Domestic helpers and their supporters raise a placard with words “ Stop The Violance” to support the 23-year-old Indonesian maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih during a 2014 protest in Hong Kong
One in six migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong is a victim of forced labor, working an average of over 70 hours a week. According to a Justice Center survey of more than 1,000 domestic workers in the neighboring region, some work up to 20 hours a day.
More than 80 percent of the territory’s 336,600 domestic workers – the vast majority of whom are women from Indonesia and the Philippines – are exploited, the study says. Seventeen percent of the helpers surveyed were engaged in forced labor.
“Hong Kong must come clean; the government can no longer afford to simply sweep these problems under the carpet,” the report states.
The study found out that only a fraction reported a monthly salary of above the minimum wage, which recently rose to HKD4,210.
However, Paul Pun, secretary-general of Caritas Macau, told the Times that it is unlikely that Macau will experience the same ‘forced labor’ situation, as Filipino and Indonesian workers here choose to reside in premises separate from their employers.
“Most Filipinos choose to stay out […] the situation is completely different. Exploitation is less likely to happen,” he said.
The Hong Kong labor law on domestic workers requires helpers to “stay in” (live at their boss’ home), increasing the risk of exploitation.
“Macau residents don’t want their domestic helpers to live with them because they [want] to enjoy privacy,” he adds.
Pun admits that many domestic helpers have consulted with him regarding their situations, which often require them to work for more than eight hours. However, the helpers chose not to complain to the labor bureau.
“The moment we suggest that they go to the labor bureau, they become hesitant,” he explained.
A Filipino domestic helper, who declined to be identified, told the Times that she works for 12 hours every day for a meager salary of MOP3,300.
The helper, who starts work at 9:30 a.m., explained that she is forced to work for her employer and her employer’s daughter, who lives in another apartment.
“It’s tiring. I don’t want to go to another house to clean, but I have to because my employer says so,” she said.
“From 5 p.m. onwards, I’ll go to her daughter’s place to prepare dinner for the family. After that, I have to go back to my employer’s home to continue cleaning. I’ll only get home by 11:30 p.m.,” she added. Staff reporter
lack of minimum wage raises concern
Paul Pun says Macau should adjust the “minimum wage” rather than stating “not below MOP2,500 with a housing allowance of MOP500.” According to the Caritas head, “the human resources should periodically review the yearly work salary [of domestic workers] for them to have a clear reference salary, […] a decent salary.”
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