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Between a rock and a hard place

Between a rock and a hard place

by IDWFED published Oct 30, 2016 12:00 AM
Contributors: Rights Exposure
The charging of illegal agency fees to Filipino domestic workers in the Philippines and Hong Kong.

Resource Type

Research reports, working paper

Details

Foreward

This research and campaign project to address illegal agency fees in the Philippines and Hong Kong was designed by members of the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Union (FADWU). As decision-makers, the FADWU Executive Committee identified the research parameters and campaign objectives. The project was implemented by the Progressive Labor Union of Domestic Workers in Hong Kong (PLU, an affiliate of FADWU) with support from the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), and Rights Exposure.

A team consisting of PLU members conducted the research over a nine-month period. Training and mentoring support were provided to the PLU researchers throughout this period. A covert recording team consisting of two PLU members and an audio-visual professional was also formed to gather evidence of the illegal practices by placement agencies in Hong Kong. This participatory methodology recognises the agency of migrant domestic workers to identify and prioritise the human and labour rights abuses that they face and to find solutions. It also aims to enhance and strengthen the ability of migrant workers and their organisations to represent the needs of their community through first-hand information, knowledge and experience.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Official Trailer

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English report in PDF >>> 中文研究報告 Chinese report in PDF >>>

Between October 2015 and June 2016, the Progressive Labor Union of Domestic Workers in Hong Kong (PLU) carried out in-depth interviews with 68 Filipino migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong and Macau, and visited 10 different placement agencies in Hong Kong, posing as recently terminated migrant domestic workers seeking new employment. The research found that Filipino migrant domestic workers were charged fees by recruitment agencies in the Philippines and placement agencies in Hong Kong, which were more than the legally permitted amount in both territories.

Contents

Foreward
Executive
summary
Key findings in relation to the Philippines
Key findings in relation to Hong Kong SAR
Failure of the governments of HKSAR and the Philippines to
provide adequate legal protection to migrant domestic workers
Conclusions and recommendations
To the Government of the Philippines:
To the Government of Hong Kong SAR:
1 Introduction
2 Methodology
3 Recruitment agency fees
4 Training
5 Coercion, deception and debts
6 Failure of the Philippine government to enforce laws relating to recruitment agencies
7 Placement agency fees in Hong Kong
8 Terms and conditions of work- contractual deception
9 Excessive working hours and denial of weekly rest days and holidays
10 Confiscation of identity and personal documents
11 Provision of food or food allowance
12 Threats and abuse
13 Forced Labour, trafficking and exploitation
14 Policies in Hong Kong which increase migrant domestic workers’ vulnerability
to exploitation and their ability to access redress mechanisms
15 New employment via Macau
16 Failure of the HKSAR government to provide adequate legal protection to migrant domestic workers
17 Conclusions and recommendations
Appendix 1 – Sample interview questionnaire for Filipino migrant domestic workers
Appendix 2 –  HKSAR Standard Employment Contract for Migrant Domestic Workers
Appendix 3 – Maps of the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau

Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Full length film

See also:  License to Exploit: A Report on Recruitment Practices and Problems Experienced by Filipino Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong

Contents

URL

http://bit.ly/2fjOoc3