Local workers in Hong Kong have rallied for the government to set a minimum wage.
There is a definite need to set the minimum wage. While in Hong Kong I often noticed how the eldery population is still actively part of the work force – and not like the retirees in Disneyworld who all moved south & sold their homes for more relaxing pastures. These people all still work out of necessity. I noticed that many of the people who clean the tables in the food courts or restuarants and attend to the restrooms were of this age bracket.
This tells me that the local workers of Hong Kong literally work ’till they can’t work no more’.
This video clip shows what I witnessed; that while these local workers were advocating for a minimum wage of 33 Hong Kong dollars per hour, foreign domestic workers (FDWs) wanted to be included in this legislation. It took Legislative Council a matter of days to conclude that in no way would FDWs be included in the minimum wage legislation. Yet the actual minimum wage itself is still being debated two months after the bill was initially being reviewed by the Council.
As Master’s degree candidates in International Affairs, we often asked ourselves what the point was of the rallies and the demonstrations that our civil society groups organize. We often felt that while the acts these groups were performing were empowering them as individuals – we questioned if that empowerment actually accomplished anything. Looking microscopicaly at each event it was easy to feel ineffective; to feel that what you say or do doesn’t really evoke change. We discussed and concluded that true change can only come from law, that without law nothing is set in stone, those that are covered by the law are not required to act in any such manner.
But. But there exist those who are outside the realm of law, outside of the interest of the lawmakers. In Hong Kong our group worked with domestic workers, sex workers, refugees and those seeking asylum. We had people working for environmental change.
And this is the point. That even though law is king – before you can get to that change interest must be stirred. Opinions must be voiced. There needs to be advocates for those who are on the outskirts, whose best interests are not in line with those who make the laws, those who have the power.
And that is why we do what we do. That is why we, as students of International Affairs, as advocates for the underrepresented, as members of civil society – this is what makes our passion to advocate for those who are silenced– valid.
