Pinoy domestic workers in HK rally for residency rights
Filipino and other foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong held a demonstration on Sunday questioning an immigration rule that prevents them from becoming permanent residents of the territory. Helpers led by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) rallied in front of the Charter House, criticizing what they called a "discriminatory" immigration rule against foreign helpers, a report of Hong Kong's "The Standard" said on Monday. Eman Villanueva, the spokesman for the AMCB, claimed that limiting the number of consecutive contracts of domestic helpers to three years will prevent them from living in Hong Kong for seven consecutive years, a requirement for applying for permanent residency. A separate report of Radio Television Hong Kong said the protesters accused Hong Kong politicians of "lies and doomsday scenarios of mass migration into Hong Kong" if domestic helpers will win a judicial challenge to the immigration rule. Right against discrimination Meanwhile, a report on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website said the AMCB pressured the Hong Kong government to recognize the foreign domestic workers'(FDW) right to abode, especially those who have lived in former British territory for more than seven years. Eni Lestari, spokesperson of the AMCB in a statement said that the HK government should uphold their rights as human beings and as workers who have contributed to the HK economy. “The core issue here is about the right of FDWs against discrimination. If qualified FDWs wish to apply for right of abode, they should be allowed to do so as the Basic Law does not exclude FDWs and international agreements that are used as standards for human rights also guard against discrimination. Human rights should be upheld and never feared," Lestari said. “Anti-migrant ideas breed hate crimes against migrants and immigrants," Lestari added. - VVP, GMA News