Hong Kong raising minimum wage for domestic helpers by 3% to HK$4,870 a month
- Food allowance will also be increased by HK$40 from not less than HK$1,196 to at least HK$1,236 per month
- Migrant worker groups welcome increase but disappointed by amount, which still leaves helpers with ‘slave wages’
The government announced on Friday that the minimum wage for helpers would be increased by HK$140 from HK$4,730 per month. The food allowance would also be increased by HK$40 from not less than HK$1,196 to at least HK$1,236 per month, authorities said.
“The government reviews the minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers regularly,” a spokesman said. “In accordance with the established practice, we have carefully considered Hong Kong’s general economic and labour market conditions over the past year, as well as Hong Kong’s near-term economic outlook in this year’s review.
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The new rates will apply to all contracts signed on or after Saturday, and contracts signed on or before Friday at the existing rates will still be processed provided applications reach the Immigration Department on or before October 27.
Earlier this year, two major migrant worker groups called for an increase of at least 27 per cent ahead of an annual review, citing the impact of the high cost of living and inflation.
The Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body suggested the monthly wage should climb to HK$6,016 while the Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions put the figure at HK$6,228.
Both groups also urged authorities to increase the food allowance, with the coordinating body calling for the amount to be almost tripled to HK$3,065 per month, and the union pushing for HK$2,552.
Shiella Estrada, vice-chairwoman of the Progressive Labour Union of Domestic Workers in Hong Kong, welcomed the government’s decision to raise the wage, but said she was disappointed at the amount, given the years-long coronavirus pandemic and inflation.
“We welcome the decision by the government on the increase, but we are disappointed at the amount as we are not expecting that little amount even after the pandemic … and the inflation,” she said.
“It is still not a good sign for migrant domestic workers on fair and decent wage protection. We still feel migrant workers are not fully protected or recognised [for their] … contribution to the economy of Hong Kong.”
Estrada urged the government to raise the wage to HK$6,228 a month, and the food allowance to HK$2,552.
The Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body also slammed the government for what it regarded as a “slave wage”.
“While the HK$140 increase in the minimum allowable wage may provide slight relief, it is still not the living wage for migrant domestic workers proposed by Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body,” it said. “This will not resolve the difficulties of migrant domestic workers dealing with inflation in Hong Kong.
“The 3 per cent increase is still abysmally short of the living wage and therefore is still a slave wage. The small increase reiterates how the government views migrant domestic workers as modern-day slaves.”
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The government approved a 2.2 per cent rise in the minimum wage for helpers in September last year, increasing it from HK$4,630 to HK$4,730 a month.
In May, the government raised the minimum wage for all other types of workers to HK$40 an hour, up by 6.7 per cent up from the previous HK$37.50.
Hong Kong does not have any law limiting the number of hours per day a domestic helper works, and many put in 12 hours or more, which translates into an hourly pay of roughly HK$17.
They work six days a week, with one day off.
Under the standard employment contract for hiring foreign helpers, employers are required to provide them with free food, but they can choose to pay a food allowance instead. They must also provide accommodation.
