Hong Kong measures against domestic worker job-hopping are ‘discriminatory’, union says
- ‘We are deeply disturbed that the Labour Department views migrant domestic workers who assert their rights to terminate a contract as abuse,’ union says
- Agencies required to brief domestic workers on immigration regulations and arrangements for changing employers, according to new code of practice
A Hong Kong union has slammed the government’s enhanced measures against foreign domestic helper job-hopping as “serious discrimination”, saying it is unfair to deem the workers’ right to terminate their contracts as “abuse”.
The Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions released the statement on Monday after the government told lawmakers about the revised code of practice for employment agencies to “combat abuse” by helpers who prematurely terminate their contracts.
“We are deeply disturbed that the Labour Department views migrant domestic workers who assert their rights to terminate a contract as an abuse. It is misleading to the public to think migrant domestic workers don’t have the right to terminate contracts,” the union said.
“It will bring serious repercussions to the society to think that migrant domestic workers are slaves and can be easily replaced.”
Under the new code of practice implemented on May 9, the government requires employment agencies to brief foreign domestic workers on immigration regulations and arrangements for changing employers.
Agencies also should not induce helpers to prematurely terminate their contracts through monetary or other incentives, according to the updated code.
