meal' approach
JOSE MARCELO HONG KONG
The government has increased the minimum wage
for foreign domestic helpers for the third
successive year, the $80 pay rise bringing the level
to $3,480 for all contracts signed on or after June 6.
The latest adjustment brought the minimum wage
to its highest level in four years, although still below
the benchmark $3,670 in 2003 before a levy
imposed on employers reflected in a $400 wage
cut for domestic helpers.
The government raised the minimum wage by $50
in 2005 and $80 last year.
A government spokesman told Filipino Globe the
review mechanism that determines the minimum
wage is an elaborate and time-tested process that
has been in place since the 1970s.
JOSE MARCELO HONG KONG
The government has increased the minimum wage
for foreign domestic helpers for the third
successive year, the $80 pay rise bringing the level
to $3,480 for all contracts signed on or after June 6.
The latest adjustment brought the minimum wage
to its highest level in four years, although still below
the benchmark $3,670 in 2003 before a levy
imposed on employers reflected in a $400 wage
cut for domestic helpers.
The government raised the minimum wage by $50
in 2005 and $80 last year.
A government spokesman told Filipino Globe the
review mechanism that determines the minimum
wage is an elaborate and time-tested process that
has been in place since the 1970s.
| |||||||||||
In a capsule, they
told us that they
gathered a lot of
data, matrix and
indicators and
according to that
study, itong amount
na ito ang dapat
ibigay
told us that they
gathered a lot of
data, matrix and
indicators and
according to that
study, itong amount
na ito ang dapat
ibigay
$80 more for stressed workers, then what?
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| m a i n n e w s |
filglobe.com
filipino globe online edition
It involves several
branches of government
and takes into account
economic indicators
gathered by its Census
and Statistical
Department.
“It is meant to protect the
branches of government
and takes into account
economic indicators
gathered by its Census
and Statistical
Department.
“It is meant to protect the
welfare of our foreign domestic workers,” she said.
"It involves several branches of government and
takes into account economic indicators gathered
by its Census and Statistical Department.
“It is meant to protect the welfare of our foreign
domestic workers,” she said.
Philippine labor attaché Romy Salud, among the
representatives from labor-sending countries
invited by Hong Kong officials to a meeting on the
eve of the announcement, said they were told the
minimum wage had been increased nine times
and cut just twice over the years.
Since 1973 there have been 22 adjustments to the
minimum wage for foreign domestic workers with
nine increments of not less than 10 percent, she
added.
There have been two reductions – once in 1999 at
the height of the Asian economic crisis and the
other in 2003 when the Hong Kong economy
reeled in the aftermath of the Sars epidemic, she
said.
Labor leaders and militant Filipino groups have
decried what they described as the “piece meal”
approach to the wage issue and have called for its
return to the pre-Sars level.
The pay rise, they claim, will do little to lift their
financial well-being, especially at a time when they
are feeling the pinch of the appreciating peso.
But Salud is taking a more pragmatic approach to
the issue.
“It’s a damn-if-you-do, damn-if-you-don’t situation
for me,” he said. “Sabihin mo na masaya ako,
sasabihin bakit hindi ipinaglaban ng mas mataas,”
he said.
“Kapag sinabi ko naman na hindi ako masaya,
sasabihin ng iba na binigyan na nga kayo hindi pa
kayo masaya. “But this is the way I look at it:
Binigyan ka, pasalamat ka. After all, they need not
do that.
“What I’m saying is, if they have given an increase,
siguro sensitive rin sila sa needs ng mga
manggagawa at meron silang ginagawa for the
welfare of the workers.
“On that aspect alone, medyo okay na sa akin.”
The government spokesman said the minimum
wage is regularly reviewed in light of Hong Kong’s
economic and employment situation as reflected
through a basket of economic indicators, including
income movement, price change and labor market
situation.
She added the review is done annually with the
next review set to commence early next year.
Salud was told that consultations are also done
with sectors of society during the review process.
No Philippine representative is part of the
consultation, although Salud was quick to point out
that the decision on who to invite – like anywhere
else in the world – is the prerogative of the host
government.
