What’s to debate? Migrant group calls for (tiny) wage increase for HK’s domestic workers, or the minimum wage

A group representing Hong Kong’s domestic workers is calling on the Labour Department to increase their monthly salary or give them the minimum wage of HKD30 a hour.

Following a recent meeting with a panel reviewing helpers’ wages, Eman Villanueva of the Asia Migrants’ Coordinating Body told SCMP that the group had recommended that the monthly salary for Hong Kong’s more than 300,000 domestic helpers be increased from the current HKD4,010 to HKD4,500, or that they get minimum wage…like everyone else. Hardly unreasonable.

Villanueva, who was paid HKD3,200 when he came to Hong Kong from the Philippines 23 years ago, explained that the minimum wage for helpers has only increased to HKD4,010 over the last two decades, while inflation has gone through the roof.

According to agencies supplying maids to the city, Filipino and Indonesian workers are increasingly moving elsewhere for better jobs. Many opt for Canada – which (shock-horror!) pays them the same minimum wage as locals, around HKD71 an hour – while others are heading to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea for factory work. In addition, an increasing number are staying at home for work, as the pay for telemarketing jobs in the Philippines and Indonesia has risen sharply.

Maids from Myanmar and Bangladesh have been brought in to try and deal with the shrinking workforce, but agencies claim many are leaving after just a few months. Hong Kong’s domestic helpers are required by law to live and work in a sponsor’s home, and typically only have eight hours off a week.

A Labour Department spokesman said they would take into account all factors before deciding on any possible wage adjustment. A recommendation is expected to be announced by the end of the month.



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on