What does International Labour Day mean?

In Hong Kong it should mean justice for all who labour. Disappointingly, those without a voice sometimes cannot find justice here.

What follows is a 'good news, bad news' story... the sort of story that would give you nightmares if it happened to you or someone you know.

Ani, an Indonesian mother who found employment in Hong Kong for the sole purpose of being able to feed and educate her young daughter, finally went to the doctor when she constantly felt weak and lost her appetite.  She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. It’s called acute because without treatment the cancer kills you very quickly. Bad news!

The good news is that Ani was granted four months paid sick leave and medical care while she was treated at one of Hong Kong’s excellent government hospitals, so she was able to continue feeding her family in Indonesia.  She was extremely grateful that she had an employer who was doing the right thing.  Countless employers in Hong Kong have illegally sent their employees packing at the first sign of sickness.

The bad news is that her employer had begun searching for a replacement. Within a month of her diagnosis they had signed a contract with a domestic helper. Two days after her paid sick leave period ended, Ani’s employment was terminated. Her employer was acting within her rights.  Ani was midway through her grueling treatment regime, so Christian Action appealed to the Equal Opportunities Commission, but they decided that her termination was lawful.

The good news is that Ani’s prayers were answered when she found a new employer in February 2014.  The bad news is that her application to change her employer was rejected by the Immigration Department on the basis that there were 'insufficient reasons to change employers in Hong Kong'.

The good news is that Ani is in remission, but the bad news is that after her employment was terminated, she accrued a $200,000 hospital bill, which remains unpaid. She hasn’t seen her daughter for three years, so she is going back to Indonesia.

I know this wouldn’t have happened to an investment banker, a lawyer, or even a teacher in Hong Kong.  And I fear that this type of injustice will continue to plague our migrant labourers for the foreseeable future.   Please join me this International Labour Day in praying that Hong Kong will be known as a place where there is justice for all who labour.

'What does God require of you oh man? To seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.' Micah 6:8