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Hong Kong: over 50 local Hong Kong groups support Justice for Elis

Hong Kong: over 50 local Hong Kong groups support Justice for Elis

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by Fish Ip published Apr 05, 2015 02:24 AM
15 Mar 2015 Joint Statement

Details

(中文見下面)

We urge the investigation of Elis’ death and
boycott against Sunlight Employment Agency

We are a group of organizations concerned with the treatment of domestic workers in Hong Kong. On the 11th March, Indonesian domestic worker Ms Elis Kurnisaih BT Ahi Komarudi was found dead. She was staying at the accommodation arranged by her employment agency, but was told to rest under an illegal shelter constructed on a roofless podium for the night. A slab of concrete weighing 60 kg fell from the building and hit Elis. She was critically injured and died after six days. We hereby express our sadness and sorrow for this incident.

We must point out that this tragedy is no accident. On the day it happened, Elis had in fact already signed a contract and was ready to work. However, she was arranged to stay at the accommodation of the employment agency in an unacceptably dangerous condition.

The incident revealed that these so called ‘accommodation’ are but ‘human storage’ with no respect for the basic human rights of domestic workers. These accommodations, in which dozens of workers have to squeeze in a room of merely 100 square feet while they wait for employment, should be considered unlicensed hostels. Yet, with no requirement of agencies to provide proper accommodation for foreign workers, they are not penalized nor inspected by the authority on this illegal practice. All these conditions expose the fact that foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong are indeed living a life of slavery.

We blame the lack of effective regulation over employment agencies for Elis’ death. Under this government, agencies are allowed to maximum profit by exploiting foreign workers of their basic human rights. To make amend for justice and for Elis’ family, we urge the government to launch an immediate investigation on her death. We also urge for closer monitoring on employment agencies to ensure proper treatment of foreign domestic workers to prevent future tragedies.

We demand the government to:

1. Carry out an immediate investigation on the death of Elis;
2. Implement closer inspection and monitoring of employment agencies; and
3. Legislate for better governance of employment agencies.

We also call for:

1. Employers to work together with foreign domestic workers on non-cooperative actions against Sunlight Employment Agency, and to report any wrong doings by other agencies; and
2. A Hong Kong wide boycott on Sunlight Employment Agency.

Co-signatories:

Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU)
Labour Party
Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association
Association for the Advancement of Feminism
Left 21
Age of Resistance
autonomous 8a
Committee for Migrant Workers Solidarity, autonomous 8a
Consider the Trouble
Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs
Hong Kong Catholic Institution Staff Association
BA Hong Kong International Cabin Crew Association
Association for the Survivor of Women Abuse (Kwan Fook)
Justice & Peace Commission of the H.K. Catholic Diocese
Construction Site Workers General Union
New Arrival Women League
Open Door
League of Social Democrats
Tak Cheong Lane
Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims
Community Care and Nursing Home Workers General Union
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions Staff Union
Ocean Park Employees' Union
Grassroots Development Centre
工友權益聯社 (Translation: Workers’ Rights’ Association)
Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members' Union
Social Work Society of HK College of Technology
大專政改關注組 (Translation: Political Reform Concern Group of Tertiary Education Institutes)
Union Of Hong Kong Dockers
Hong Kong School Non-Teaching Staff Union
Hong Kong Buildings Management And Security Workers General Union
Catering And Hotels Industries Employees General Union
Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industries General Union
Hong Kong Domestic Workers General Union
Cleaning Service Industry Workers Union
New World First Bus Company Staff Union
The Chinese University Of Hong Kong Employees General Union
Neighbourhood and Workers Services Centre
Swire Beverages ( Hong Kong) Employees General Union
Tsz Lok Estate Resident Association
Rainbow Action
Sham Shaui Po Community Association
Civil Human Rights Front
Union Of Hong Kong Post Office Employees
Social Work Society of HK Baptist University
Hong Kong Federation of Social Work Students
Government Mod 1 Staff General Union
Social Welfare Organizations Employees Union
Action Q
one body in Christ
JJJ Association
Hong Kong & Kowloon Life Guards Union
Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women
Women Coalition of HKSAR
Hong Kong Women Christian Council
香港理工大學學生關社組 - (translation: Students Social Concern Group of HK Polytechnic University)
Midnight Blue
v-artivist

Related news: http://www.idwfed.org/en/updates/hong-kong-elis-died-of-slave-like-life-in-agency-center

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調查死因 杯葛陽光

我們是一群關心外籍家務工在港處境的民間團體。3月11日,一位名為Elis Kurniasih BT Ahi Komarudi的印尼家務工死去,她在中介公司提供的宿舍中,被安排在露天平台的僭建物下休息。在凌晨時份,該大廈跌下重60公斤的石屎,壓中Elis,重傷的她在搶救六天後,證實不治。對此,我們表示悲痛。
然而,我們必須點出,這件事件,絕非意外。Elis當時已簽好合約,可以上班,卻被Y入住條件不佳、危險重重的中介公司宿舍之中。

事件揭發中介公司所提供的「宿舍」,實質只是一個「活人貨倉」,顯示中介公司從沒有將外籍家務工待為人。在這些「宿舍」中,幾十人屈居於百尺空間,來港之後等待僱主召喚,呼之則來,揮之則去。香港並無規定中介公司向工人提供宿舍,這些「宿舍」更有可能屬於無牌旅館,而政府對此種種置若罔聞,從不監察。這樣的情況,正正顯示外籍家務工活在現代奴隸制度之中。
是香港政府對中介公司的不作為,將Elis置於險境;是中介公司為牟取暴利,不理家務工的死活,令她們住在不人道的環境之中。香港政府有必要深入調查Elis的死因,還她及她家人一個公道。同時,必須加強對中介公司的監管,確保來港工作的家務工能有恰當的居住環境,令事件不再發生。

我們要求政府:

1. 重視是次案件,徹底調查Elis死因;
2. 加強巡查、調查中介公司;
3. 改革管理中介公司的法例。

我們也呼籲:
1. 僱主與家務工團結,支持對陽光實行的不合作運動、舉報黑中介;
2. 香港人杯葛陽光女傭中心,不接受他們的服務。

聯署團體:
職工盟
工黨
香港婦女勞工協會
新婦女協進會
左翼廿一
青年重奪未來
自治八樓
移工共行委員會- 自治八樓
重煩書店
香港天主教勞工事務委員會
英航香港機艙服務員工會
群福婦女權益會
香港天主教正義和平委員會
建築地盤職工總會
同根社
家。傭同行
社會民主連線
德昌里
工業傷亡權益會
社區及院舍照顧員總工會
香港職工會聯盟員工會
海洋公園職工會
基層發展中心
工友權益聯社
香港迪士尼樂園職工會
香港專業進修學校社會工作系會
大專政改關注組
香港碼頭業職工會
香港學校非教員職工會
香港物業管理及保安職工總會
飲食及酒店業職工總會
零售、商業及成衣業總工會
香港家務助理總工會
清潔服務業職工會
新世界第一巴士公司職工會
香港中文大學員工總會
街坊工友服務處
太古飲料(香港)職工總會
慈樂邨居民協會
彩虹行動
深水埗社區協會
民間人權陣線
香港郵政局員工會
香港浸會大學社會工作學會
香港社會工作學生聯會
政府第一標準薪級員工總會
社會福利機構員工會
大專同志行動
香港天主教機構職員協會
基督教眾樂教會
姐姐仔會
港九拯溺員工會
關注婦女性暴力協會
香港女同盟會
香港婦女基督徒協會
香港理工大學學生關社組
午夜藍
影行者

 

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Story Type: Update

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