‘May Day’ demands of women workers across the Asia-Pacific region

APLWD stands in solidarity with all our members across the region in commemorating the International Labour Day on 1 May. Our members from Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Hong Kong held and joined May Day protests to show their solidarity, continue the struggle and fight and raise women workers’ demands.

In Indonesia, our members Indonesian United Union Federation (FSBI) and Seruni joined the 10,000 workers who rallied and marched to demand the Indonesian government to legalise the domestic workers protection bill; ratify ILO Convention No. 190; and withdraw the new omnibus law on job creation and the law of criminal code. The impacts of the new omnibus law are severe, especially for working-class women: discrimination against pregnant women workers happens due to lack of maternal benefits and social protection, wage theft and the violation of labour rights; lack of legal protection of domestic workers, pay and social protection that are below minimum labour standards.

In Bangladesh, AWAJ Foundation/Sommolito Garment Sramik Federation, together with labour alliances reiterated that women workers are not cheap labour and deserve to work in decent conditions. They demand the increase of minimum wage, right to exercise Freedom of Association and organise, six months of maternity leave and a workplace free from violence and harassment.

In the Philippines, our partner BPO Industry Employees’ Network (BIEN) demanded the government to implement ILO’s recommendations, increase the minimum wage, ensure the safety and health rights of workers and end gender-based violence in workplaces. They demanded to end attacks and red-tagging against workers, calling to respect their rights to organise and unionise. BIEN also condemned the killing of Alex Dolorosa, a labour organiser who did paralegal work. Alex worked on 25 cases in which four were resolved and workers were awarded with monetary compensation. APWLD joins BIEN in demanding justice for Alex!

Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (IMWU), our member in Hong Kong was not able to launch any activities during the Labour Day, preventing them from exercising their freedom of association and right to strike and organise a rally due to restrictions of the National Security Law. Instead, they decided to continue with a solidarity action where 390 migrant workers held a dialogue with the Consulate General of Indonesia in Hong Kong. They demand the government to provide a living wage, paid days off, break hours, complaint and compensation mechanisms to victims, involve the Indonesian trade unions abroad in the policy decision-making process, ensure migrants have the right to change employers and eliminate discriminatory rules against migrant domestic workers.