Two major issues arise over Hong Kong’s military foreign domestic helpers. The whole community will have to sit down and decide how to deal with them. The first is the availability of places for supporters to gather safely and freely on their days off without putting too much pressure on public facilities, other residents and tourists. The second is to think about how to give acceptable work environment indoors during the summer.
Two basic trends increase the complexity and severity of problems. One is a whole number, the other is an increase the effects of climate change.
Given the significant improvement in Hong Kong’s economy since the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreign domestic helpers in the city is rebounding rapidly towards a 2019 peak of 399,000. The number fell in 2022 before recovering to 368,000 in 2024. Foreign domestic workers make up about a tenth of Hong Kong’s workforce. The majority are women, with 55 percent from the Philippines, 42 percent from Indonesia and the remainder from other Asian countries.
Local families rely on them as caregivers for young children and the elderly, as well as regular household chores. Given the city’s aging population, this trend is likely to continue.
At the same time, since potential employers are only required to show a monthly income of at least HK$15,000 (US$1,914), and the inclusion of helpers opens up an increasing number of women to take up more lucrative employment themselves, the situation is reinforcing. The minimum monthly salary for assistants is only HK$5,100.
Raising those two minimums may provide a superficial solution, but may be socially disruptive. So the problem could be bigger. Many assistants rest on Sunday, because that is more convenient for their employers and also allows assistants to worship according to their religious beliefs – and many do.
