Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong will get a HKD100 a month increase on their minimum salaries and a … wait for it… HKD31 a month increase on their monthly food allowance for contracts signed from today.
However, the wage increase of 2.4 percent from HKD4,110 to HKD4,210 still falls way below inflation and short of the HKD4,500 demanded by domestic workers’ rights groups for three years.
Last year, wages for Hong Kong 320,000+ helpers also went up HKD100, marking an increase of just HKD350 a month since 1998.
Under the Standard Employment Contract, employers must also provide their domestic helpers with free food or a food allowance in lieu. With the new measures, the food allowance will be increased by HKD31 to no less than HKD995 a month.
The government points out very generously that employers may of course pay their helpers more if they feel so inclined. Those feeling a bit more stingy, however, have until Oct. 28 to get contracts signed before today into the Immigration Department in order to pay last year’s wages and food allowance.
A Government spokesman said, “The Government reviews the MAW (minimum allowable wage) for FDHs (foreign domestic workers) regularly. In accordance with the established practice, we have carefully considered Hong Kong’s general economic and labour market situations over the last year, as reflected through a basket of economic indicators, including the relevant income movement and price change in this year’s review.
“Moreover, the Government has taken into account Hong Kong’s future economic outlook in the near-term, as well as the need to strike a balance between affordability for employers on one hand and the livelihood of FDHs on the other in reaching the decision on the above-mentioned adjustment.”
Photo: Myriam Tsen-Kung/Coconuts Media
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