New wave of Cambodian domestic helpers ‘know risks’ that come with working in Hong Kong

High-profile cases of helper abuse, such as that of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, have damaged Hong Kong’s reputation but the new recruits ‘have been adequately briefed’, says woman helping to integrate them

Reading Time:2 minutes

Kon Sokea (second right), says goodbye to her son in Cambodia before travelling to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:02pm, 28 Dec 2017Updated: 2:22pm, 29 Dec 2017

As the largest batch of Cambodian domestic helpers arrived in Hong Kong, they were “aware of the risks” that come with working in the city, said the woman playing a key role in integrating them.

Elain Fung Siu-ling, consultant to the Hong Kong Cambodian Human Resources Association, was asked whether the new recruits had been adequately briefed about issues such as exploitation, physical abuse and trafficking after a spate of high-profile scandals in the city over the treatment of domestic workers.

“They are really smart to understand Hong Kong law and [how it can protect them],” Fung said. “It is good for them to know about this, so they can spread the news to Cambodia and more [helpers] will feel confident about coming to Hong Kong.”

Hong Kong domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih wins battle to stop abusive ex-boss evading HK$800,000 in damages

The helpers were lured to Hong Kong by salaries of HK$4,410 a month (US$560) – high compared with US$100 monthly salaries at home. Cambodia is one of Asia’s poorest nations.

But while Hong Kong is already home to more than 360,000 foreign helpers, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, high-profile cases of abuse, trafficking and forced labour have damaged the city’s reputation.

Cambodia sent its latest batch of helpers to work in Hong Kong on December 27. Photo: AFP

Last week, Erwiana Sulistyaningsih – a former helper from Indonesia who endured torture and abuse at the hands of her employer – won a civil claim of HK$890,430 to cover her medical expenses after she was unable to work again due to the injuries she sustained. Her employer, Law Wan-tung, was jailed for six years in 2015 for beating and starving Erwiana.