THE PRECEDENTS FOR ACTION
Our society is spending increasing amounts of money in uncovering, investigating and prosecuting crimes against property as well as in fiscal studies for projects that will, hopefully, ensure its economic viability well into the next century.
Specific examples of this expenditure are: the I.C.A.C., The Commissioner for Administrative Complaints, (The Ombudsman) legal aid, workplace safety and environmental pollution inspectorates, financial checks and controls, the recent worker's compensation legislation, the Quarterly Survey of Employment, Vacancies and Payroll.
The Government information Service (GIS) also produces a range of expensive television announcements dealing with most aspects of public safety in the home, at work, at play and on the roads as well as ones aimed at making people more socially aware: Support The Community Chest, Report Child Abuse, Help the Aged, Join in and Share, The Future of Hong Kong is in Your hands.
We believe that if only a minute proportion of this money. could be channelled into safeguarding the rights of foreign workers a better future could be shared by everyone and not be reserved just for the privileged.
WE THEREFORE URGENTLY REQUEST THAT
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The domestic helper contract be reviewed immediately SO as to provide equal protection for both an employee and an employer and specifically to exclude sub-section (d) (ii) of Clause 12.
The two-week rule be immediately abolished and replaced by a law which will provide protection against exploitation by unscrupulous employers.
The right to legal representation including legal aid and reasonable access to the office of the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints (otherwise known as The Ombudsman) should be given to foreign domestic helpers involved in a dispute with their ex-employers at preliminary interviews and also during Labour Tribunals.
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Petition