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Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong
Since the 1970s, foreign domestic workers have been permitted to stay in Hong Kong to address the city's shortage of local, full-time live-in helpers.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
One of the domestic workers who spoke at Sunday’s press conference. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong unions say some domestic workers being underpaid and abused

Unions highlight case of helper who received no salary or rest days for four months, and was abused before she ran away and at one point attempted suicide.

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Hong Kong workers/labour rights

Where do Hong Kong’s domestic workers sleep? 3 personal stories

Swimming

Hong Kong resident Kruse hoping to make HK$100k splash with around island swim

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 46 over illegal money lending to domestic helpers

Syndicate suspected of providing HK$39 million in high-interest loans with rates starting at 100 per cent.

Hong Kong police escorting suspects from a building in Central. Photo: Handout
Climate change

Letters | Spain’s deadly floods another wake-up call for Hong Kong

Readers discuss the urgent need to manage climate risks, the real danger on MTR escalators, and paying attention to domestic workers’ mental health.

Cop29

Letters | Conflict of interest should have ruled out Azerbaijan as Cop29 host

Readers discuss protecting the legitimacy of the COP climate talks, how a hit film is tapping Hong Kong’s rich traditions and the sales of phone subscriptions to foreign domestic workers.

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Hong Kong society

Helper gives back to Hong Kong charity by taking part in 45km swim relay at sea

Splash Foundation, organiser of Make Waves relay, aims to raise HK$3.5 million to fund free swimming lessons for the underprivileged.

(From left) Jada Lam, Josephine Tolentino and Marko Stojanovic pose for a picture at Shek O Beach before a training session. Photo: Edmond So
Crime in Hong Kong

British businessman charged with murder of Indonesian helper in Hong Kong

Woman found at bottom of waterfall in Pok Fu Lam park after venturing to area with suspect night before.

Crime in Hong Kong

2 arrested over suspected murder of helper found dead at Hong Kong waterfall

Police say Southeast Asian victim believed to have drowned after she was hit with a hard object.

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Hong Kong society

Video | Domestic ‘helpers’ battle 2-week rule to stay in Hong Kong

If terminated early by the employer or employee, domestic workers only have two weeks to find a new job.

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Hong Kong domestic workers fighting to stay in city despite two-week rule.
Wellness

Baby massage relieved her postnatal depression. Now she teaches it

Baby massage classes helped Hong Kong-based Jen Cooper beat severe postnatal depression. Having seen their benefits she became an instructor.

Baby massage eased postnatal depression for Jen Cooper (centre), who is now a teacher of baby movement classes in Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So
Salaries

Opinion | Hong Kong’s underpaid foreign domestic workers deserve a living wage

Beyond survival, a fair wage would keep them away from unscrupulous money lenders and make Hong Kong more attractive to skilled workers.

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Lunar

Hong Kong’s Bethune House puts out call for help

Hong Kong’s Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge is calling for donations to keep its doors open.

South Korea

Filipino helpers earn US$1,340 per month in South Korea. In Hong Kong? US$642

Those willing to work up to 52 hours a week could earn as much as US$1,700 under Seoul’s domestic worker pilot programme.

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Domestic helpers gather in Central, Hong Kong, to enjoy a day off work. Photo: Felix Wong
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong shelter for migrant women to close without urgent HK$1 million donation

Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge says donations have dried up, and urgently needs HK$1 million and more to stay open next year.

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Bethune House executive director Edwina Antonio-Santoya says past sources of funding have dried up. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong workers/labour rights

Hong Kong raises minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers by 2.5%

Minimum wage for helpers increases from HK$4,870 to HK$4,990, but concern groups say salaries remain far too low.

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Helping Hong Kong’s domestic helpers tackle mental health issues

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China's population

China’s birth rate unlikely to benefit from Filipino helpers, analysts say

The use of foreign domestic helpers in China to lower the costs of child care, mirroring a move by South Korea, would not do much for the declining birth rate, analysts say.

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South Korea’s controversial plan to hire Filipino helpers to alleviate the costs of child care has led to speculation over whether a similar move would benefit China. Photo: EPA-EFE
South Korea

Why will Filipino helpers earn more in South Korea than Hong Kong, Singapore?

Foreign domestic workers will enjoy high wages under a government pilot project – raising affordability concerns among Korean families seeking care.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Swedish man accused of rape in Hong Kong says Nepalese helper initiated sex

Patrik Tobias Ekstrom, 36, tells court she approached him in bed three times between July and October 2022.

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Hong Kong courts

Swedish businessman denies raping Nepalese domestic helper in Hong Kong home

Patrik Tobias Ekstrom allegedly was drunk and offered her money for sex, but when she refused, he dragged her into his bedroom.

The High Court in Admiralty. The prosecution alleged the defendant returned home drunk after he learned his wife had taken their three children back to her home country of Japan. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong man denies harassing domestic helper in HK$180,000 lawsuit

Retired tattoo artist Lam Yui-sang maintains worker seduced him into ‘committing crimes’ instead.

Lam Yui-sang allegedly proposed marriage and asked the helper for sex four days after she started working at his residence. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Hong Kong culture

Opinion | Searching for Hong Kong’s soul? Look to its street life

Like a flower growing from the pavement, Hong Kong’s unique charm comes from those who take up space in the cracks of modernity.

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Hong Kong culture

Hong Kong’s Southorn Playground, haven for sports and socialising

Since 1934, Southorn Playground in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai neighbourhood has offered a respite from the stress of urban living, as well as hosting protests, parties, and Covid-19 testing.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police probe ‘cash vouchers’ lending scheme targeting domestic helpers

Police investigating sales of cash vouchers and harassment of helpers and their employers.

Two NGOs and a lawmaker have said they logged reports almost every month since as early as March from helpers who had been harassed or threatened by illegal money lenders. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong tourism

Growing number of Hong Kong’s domestic helpers visiting the mainland for holidays

Trend among helpers has boosted the business of travel agencies offering low-fare day trips across the border.

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A group of domestic helpers working in Hong Kong enjoy a trip to mainland China. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court clears employer accused of firing helper over cancer diagnosis

Judge says enmity between housewife Rita Choy and her helper alone does not constitute sufficient grounds for claim of unlawful discrimination.

Hong Kong society

Editorial | Education needed for domestic helpers in Hong Kong to avoid loan sharks

Often on low salaries, many such workers in Hong Kong face intense pressure to send money home to family and friends as well as fees to secure jobs.

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