On 8 March, 2015, International Women’s Day, we organised more than 100 women and carers for our day of action. We rallied in Tamar Park near the government headquarters to show the hard work and contributions of carers and express our hope that the government world set out a carers subsidy soon. The action was supported with funding from the Equal Opportunity Commission.
During the rally, volunteers from the Women’s Helpline and members of the Hearts Talk Drama Group put on skits that showcased the many experiences and difficulties carers face each day. Many participants responded strongly to the true stories from carers’ lives shared, and expressed their wish that a policy to support carers world be implemented at an early date.
Director Si-si Liu Pui-shan said that women are always stereotyped as carers. tHey care for the young, the old, the sick, and the weak at home. The head work they expect are their contributions to society, she said, yet not only can they not find social support - forced to abandon their jobs, they become trapped in poverty.
The government, she said, must meet the needs of women head-on. They need to establish a carers’ subsidy in response to all the hard work carers give and affirm them. At the same time, she said, they should increase related support services and facilities to alleviate the monumental burdens and pressure women bear.
We also sent invitations to all political parties and Democratic Party’s Hon Emily Lau Wai-hing and Hon Helena Wong Pik-wan attended and spoke at the assembly. They shared their view on carers’ subsidies and developing increased government services and facilities for carers and families. They called for carers at home to be given subsidies, and called for gender equality and the equitable sharing of care-giving work to be promoted further.
At the end of the rally, participants wrote their desires for carers’ subsidies on wishing placards, and hung them at the gate outside the government headquarters. We also submitted a petition calling on the government to implement policies to support carers and establish a living allowance for carers as soon as possible, to affirm the value of carers and their contributions to society.