Foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong get $100 wage hike

Overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong were given a HK$100 (about P579) raise following the government’s decision to increase their Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) and Food Allowance.

According to the Philippine Consulate General in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HK SAR), the minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) has been raised to HK$4,110 per month compared to the previous HK$4,010.

“If employers choose to provide their FDHs with a food allowance in lieu of free food, said allowance will be increased by HK$44 to HK$964 per month from the previous HK$920 per month, representing an increase of 4.8 percent,” the consulate said in a statement late Tuesday.

All contracts for domestic helpers in Hong Kong beginning October 1, should reflect the new MAW while previous contracts will have to go through a process within the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD).

“Applications [to increase MAW in previous contracts must] reach the ImmD on or before October 28, 2014 to allow for employers to send the signed contracts to ImmD for completion of the necessary application procedures,” the statement said.

There are more than 185,000 overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, majority of whom are household domestic workers.

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