Domestic limbo
The COVID-19 pandemic and tougher rules for hiring foreign domestic workers have led to a precipitous drop in the number of FDW in Hong Kong. The decline is set to continue if the pandemic worsens. Su Zihan reports from Hong Kong.
More difficulties
Tsoi (full name withheld on request) - a Hong Kong employer who recently terminated his helper's contract - had to fork out almost HK$14,000 for an employment agency to hire a new helper - far more than the HK$9,000 he would normally have had to pay before the pandemic.
The new worker's salary alone has gone up to HK$6,600 a month, compared to HK$5,000 previously. "My wife and I both work full time. We need someone to take care of our 4-year-old son and do the cooking as well. And, with schools switching to online teaching, we need someone to help her set up the computer devices," said Tsoi.
According to a survey conducted by HelperPlace - an online platform connecting domestic workers and employers - the shortage of FDWs in the city has worsened due to the difficulties and high costs of hiring.
The average real monthly salary of an FDW in Hong Kong rose to HK$5,288 in 2022 - the highest in nearly three years, representing an increase of nearly 10 percent year-on-year - the survey showed.
The minimum wage for domestic workers has been frozen at HK$4,630 since September 2019, and has remained unchanged for two years. The decision made by the government not to increase the minimum wage was based on the study of the general economic and labor market conditions in Hong Kong over the previous year, as well as on the near-term economic outlook, including the downturn triggered by the pandemic.
Despite the risk of being scrutinized by the authorities for abruptly ending their two-year work contracts, the temptation of higher pay has prompted FDWs who are still in the city to look for better job opportunities and improve their working conditions.