Salud also said he is not doubting the sincerity of
the process.
“In a capsule, they told us that they gathered a lot of
data, matrix and indicators and according to that
study, itong amount na ito ang dapat ibigay,” said
Salud.
“I give them the benefit of the doubt.
“I’m sure pinag-aralan yan. Ang Hong Kong kasi
hindi naman ito ang tipo ng bansa na diktador na
sasabihin ganito lang ang gusto ko or sasabihin,
‘wala.’ Iba naman ang kinalalagyan nating
sitwasyon dito.”
Despite the fluctuations in the minimum wage,
Hong Kong salaries remain the highest among all
major destinations for Filipin domestic helpers in
Asia and the Middle East.
Labor officials also announced that contracts
signed on or before June 5 at a wage level on or
above the previous minimum wage of $3,400 per
month will still be processed, provided the
applications reach the Immigration Department on
or before July 3.
This is to allow employers enough time to
complete the processing of the papers before
submitting them to the department, it said.
"It involves several branches of government and
takes into account economic indicators gathered
by its Census and Statistical Department.
“It is meant to protect the welfare of our foreign
domestic workers,” she said.
Philippine labor attaché Romy Salud, among the
representatives from labor-sending countries
invited by Hong Kong officials to a meeting on the
eve of the announcement, said they were told the
minimum wage had been increased nine times
and cut just twice over the years.
Since 1973 there have been 22 adjustments to the
minimum wage for foreign domestic workers with
nine increments of not less than 10 percent, she
added.
There have been two reductions – once in 1999 at
the height of the Asian economic crisis and the
other in 2003 when the Hong Kong economy
reeled in the aftermath of the Sars epidemic, she
said.
Labor leaders and militant Filipino groups have
decried what they described as the “piece meal”
approach to the wage issue and have called for its
return to the pre-Sars level.
The pay rise, they claim, will do little to lift their
financial well-being, especially at a time when they
are feeling the pinch of the appreciating peso.
But Salud is taking a more pragmatic approach to
the issue.
“It’s a damn-if-you-do, damn-if-you-don’t situation
for me,” he said. “Sabihin mo na masaya ako,
sasabihin bakit hindi ipinaglaban ng mas mataas,”
he said.
“Kapag sinabi ko naman na hindi ako masaya,
sasabihin ng iba na binigyan na nga kayo hindi pa
kayo masaya. “But this is the way I look at it:
Binigyan ka, pasalamat ka. After all, they need not
do that.
“What I’m saying is, if they have given an increase,
siguro sensitive rin sila sa needs ng mga
manggagawa at meron silang ginagawa for the
welfare of the workers.
“On that aspect alone, medyo okay na sa akin.”
The government spokesman said the minimum
wage is regularly reviewed in light of Hong Kong’s
economic and employment situation as reflected
through a basket of economic indicators, including
income movement, price change and labor market
situation.
She added the review is done annually with the
next review set to commence early next year.
Salud was told that consultations are also done
with sectors of society during the review process.
No Philippine representative is part of the
consultation, although Salud was quick to point out
that the decision on who to invite – like anywhere
else in the world – is the prerogative of the host
government.
Salud also said he is not doubting the sincerity of
the process.
“In a capsule, they told us that they gathered a lot of
data, matrix and indicators and according to that
study, itong amount na ito ang dapat ibigay,” said
Salud.
“I give them the benefit of the doubt.
“I’m sure pinag-aralan yan. Ang Hong Kong kasi
hindi naman ito ang tipo ng bansa na diktador na
sasabihin ganito lang ang gusto ko or sasabihin,
‘wala.’ Iba naman ang kinalalagyan nating
sitwasyon dito.”
Despite the fluctuations in the minimum wage,
Hong Kong salaries remain the highest among all
major destinations for Filipin domestic helpers in
Asia and the Middle East.
Labor officials also announced that contracts
signed on or before June 5 at a wage level on or
above the previous minimum wage of $3,400 per
month will still be processed, provided the
applications reach the Immigration Department on
or before July 3.
This is to allow employers enough time to
complete the processing of the papers before
submitting them to the department, it said.
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