HONG KONG (AP) — More than 50 Filipino maids protested outside the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong Sunday against their government’s decision to raise its charge for processing employment contracts.
"Protect migrants’ rights. No to increase in government fees," they chanted, forming a human chain outside the office tower housing the consulate.
The workers accused the government of exploiting them by raising the contract processing fee from 85 Hong Kong dollars (US$11) to HK$287.50 (US$37) starting next month.
"This government is making the overseas Filipinos its milking cow," said Eman Villanueva, secretary- general of United Filipinos in Hong Kong which organized the demonstration.
"This is very unfair for us," said one protester Cecil Ganzagan who is from a southern Philippine city.
Calls to Philippine consular officials went unanswered on Sunday.
Some 210,000 foreign maids work in wealthy Hong Kong to support their families back home. Most are from the Philippines, while smaller numbers come from Thailand, Indonesia, and Nepal.
Last year, Hong Kong slashed their minimum monthly wage of HK$3,670 (US$470) by HK$400 (US$51).
