In different countries of Asia, workers face
different challenges that are threatening their
life: WorkChoices Act in Australia, sweatshops in
Cambodia and Indonesia, dangerous working
environment for mine workers in China.
While these challenges in both more developed and
less developed countries vary, they share one
thing in common - the ignorance of labour's human
dignity.
The life of low-income families in Hong Kong is
filled with worries, overtime work and degrading
living standard. Despite the expected
salary increment by human resources agencies in
Hong Kong, the benefit is only limited to the
middle and high level management.
Low-income families can hardly cover their family
expenses and need to erode their savings, limit
expenses and compromise the living standard and
time with the family. These have affected
their health, family life and their children's
development opportunity, developing
trans-generational poverty.
Since late 2005, the Hong Kong Catholic
Commission for Labour Affairs (HKCCLA) has
launched its campaign on "Family Wage"
with activities such as radio interview and
experience "Experience the life of living
under HK$350" campaign. The advocacy
campaign aims to urge the government to legislate
minimum wage which is enough to sustain a
family. Although Mr. Donald Tsang, the
Chief Executive of Hong Kong, promised to study
the feasibility of minimum wage, there was no
further proposal or action from the government.
On 2 October 2006, HKCCLA will issue a printed
statement in two local Chinese newspapers as well
as co-organize a rally for the demand. The
Commission invites both local and overseas
friends, especially Catholics, to support the
working poor in Hong Kong by signing the
statement. It is hoped that more people
will understand how the wage level directly
affects family life and show their support for a
minimum wage legislation.
If you share the misery of the low-income
workers, please sign the attached statement and:
Return the Reply slip to hotline@acpp.org or by
fax: (852) 2712 0152 before Friday, 22 September
2006 at 15:00 Hong Kong time (GMT +8:00).
Your signatures will be passed to HKCCLA.
For the statement and reply slip of HKCCLA's
campaign, please click here.
Source:
Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affair |
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