‘We are workers! We are not slaves!’ This was the resounding call among Filipino migrant workers yesterday, as they held the May Day action in front of the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong. Even with restrictions, resulting in the protest being divided into three segments, the workers pushed forward in their fervor to fight for living wage and other demands, and against attacks on workers and their livelihood.

The first group included Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society, Cordillera Alliance, GABRIELA HK and BAYAN HK and Macau. The Likha Cultural Migrants organization danced to the music “Manggagawa” (Workers) at the beginning of the protest. The group focused on the issue of the Labor Export Program of the Marcos Jr.-Duterte government, the cause of commodification of women. The group also condemned the imminent visit of President Marcos Jr. in the US today to reaffirm America’s foothold in the Philippines and possible announcement of new U.S.-Philippines Bilateral Defense Guidelines. The group also called for the Marcos regime to stop its attack on organizations. The group encourages the government to prioritize the creation of jobs in the Philippines that give a living wage, so that no Filipino family is forced to separate due to migration.

The second group is made up of Hong Kong For Justice and Peace led by the Liberal Party HK Chapter, The Silent Majority HK Chapter, Tropang Angat, Magdalo, Sandigan HK and United Filipinos in HK (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK). Featured in the speeches were the issues of severe economic crisis in the country and the government’s continuous treatment of OFWs due to additional charges and fees. The symbolic action of the group became a highlight where they simultaneously tore up and threw away the sample copy of the OEC in a black trash bag, to convey their strong objection and call for the cancellation of additional fees such as the Mandatory SSS, mandatory PhilHealth, Mandatory Pag-IBIG and OEC.

At the end of the protest, the last group was the amalgamation of the various chapters of the Filipino Migrant Workers Union. The group called for a living wage for OFWs and even workers in the Philippines. The group also once again called on the Consulate to defend the OFWs against the malicious accusation of domestic workers of job-hopping by the HK Labor and immigration department. In the recently concluded dialogue of migrant groups at the HK Labor Department on April 27, the proposal to prohibit domestic workers from changing employers prematurely before the end of their two-year contract was first proposed in the Code of Practice of recruitment agencies. The group said looking for decent working conditions and a right to a livable wage is a basic human right. They also announced that on May 7, the Filipino Migrant Workers Union will join the biggest rally for Labour Day with the migrants of other nationalities under the banner of Asian migrants Coordinating Body. In the end, the groups paid tribute to the workers in HK and beyond who continue to fight for wages, livelihood, and rights.